The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-11-19
Extravaganza.

Almost everybody is on strain. The
poor strain to keep up with the well.to-
do people; the we'll to.do strain to keep
up with the rich; and the rich strain
terribly to keep up with one another.
The only ones excepted from the pressure
are the few who are too fully pauperized
to have any social ambition, and the very
few at the other extreme who are too rich
for rivalry. We may add third class,
composed of sensible persons who ab'
stain from this insane competition on
principle.
This universal extravaganza is SIMS.
ter sign of'the times. 1t is the effect and
ut the same time the cause of widespread
corruption.
It tempts men to dangerous specula-
ton and fragrant dishonesty. II drives
them to desperation, and hurls them into
disgracefulAight, to prison and to suicide.
it produces sense Of insecurity in busi-
ness circles, and makes legislation ter
ror to tax payers. It erects false stand
ards of social position, and sells a snare
for the feet of every young man in the
land. It is debauching politics and
bringing it to pass that rich fool OF
rascal is more eligible candidate tor
Office than the possessor of exalted talent
and unsullied honor, without money.
This is not all, of the evil, nor the
worst part of it. It strikes nearer home
and at q still more vital point. 1t spoils
our women, making fools of some and
ruiuing others. Nothing We read in his
tory exceeds the present mania for ex'
travagant expenditure in dress. There
might have been better taste, but moi
more reckless waste, in, the court of. Louis
the Fourteenth than in the shoddy circles
of the United States lnow.st 4 isa nation
al mania. From the vulgar life ofa
bonanza king or successful stock. broker,
to the chambermaids in eur hotels, II
pervades:all classes. ~
Two Questions absorb our women
The first is, "Wbat did she wear :" The
second is, "What did it COST" i. is moi
90 much q matter Of good taste and o.
true aesthetic effect, but badly and
eoarsely a. question of cost. The hus'
band may be lucky in futures or some
thing else of the sort. , If he should fai
failures are fashionable-and some.
times profitable. If the father should
show signs of worry because the, outgt
exceeds the income, it cannot be helped
one must keep up with the neighbors
Put on the steam 1t is a fast age, anc
it will not do to fall into the rear. Drive
on. The crash may come, but let u:
haze good time first. We must keeE
up with the times. .s 49,
Broken fortunes, debt; and bankrupt
cies are not the only and the worst fruits
of this folly. There is something worse
than squandering money. A noble
woman is of more value than a colossa
fortune. This rage for costly dress takes
the heads aud hearts, the time and talent
of vast number. of our women who
were born for better things. They are
ruled and absorbed by the jeweler and
milliner. They give their days and theil
nights to dress. 1t is the theme of thei.
talk, and the acme, OF their ambition
Literature, art, religion, are all sacri'
feed to this one burning passion for dis,
play. The women who might have been
the good angels of our homes and the
lights in Ghrist's holy Church, sink into
shiny fashion plates and bulletin boards
o. fashion. It is shameful, pitiful J
Nashpille Adcocate. !.