The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1886-01-16
EXTRAVAGANZA.

The greatest incentive to crime in thu
country is extravaganza. This hapit
when once contracted, is the most obst1
nate and difficult one to conquer, and nc
matter how firmly resolutions may o
based, they generally fall to pieces IN frult
less efforts to master it. Ex~travaganc'
may exist, and all it's baleful Influences d
experienced By every class from the richest
to the poorest. 1t is caused, either o!
reckless waste among the poor, or unneces
sary expenditure OF money by those II pet
ter circumstances Rivalry has mucf
to do with it's encouragement, FOL
if it were not for an insat1abit
desire manifested by many to equal OF
outdo their friends, acquaintance ano
neighbors in outward display, the heads O
many families would be saved from imam
cial embarrassment and sometimes dls
grace.
The gaudy and costly character OF chill
dren's clothing wen excites envy among
children and rivalry between~t ne1i
mammas. and subsequently their papas'
In Mrs. Jones CullOICH OI0oo
ionably and more handsomely than Mrs
smiths. the latter feels unhappy, and is
dissatisfied until hers appear just as at
tractively attired IN the public thorough
fares. Now Mrs. Smiths husband does not
-arn as much as Mrs. Jones partner, il
they are mechanics or w~ork'ngmen; OUT
that is a matter which never enters Tut"
the mind of the former. All she Thinks o
is rivalling the latter in dressing hernt' IL
ones. To do this bills must be contracted
which are difficult, and Outlines lmpossi-
BILE, to meet. Mr.. Thompson has made a
rich mining strike so he can afford to, erect
a magnificent mansion, furnish ltsfaxu
riantly and purchase a handsome coupe
and a pair OF spanking bays forthe use vi MS
family. Now Mr.. johnson, his neIghbo
moving in the same, or perhaps better So
cietv, is q bank cashier or holds some other
financial position. The sudden splurge
made by Thompson excites in his breast a
spirit of rivalry, which cal only be gratified
by branching out in the same style. In
order to do this he is tempted irresistibly
to appropriate to his own use money be-
longing to others. Having taken the first
step, without being detected, he follows it
by other acts of embezzlement to meet his
family expenses. He may stop even there,
but in ni.e cases out Of ten he engages in
stock, or other wild speculations, with the
expectation of being enabled to cover up
his defalcations or to enrich himself. Sue
cess SO rarely follows such dishonest prac-
tees as to fill our prison cells with con
victed defaulters who are victims of their
own folly.
Young men envy the extravaganza OF
their companions. but they do not stop to
consider that the spendthrift, in ninety
nine cases out OF a hundred, %squanders
money that does not belong to him. Fast
horses, gilded clubs, fancy women, glitter
ing balls, costly dress and gambling heils,
all have destinations which the giddy youth
too often finds himself powerless to resist,
because his gay companions are c%ontinu'
ally painting them before his excited fancy
in such brilliant colors. He may hesitate,
while all the early impressions, made upon
his mind bv pious parents, fit across his
vision like a rapidly moving panorama.
His natural instincts revolt against
the temptation spread out before him,
hut the taunts OF his associates
and an irrepressible desire to rival them, in
their extravagant indulgences, too often
prove so seductive as to allure him from
the paths OF honor and virtue. His
income, consisting OF a limited salary as
clerk, is insufficient to meet his increased
expenditures. The tempter directs him to
the cash drawer in the store, or the larger
deposits in the safe should he have access
to it. At first the sums purloined are
small, and by dextrous management are
concealed from his contiding employer,
Dissipation and other dissolute habits
row upon him, undermining his intellect to
such an extent as to prevent the exercise
OF that precaution which enabled him to
screen his early populations. Emboldened
by his former success in evading detection,
he plunges deeper and deeper into extrava.
CANT excess at his employers expense, un.
til fin lily the community is shocked with
an announcement of his arrest upon the
charge of embezzlement. His relatives are
bowed down with grief; his fast compan-
Ions desert him, and he is left to pine with
in the cold, damp walls OF a felon's dun,
geon.
Thousands upon thousands have been
wrecked upon the shoals of extravaganza,
Notwithstanding that examples of ruined
multitudes lined their course upon either
side to warn them Of impending danger.
These, like the o~ver-confident mariner who
disregards his chart, or warning OF the bril-
liant rayso of the beacon light on the treach-
erous coast, are only awakened to a reali-
cation OF their folly when all is lost
wrecked upon the rock OF extravaganza.