The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1886-10-15
A CHAPTER ON LUXURY,
What Franklin Thought About ia
Fourteenth Century Writer.

What Franklin Thought About 1t-A
Fourteenth Century Writer.
\ century ago Franklin thought it
worth While to discuss the increase of
luxury in this country. He says he had
not thought "of remedy for luxury"
and was not sure that in a great state it
is capable ot remedy Then he set him
self tn show the mtigations AMI possible
utilities Of it. and concluded that we may
hope the luxury Of u few merchants IN the
coast will not he the ruin Of America.
know not with eNactnesS whether the
delicacies which Franklin styled Injuries.
would not seem stark rl,tle,ess and sim,
plic;,y beside what now VIC behold: but
! there is little risk in thinking 50. For
such Is the increase Of desires with pos
! sessions tina; the ease II one age is but y
hardship In the next. and the alcgAnceS
Of one epoch tho rusticities 1T the sue
ce<vl:,g.
| Wherefore. ii we ask what luxury il.
! we shall lind many different aus wers; for
! il IS said truly that "every indulgence b.
(! You'd what in usual Is com monty termed
luxury, aud ceases to bs luxury when it
turns habitual. Thus every historian,
ancient aud modern. while he invcigh.
against thu. luxury Of his own time, won
tlcrs mt the former historians fOr charao~
terlzing rs Injuries what no cOnsidcrA ~
conveniences merely, Or rational improve
ments.' For example, . writer Of thu
| fourteenth century Ccnsllres his country
nen for having luxury in having Chin
ncys and wells, table cloths and silver
forks AMI spoons. even tallow candles SCI.
in iron or copper caMtlestickS. and two
fires, zone for the chamber and one for
the Kitchen" this writer thinks. smack Of
delicate excess. llOllnShe'l scents lux.
Cry III using oak for building dwellings
"When our houses were hlildGi of vii.
low. he writes. "tlcm we had o:,kcn men,
but now that our houses arc iulde IF oak.
our men ay, not only become willow, but.
as I'cvSiau 'ieticacics creep in among lis
altogether Tor straw which is II sore alter
alton"
have read story that ~ knot Of
lighlan'lcrs. hrni:h.cl. wrapped them
selves up in their plai,is aud lay down in
the snow to sleep. \ young gentleman.
making" up Il ball of snow. ,,sr,l ii tor
pillow. His father, striking away tn.
, ball with his foot, What, sir says he,
} ARE YOU turning eifeminatc>'' On.
, writer define, luxury very precisely. II
$ not wisely: he says IL i, hah't,ni excess :
= Il hurtful character in the pleasures -.
i laStc, tn,lch and smelling, these SENSES he
I considers, the merely corporal senses with
4 II" such relation to the mini as the eye
5 and The eat have. But he takes II widr
n scope tor the sens, of touch, tor h" argues
1 that the increase of wheel carriages
I w,thlu /. century Is Il pregnant proof u,
r Ia. .,u",h OF luxurrs "r Incidence. -
c 90, Giuins Democrat.
Forty Years Aga.
There WAS time 40 live
II Me-, slept set in their beds.
9 The rl.ncli Of haste had not come.
I The saddle was the emtt"'n OF speed.
> .sraWn and brains went hand IN hand
&c y days journey was u serious matter
y We were still Il nation of lanuworkcrs.
IS The highways were dusty and popolous.
Y. No house contained IL sewing machine.
-- The canvas covered WaIni, was tho ark
X ii trade.
G. The turnpike was still Tx. great art.
a cry Of trade.
There WIS not II mower or harvester in
It existence.
Q The l;,u,l Wa, lighted with candles after
It niyh,tail.
y. Butter MaS un,narketable 100 miles
m from the dairy.
~ The steam saw mill had just begun tt
n .leyour the forest
II The lord Of |, tNo acres sat with his har
ii NcStcrs at dinner.
g, The ,ay began with the dawn and no
with the trains arrival
u The spinning wheelani shuttle SOUNDED
nc III every farmers hou,r.
Ii lie who counted his l'o>s ,>>i"ns 10y tn,
ut square mile kept open house for he way
nc fa,rr.
IL The te.r-r.rA had i".-,tn in Washing
:, ION and ,.t,,t.l in New York lWclv
ut months l,iurr.
H. The rich "rl,. lavish ia an nhuntlanc
Il which WAS un, vet cuvr,r.! Ky The kcc
III eye OF commerce.
st From cas-: I" west was the pilgrimage c
Of 4 life; from, uur'h to sonth was n voyaE
of discovery Fort deposit iM"N ''A
~ Ga>hin. Cheeks ri Ii"tcls.
" The fact tina, II yo',nI Eng!ishmat
-. calling himself Savers. chrn'ed the FIT
no Avenue hotel ont Of Il sun. of money u
~ having his check ctshel, has caused
al ripple vi excitement n:,"n. the h"tt
81 cashiers. The cashier at Il hi. hotel ~
'et town said u Il reporter the other day tn;
Z" i; was a!,nos, impossible to follow tl
" sign frtlucl,iy hung ont t" warn guests
81 mo Cucchs ta>hra."
nc He added: We have to Lake our chance
'ce and cas-: checks nr else los" Il great mai
a. good customers. We generally Try I" tn
out some say about u guest before
comes 10 settle, 50 i> to know what to ,
49,. in case Il check is given There are son
- men who Away, pay their hotel bills
..., givin.; c!lcci:s Now, if .vc refused - ca.
-" their chrck> they would never stop 4: OF
-, hotel again Frequently il is Il species
grCs, vanity On tn" part OF some men
,,,, give checks IL Il rnle they are not