National Republican., 1888-04-22

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The life Of the society youth Of the day
differs little In the main from that " The
social belle during the height oc the gay
season, when BY the unwrittcn laws Of hls-
pitality in our capital the mny elegant
homes with which It ab)uuls are thro VA
open to the multitude Of strangers who
yearly make It their camping ground. \
large proportion Of our social elements Is
composed Of foreigners imported into our
midst through the numerous legations, rep
rescnting almost every nation of the
globe who, 10y their luxurious and cxpcn-
sivc habits, tend naturally to influence the
tastes of our young men, who in vain
try to follow in the thOughtless footsteps
of those whose means enable them to in
dulgc In all the enticng pleasures Of a fast
life. Gaily they float for while IN the
swift current Of public favor, until at length.
warned hy the accumulation Of I'M
paid bills aud the repeated re.
fusal of indulgent parents to meet
further demands upon their purses, they
turn, rs "dcrniorc resort" to the m'scr-
able subtcrfuge of wealthy marriage aul
n wedding without true love or the posses
sion of any Of the virtues so necessary to in
sure happy home and joyous fireside. What
wonder that our daughters develop into the
hcartlcss coqucttcs they oftimes appear?
Disappointed in their temderest ties they
turn to the world to satisfy the restless
craving for admiration, which Is natural
inheritance Of every daughter of Eve.
Imagine the state Of affairs when young
attachc, whose salary Is barely suti ,ent
to purchase him the ordinary requirements
Of living, drops down into our midst from
probably some quiet town of the neigh
iorug isles aud Is left to shift for himself
without pf tlp rpstrniniuU influences
of home or country. He is surrounded With
all the alluring temptations of our gay cap
i,al, and few can withstand its pressure.
Assailcd in his weakness not only from the
mistaken kindness of men but the yet more
subtle power of woman's thoughtlcss de-
nIands In the matter of carriage hire. flow
crs opera boxes, suppers, parties, Nc. can
one wonder that the unwary victim should
fall prey TO the elusive ignus fatuus, which
leads deeper and deeper into the imprcgna-
bic forest of circumstances from which there
is no escapc2 An elopement planned In the
thOughtlcss Ignorance of the true import of
the solemn marriage VOWS developcs into the
mCongcnal union, where the first passion
has come to realize the sad knowledge of
each others total incompatability and lack
of power on the one side to supply all the
countless little luXuries which both have
learned TO regard as necessary to their com
fort or pleasure. Let us take, for instance,
one leaf out of the book of fashionable
young man of the period Rising at noon
after night spent in cards or at ball, he
summons his valet, bathes, and dresses with
iaultless precision, paying strict attention
TO the set Of his necktie, sacrificing
probably half dozen or more
10 the attainment of perfect salts
faction. lie spends considerable time and
thought in the arrangement and precise curl
of his bang, sauntcrs lesurcly down to his
club, drinks glass of scltzer to steady his
nerves, and orders his breakfast. After this
he strolls into the reading room, glances over
the morning papers, being especially inter
Csted in the. sporting news; soon wearyng
of this, an hour or so is spent in idly knock
ing about the balls, Just for practice. Glanc-
ing at his watch, and finding II time for the
regular business Of visiting, he takes final
admiring glance in the mirror, giving an ad-
ditiOnal twitch to his cravat and more up
ward curl to his budding mlstache, sallies
forth armed for conquest. Then begins the
real work Of the day in a round Of reccp-
tions and teas, at-all Of which our hero
hovers like moth about the
glitte;ring ,ss robes OF beauty .,u,h, or in
wheels Of the financial prizes of the matri-
monial market, singeing his wings in the
bcwildcring glare Of their fascinations and
spending his substance in vain desire to
outshine all rivals IN the generosity of his
gifts and the lavish eXpenditureo his slen-
ucI ain ltllcN! w Hut,
with all its attendant expenses, riding acad
emy and club fees, with a long list of others
too numerous to mention, the poor victim
Is soon driven TO secret despair and often
open shame before the end of a few seasons,
unless by chance happy in the winning
Of some prize in the marriage lottery, he
sinks at last saddcrif not wiser man, un-
fit for the responsibilities of life, abur-
den to himself as well as others. If this
state of things continue who will be our
future statesmen-our Calhouns, Clays and
Websters? Who will be the business men
of our country, our financial princes?
Where will be the lawgiyers, judges, and
political giants of coming era when all the
strength of u nations bone and sincw, as
well as brain, will he needed to support the
yrontinuance of a free republic? True
TRit is that gymnasums, riding schools,
hnd field sports for developing Of
emusclc and sinew are yearly becoming
lhmore popular with both sexes but can
Aawcrk of few hours undo the results
",4ahtual disregard of all the higher laws
oi our being? a. p. Il.