New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-10
MICS FlIrHFULL ON "MoDERY SHAMS.'

THE WORSHIP OF WEALTH PRODUCING CYNIClsM
AND LovELEss MARRIAGES.
A largo audience assembled last evening at
C,lerin Hall to hear Miss Emily Faithful deliver her
lecture on Modern shams." The Rev. Robert Conyer
nre.ided and on the platform the Rev. DIS llnany
and Burchard the Rev. j. c. Derby, DR. Kramer, Dr. do
lewis Mrs and Miss Crowley. Mrs Moscelles Mrs Car
pagie the Rev. Phoebe Hanaford, Miss Morris ana
Tl,omas c. Acton. In a few welchOsen phrases Mr..
Colyer introduced the lecturer, saying he hoped she
would be heard.
Miss Faithful, who looked remarkably well but was
vsiblv nervous at starting said The subject Modern
sbams, will be used text for my own observations
onIv We are all the victims of social shams. Formerly;
honor chivary ambition in nOber shape engaged
the attention OF mankind but there Is an alabsorD-
ing thirst for money, reckless determination TO ENJOY
the nresent We all bow down before the millionaire
The Dollar is our god and Shoddy is his highpriest II
thing, continue TO go they are in fifty years we
shall scarcely find rag OF social morality left. When
women go about with painted faces and constitutions
patched up with chOral and pckmeup, and men pretend
70 sthetcsm the strength of sunhower and the cut
of a coat It surely is time to speak out.
"A casual observer cannot but remark how much a
certain low codhearted cynicsm the result Of e1rava
gance and unbridled luxury is the increase There
an exceeding great army of evils threatening as the
result OF these vices The vices Of the present day are such
as follow great commercial prosperity The dollar has
become the standard Of merit Wealth has established
false standard by which everything is estimated There
is no sin In its eyes equal to poverty. HowYork of
century ago doubt had its social sbams, but II GER
tanly was a happier city than the NewYori Of to-day
man was not looked upon perfection because he was
millionaire nor his wife looked upon dOwdy be-
cause she plain dress But now we must be well
off or we are nowhere 1t is the lavish diffusion of wealth
which makes life worth having Money is the magic
wand that opens up regions of rarest material de-
light. Wealth Is always power. whether en-;
pOyed for gOOd or III. But II may ana
does set up an artihciality that gradually
oyerthrows reality and makes all society hollow and
false. When and women appraised for what they
wear what they have social life becomes one vast
sham. The standard OF right and wrong lowered and
ruin must Inevitably set in Some has said that IN
America the three RS for 'rhmetc, roguery, and
women have great deal to do with spending money
and really at the bottom OF all social shams they
Of luxury until they grow indifferent TO the misery
or attend fashionable church, we snail see Ihdt ex
travagance the female bcscttng sin IL costs 100000
annually to keep up rst-class hunting establishment
but more to keep up fashionable wife lady recently
wore Jewels worth 100000 All the ruer principles OF HE
are giving way before this Unsuitable craving for nooney
Parents in England complain OF the extravaganza OF ther
sons at oxford and Cambridge aud hear II Ia coming 70
that here ao T GG bnGGe s se an o he Prince Pr
Of Wales the cost 227,jOG, the wine bill alone
Ali the uobler aspirations of our nature shed be
meath the iron heel OF money. All about us Is unreal
We have villas plaster works OF art sham dccOra
tons there everywhere holowness instead Of reality
q hear everywhere Of the difficulty OF getting
good servants. They want TO be fine ladies'
and they study more their dress than how TO
please their master But servants copy only the example
of vulgarty set them Ii should be remembered that
these United states that have ever resisted desposm are
i'm danger Of submitting Of s worst fOrms-the
despoti5m OF wealth The tendency much the same
that found in the Old distich sung by English country
folk.
God Oless the squire and all his rich relations,
And teach all poor people 20 keep their stations
Irsay think a gorilla with rent roll and cOronct
would not want for numerous friends and tOadies"
The lecturer denounced the credit system and lOvelcss
marriages and in conclusion she quoted the lines:
We cat and drink and 20 10 church sunday
And many are afraid Of God, but OF Mrs Grundy.