New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-08
HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF.
THE GROWTH OF LUXURY AND MORBID TASTES
IN ROME AND AMERICA

TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: inclose some extracts on subject that en-
gagged my attention a few days ago. Your readers
may also find the matter interesting and may trace
from the facts quoted similarity making duo
allowance for difference In government in the evils.
vices and habits OF our Nation those Of the ancient
here described. The same agencies that worked
50 disastrousy then appear 10 be active now II IL
Is doubed let tile reader compare the description Of
that ancient people with what he reads and knows
OF present hfe and he can determine for himself
the direction our civilization Is taking. History re-
peats itself" We know Of fashionable folk who use
stomach pump after gorging themselves with an elab
crate dinner and this season fashionable woman has
introduced as a feature OF her drawing room enter
tsinmonts dancing By a young lady OF poor but
respectable family This "yOung lady OF poor bus
respectable family" represents TO us the slave OF the
Roman the difference between them being not so wide
but generation or two can amend II. The suolecs
Of surprise TO the reflective Is. that Amer-
cans should deliberately endeavor to place
this yoke Of mls-called aristOcracy upon their
neck that they should abase themselves to folly ana
ignorance simply because they find it adorned with
gems and aces and Haunting itself in public pnnt'
not discriminating between the merit or talent that
entities IL 70 such distinction and the sycophantic
verbiage Of the reporters OF society news" They
take up a jackass In the skin of lion and shout.
Behold the king Of beasts I" II does not surprise
that the ignorant Roman populsce should have done
this, but disappointed that intelligent we'll
born cultured Americans shouS initiate them, and IKE
Phny, the steady drain OF money, caused
by our love Of foreign Injuries NJ. H.
New-York. July %, 1891.
GThe landowners OF Ceutra Italy had been long
unable 10 compete with the growers Of foreign
lands The stores of sicily and Mrca had been poured
brought 10 the capital In natural course Governors had
sent large quantities to be sold below cost price az Rome
boof, han I'm GOOD
had proved cheaper than by land over rough roads and
bad country, and free trade and the policy Of the Gov
eminent together ruined the corn trade OF the husband
in Italy. The small proprietors or yeomen, could
no longer pay their way or hold their land, and were
bought out by capitalists who sought investments for
wealth gained in subject countries The small farms
gave place to the great holdings Of the rich the vast
superseded tliage slave labor took the place Of free
A few Wild herdsmen and shepherds wandering a.
large with here ard there n slave-gang laborng In
chains. all that could he seen in districts that had
once tren thckly set with thriving VILLAGES. Inc
betoOk themselves 10 the army the city. The does
Of corn the frequent largesses the shows and gazette.
WHO were too INDECENT 10 work but not ashamed to
beg and who could contribute nothing TO the energies
as their means allowed and attracted the ldlers and
lmprovdent who lived upon the bounty OF the rch
settle the deserted regions weaed often OF the rksOme
restraint and Of t unwOnted work, mortgaged or SOLD
bers OF the dlssolnte and needy populace ana vea S
psupers the charity Of the rich To these causes
must be aGded Inc WntOWaru lnuueICe Vi luAur9:
proGlgacy and crime Poybius noted the physical
effects OF the foreign customs that were spreading fas
among the young OF tte ruling classes and pointed
to il a symptom OF decline. The moralists and
satrists Of later days were full OF passionate com
plants Of the luxury which they saw around them
These rsDd changes broke down the moral safeguards
Of the past and gave free vent to morbid appeutes.
The spread Of and license discouraged honest ln
dUstry and weakened harihOOd and strength OF BODY
The sumptuous mansions OF the wealthy the hshponds
bird farms and deer parks which reared Injuries or
Roman tables absorbed unproductlvely the capital wnn
might have maintained multtudes of thriving husband
men and turned all Italy into a garden The riches "
the world had been poured into the Golfers ~ the ruling
classes. but with little benefit TO their own country
which grew poorer Whine large Suns flowed yesriy
back 10 paw for the costly deli tces OF foregh an1s
Plny as the patriot aments the steady drain Of money
caused by the silks and jewels and spices Of the East