The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-06

than all other causes com b1ued- " nat
was it that sent Gilman to the peniten-
tiary, and Philadelphia Morton to
the watering of stocks, and the life
insurance presidents to perjured state
ments about their asse Is. and has COM
pletely upset our American finances?
What WAS it that overthrow the United
States secretary at Washington, the
crash of whose fall shook the CONT
nent? But why should | go to these
famous defaultings TO show what men
will do in order to keep up great home
style and expensive wardrobe, when
You and I know scores of men who
are put to their wits end. and are
dashed from anuary to Decem Der in
the attempt Our politicians may
theorize until the exp ration of their
terms of office as to the best way Of
improving our monetary condition in
this country; it will be of no use. and
things will be no better until we learn
to put on our heads, and backs, and
feet and hands no more than we can
pay for
There are clerks in stores and banks
on limited salaries who. in the vain at
tempt to keep the wardro be of their
family a. SNOWY as other folks ward
robes, are dying of muffs. and dia-
monds. and shawls, and high hats,
and they have nothing left except
what they give to cigars and wine
suppers and they die before their
time and they viii expect US ministers
to preach about them as though they
were the victims Of early piety, and
after a high class funeral, with silver
handles at the side Of the coffin. of
extraordinary brightness, it viii be
found out that the undertaken is
cheated out Of his legitimate expenses
Do not send me to preach funeral
sermon of q man who dies like that l
blurt out the whole truth. and tell
that he was stran gled to death by his
vvife's ribbons Oar countries are
dressed to death. You are not sur
prised to find that the putting up of
one public building IN New York cost
millions Of dollars more than it ought
to have cost, when you find that the
man who gave out the contracts paid
more than $500 coo for his daughters
wedding dress. Cashmeres of ST. coo
each are not rare on Broadway. 1t is
estimated that there al e 10, QUO women
in these two cities who have expended
on their personal array 81. 600 year.
What are men to do in order to keep
up such wardrobes? Stea1-that Is
the only respectable thing they can
do During the last fifteen years there
have been innumerabie fine businesses
shipvrecl<ed on the wardrobe. The
temptation comes IN this way: A man
thinks more Of his family than of all
the world outside, and if they spend
the evening in descrl bing to MIN lAe
superior wardrobe of the family across
the street, that they can not bear the
sight of, the man is thrown on his
eallantry and on his pride OF family.
and. without transla ting his feelings
into plain language, he goes into ex-
tortion and issuing of false stock, and
skilIfu1 penmanship IN writing some
body elses name at the foot Of a
Prcmissory note; aud they all go down
toge ther-the hus band to the prison,
the wife to the sewing machine, the
children to be taken care of 10y those
who We're called poor relations Q!
for some new Shakespeare to arise and
write the tragedy of human clothes
Act the first of the tragedy "A
plain but beautiful home. Enter, the
newly married pair Enter, simpli-
city of manner and behavior. Enter,
as much happiness as is ever found IN
one home
Act the second =Discontent with
the humble home Enter, envy.
Enter. jealousy. Enter. desire of dis
play
penses- Enter all the queenly dress
makers Enter the French milliners-
Act the fourth The tip-top Of
society. Enter. princes and princesses
Of high life. Enter. magnificent plate
and equipage. Enter. every thing
splendid.
Act the fifth. and last-Winding up
of the scene Enter, the assignee
Enter. the sheriff Enter. the credi-
tors Enter, humiliation Enter. the
wrath of God. Enter. the contempt Of
society Enter. death. Now. let the
silk curtain drop on the stage. The
farce is ended and the lights are out
VIII you forgive me if / say in
tersest shape possible that some of the
men have to forge and to perjure and
to swindle to pay for their wives
dresses? / will say it. whether you
forgive me or not
Again. inordinate fashion is the
foe of all Christian alms-giving. Men
and women put so much in personal
display that they often have nothing
for God and the cause Of suffering
humanity A Christian man cracking
his Palais Royal glove across the back
by shutting up his hand to hide the
I cent he puts into the poor boxi a
Christian woman at the story Of the
Hottentots, CRYING copious tears into
a SIS handkerchief. and then giving
cent piece 10 the collection. thrust
ing it down under the bills so people
will not know but It was a SO gold
piecel One hundred dollars for in
cense to fashion: cents for God
God gives US 90 cents out of every dol
lar The other 10 cents by command
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