Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1888-10-10
OUR VITAL FORCES.

Drained by the Demands of Ultra FASH
ionable SOciety-Sad Results.
We live In busy age and business
men have little time for homilies. But
there are some warnings to which they
must listen. If they do not heed them,
the same fate lies in store for all. Nature
cannot be thwarted. If there is a run
on bank and the deposits are drawn out
too rapidly the bank must suspend. It
is the same way with our vital forces.
If we drain them more rapidly than
nature can supply the loss the body must
succumb and the mind loses its equilib-
rum. What shall it profit man if he
gain the whole world only to become a
physical wreck2 What happiness does
bis wealth confer on him then? What
pleasure can his family derive from that
wealth when the thought comes that the
father and husband secured it only at the
expense of his body and mind?
The fault is not SO much with the men
as it is with society. There are few men
who do not like to take life easily. They
recognize that q certain amount of effort
shall be expended in order to accomplish
certain results. With some the friction
is less than with others. These are the
men to be envied. But society steps in
and asserts its meretricious standards.
1t declares in n dictatorial way that if a
man desires the entree into the fashion
able circle he must have money and make
an attractive external show. II he has
wife, she must load herself with money
equivalents, and must not walk any more
al. Il d.. I'll Al. L.
the ultra fashionable society is referred
to. If he has some daughters, they must
keep up the standard of the model set
by paterfamilias and materfamilias. This
demands large income. A snowy es-
Enlistment Is not maintained at rea-
sonable cost. The next question is, how
is the man to gain all this2 To most
men and most women social distinction
is prize to be secured, no matter what
tho cost. Albeit like the Dead sea fruit
it is empty and its rewards are deceptive,
the prizes must be gained. If the man is
q business man in the old fashioned way,
unless he has n mammoth establishment
he cannot maintain this expensive luz
ury. To get moro money without drain
ing his business, Inc speculates in stocks
or in grain. He may be successful and
have MI tho money he desires. He may
be unsuccessful and lose all. With the
latter this is the end. We can drop him
into the pit of social oblivion.
Tho lucky speculator once in the whirl-
pool of speculation is like the unlucky
ship in the Norway maelstrom. lie can
not get out. He becomes more and more
fixed in speculative habits. He may
never be unlucky. he may accumulate
ais millions. His wife and daughters
nay wear the most expensive diamonds.
they may cover themselves with the
most gorgeous apparel. But the end is
lear-overwork, nervous exhaustion,
physical BANKRUPTCY.
But society is net altogether to blane.
If man docs not want to enter the up
Jer tendon society docs not compel him
% como in. Tho mans ambition impels
aim within the so called charmed circle,
which has not always So many charms as
1t has annoyances. Society. of the ultra
s>kind is mistaken i'll asserting that fool
: ssh standard that fine feathers mako fine
birds. Old [Esops fable about the jack.
daw with the peacocl,'s feather stucL
into It's tail is rs true in its moral today
rs It WAS y-ll,,---, Z2-11c .-~-cte it. &c &1sh.