The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-03-09
SOMERSET PA, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8. 1892.
The Effect Is Bad.

There are few people, especially there
are few OF the more artistic sex, who have
not taste for splendor, for luxury, for
the impressive picturesque in human life
and in its manner Of living This is,
however, by no means to say that they
are unhappy if they cannot live magnif-
Gently themselves.
A very small number are able 70 do
that, and large number, We are glad 70
believe, have too good sense 10 do so if
they could. But il is to them a gratiG-
cation TO see what is splendid, 20 read Of
it and to talk about it.
We have not, in America, the Europe
an resource to feed the public fancy-a
court with a king and queen and princes,
and above all, prineesses. One need
spend butts very short time abroad 70
learn how real a place the dcingsof these
personages have in the every day life Of
the common people. They reeur in con-
versation as regularly as the weather and
with infinitely more interesting vsriA-
tons.
There is always a prince with a rum
ored romantic love story, or engaged
princess whose trousseau Is a wonder Of
lace and embroideries, or s royal baby
Just christened, or young couple mar
ried amid popular rejoicings heightened
TO the utmost dramatic effect by flowers
and music, festivals and illuminztions.
A true American girl Of democratic in
clinations is annoyed to find how easy it
is to slip into the habit Of a foreign eoun-
try in these respects, and almost sshsm-
ed 10 discover how resi- is her interest in
people Of whom only few sre'political-
IL important, while many are q burden
upon their nation and thei' very magnif-
icence = reproach.
Yet We have some Of the same sort at
home-moIe crude, less artistic and with
out the carefully arranged effects, and
what might be called the decorum OF
luxury which centuries Of court life and
kingly rule have produced in Europe
We have an indefinite but gorgeous
something called society, which is apart
from all the thousand more genuine, in
telligent and helpful social circles which
pervade the United States
This society does really fulfill one want
OF human nature. It is not ayerse 20
newspaper fame, and the accounts Of its
balls, dinner parties, costumes and equi-
pages supplied daily to the public.
Il has money. It can buy beautiful
things, and the description Of these sat
isfy the Imagination Of many a gay and
sensible country girl, who If she, too,
we're millionaire would spend her mon
ey more wisely than upon trunks full Of
the exiravagAut creations Of Paris
drsssmaker or superAuons jewels enough
TO FIJI showcase
She questions the eItravagance that
spends a fortune for floral decorations
that fade IN a night, and thinks the
money wasted on costumes for famous
fancy dress ball something very nearly
wicked. But she reads Of these things
because they minister to her imagination
and bring scenes Of splendor and beauty
vividly before her eyes
She reads Of the tournament in Ivan
hoe" which we do not expect her to en-
JOY the less for disapproying Of the theo-
" Of tourna ments.
This society news, as 1t is called, Is
widely read, and certainly indicates
something more than admiration on the
part of many people Of the empty, fool
ish and conspicuous mode Of life depict
ed.
The sooner such society is regulated n
the public opinion to the post Of Plctu-
rescue uselessness occupied by royalists
and courtiers in other lands the better
| Y0laFs Companion.