The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-30
not die at all ii they had TO wait until they

can afford TO have; and the great anxiety
is as TO who shall have the finest house and
the most costly equipage. The weapons
used in the warfare of social life are not
MIME rifles and Dahlgren guns, and Ilotch-
kiss shells, but chairs, and mirrors, and
vases, and Gobelins and Administers.
Many household establishments are like
racing steamboats, propelled at the utmost
strain and risk, and just coming to n ter
rife explosion. 'Who cares" say they,
iii we only come out ahead"
There is no one cause today OF more
financial embarrassment and OF more dis
honesties than this determination at all
hazards to live as well as or better than
other people. There are persons who will
risk their eternity upon one pier mirror or
who will dash out the splendors OF heaven
TO get another trinket.
"My house is too small" "But," SAYS
some one, you cannot pay for larger"
Never mind that, my friends have u bet
ter residence and so will l." "a dress Of
that style and material ! must have. !
cannot afford il 10y great deal; but who
cares for that2 My neghbor has one from
that pattern, and must have one There
are scores OF men in the dungeons OF the
penitentiary who risked honor, business,
everything, in the effort TO shine like
Others. Though the heavens fall they
must he ''in the fashion,"
The most famous frauds Of the day have
resulted from this feeling. II keeps hun
dreds of men struggling for their COM
mcrcial existence. The trouble is that
some are caught and incarccmted ii their
larceny be small. II il he great they
escape and build their castles on the
Rhine. Men get into jail not because
they steal but because they did not steal
enough.
Again: Wrong fashion makes people
unnatural and untrue. II is factory
from which has come forth more hollow
pretenses and unmcaning batteries and
| hypocrisics than the Lowell mills ever
turned out shawls and garments. Fashion
is the greatest OF all liars. II has made
society insinccre. You know not what "a
believe. When people ask you to come
YOU do not know whether or not they
want YOU 10 come. When they send their
regards YOU do not know whether IL is an
expression Of their heart or IN external
ciyility. We have learned 10 take almost
everything at discount. Word Is sent,
"Not ut home" when they are only too
lazy 10 dress themselves. They say: "Thc
furnace has just gone on" when in truth
they have had no fire in il all winter.
They apologize Tor the unusual barrcnness
OF their table, when they never live any
better. They dccry their most luxurious
entertainments TO win shower Of ap-
proval. They apologize for their appear.
ance rs though IL were unusual, when
always at home they look Just ~. They
would make you believe that some nice
sketch on the wall was the work of a
master painter. 1T was an heirloom and
once hung on the walls oi castle; and q
duke gave Il 10 their grandfather PEG.
pie who will not lie about anything elsa
will lie about picture. ON small in.
come We must make the world believe
that we arr aiilucnt, and our life becomes
q cheat, a counterfeit and sham.
Few people are really natural aud mn.
affected. When | say this do not mean
10 slur cultured manners. II is right that
We should have more admiration Tor the
sculpturcd marble than for the unhcwn
block Of the quarry. From many circles
In life fashion has driven out vyacty and
enthusiasm. 4 frozen dignity instead
floats about the room, aud iceberg grinds
against iceberg You must not laugh out
right; Il is vulgar. You must smile You
must not dash rapidly across the noon;
YOU must glide, There il a round Of bows,
and grins, aud batteries, and obs and abs
and Mandy -pambyism-a world Of which
IL not worth one good, round, honest peal
OF laughter. From such hollow round
the tortured guest rciircs at the close oi
the evening, aud assures his host that lac
has enjoyed himself.
Thus social life has been contorlcd aud
dciormed, until, In some mountain cabin,
where rustics gather 10 the quilting or the
apple pairing, there IL morc good cheer
than IN all the ircscocd icc-houscs Of the
metropolis. We want ia all the higher
circles Of society more warmth IL heart
aud natumlncsa Of behavior, and not NJ
many cfrigeutors.
Again: Wrong fashion Is incompatible
with happiness. Those who depend ioF
their comfort upon the admiration II 9th.
ems are subject "a frequent disappointment.
Somebody will criiicisc their appearance,
or surpaSs them in brilliancy, OF will n.
cciye more attention. Oh, the jealousy.
and dctraction, and hcarbumings Of those
who move IN this bcwildcring mazcl
Poor butterflies Bright wing- ~ not
always bring happiness. "shc that livcth
IN pleasure Is dead while she liycth.' The
revelations Of high life that come 81 the
challenge and the fight are only the occa.
sional groupings out Of disquiciudcs that
are, underneath, like the stars " heaven
iuf multitude, but like the demons Of the
pit for hate The misery that will tonight
In the cellar cuddle up IN the straw y not
NJ utter as the princcly disqucindc which
stalks through splendid drawing roonis
broOding over the Sights and oncnscs oi
luxurious life. Tho bitterness of lik
seems not NJ uniting when drunk ont OF
pewter mug as when II pours from the
chased lips Of golden ohalicc. In III,
sharp crack Of the voluptuary's pistol,
putting an end 10 his earthly misery,
hear the confirmation that IN hollow,
iasiidious life there h no peace.
Again. Devotion 10 wrong fashion !.
productive Of physical disease, mental
imbccility and spiritual whitening Ap.
parcl insufficient 10 keep out the cold aud
the rain, or 40 fitted upon the person that
the functions Of life are restrained; late
, hours iillcl with excitement and icasiing.
FREQ drafts Of wine that make one, mol
beaslly intoxicated, hut only fashionnbfy
drunk, and luxurious Incidence are the
instruments by which this unreal liiG
. pushes lis disciples into yalciudinarianisu
/ and the grave. Along the walks Of pros
. porous life Death goes a-mowing
. such harycsts ~ are roapcdl Matcfia
: mcdica has been exhausted 20 find cura.
iiyos for these physiological deyastaiions
? Dropsics, canccn, consumptions, CONT and
, almos, every in6rmity In all the realm oI
pathology have been the penalties paid ia
q counteract the damage. Pharmacy ha,
! gone forth with medicamcnt, panaoca
: elixir, embrocaiion, sllye and caiaplasm
: Tonight, with swollen feet upon cush