Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-11-05
af1istellameuns &eadiug.
EXTRAVAGANCE.

Almost everybody is on a strain. The
poor strain to keep up with the well-to-do
people; the well-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 eX-
treme who are too rich for rivalry. Wemay
add a third class, composed of sensible per-
sons who abstain from this insane competi-
tion on principle.
This universal extravaganza is sinister
sign of the times. 1t is the effect and at the
same time the cause of widespread corrup-
ton.
1t tempts men to dangerous speculation
and fragrant dishonesty. 1t drives them to
desperation, and hurls them into disgrace
full flight, to prison and to suicide. 1t pro-
duces sense of insecurity in business cir
cles, and makes legislation terror to tax
payers. 1t erects false standards of social
position, and sets snare for the feet of eve
ry young man in the land. 1t is debauching
politics and bringing it to pass that rich
fool or rascal is more eligible candidate for
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 a
still more vital point. 1t spoilsour women,
making fools Of some and running others.
Nothing we read in history exceeds the
present mania for eXtravagant eXpendi-
ture in dress. There might have been bet
ter taste, but not more reckless waste,
in the court of Louis the Fourteenth than in
the shoddy circles of the United States now.
It is national mania. From the vulgar
life of a bonanza king or successful stock
broker, to the chambermads in our hotels,
it pervades all classes.
| Two questions absorb our women. The
is, "What did it cost ." 1t is not so much a
matter of good taste and of true aesthetic ef-
feet, but badly and coarsely question of
cost. The husband may be lucky in futures
or something else of the sort. If he should
fail--failures are fashionable sometimes
profitable. If the father should show signs
of worry because the outgo exceeds the in
come, it cannot be helped-one must keep
up with the neighbors. Put on the steam
1t is fast age, and it will not do to fall into
the rear. Drive on. The crash may come,
but let us have good time first. We must
keep up with the times.
Broken fortunes, debt and bankruptcies
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 colossal fortune, This
rage for costly dress takes the heads and
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 their nights to dress. 1t is the theme
of their talk, and the acme of their ambi-
ton. Literature, art, religion, are all sacri-
feed to this one burning passion for display.
The women who might have been the good
angels of ourhomes and the lights in Christs
holy Church, sink into shiny fashion plates
and bulletin boards of fashion. tits shame
full, pitiful !-NashriWe AdrOcdte.