The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-12-17
RHINESTONE AND DIAMOND.

If at some future time, by some
anomalous and unknown shift of pol
| itics, and upheaval Of all convention
atty, a president should be elected by
this country who would upon entering
| the White House tear up the Amin
pets or bare floors in their place; dis
pose of the regal furniture and sup
| plant it with plain, hard-pine pieces;
dismiss the coachman and walk. and
also insist on his family doing the
same: refuse TO maintain a conserva-
tory and turn the vast amount OF
money appropriated for that purpose
back into the treasury, the result
would be highly interesting-an
amusing.
Such a food of ridicule would pour
in on the officials head, that he would
either die of humiliation or be hooted
out of his high station. Insults and
open snubs from foreign ambassadors
would go to swell the world-protest
against his demagogy, as it would be
called, and the press, and with it the
people, would brand his plan and doc
trine Of simplicity, as species OF in
sanity.
In the absence of any such extreme
demonstration, or of any demonsra-
ton in that direction whatever, the
country is drifting into a habit of
p0mp and circumstance which it would
be ridiculous to combat.
AT the same time that it is held to
be vain TO attempt to reform anything
along this line, it may be protested
that this inclination for tinseled show
is bad.
Soon the receptions and dinners at
the White House for this season will
be given. Beginning in January re-
ception will be given to the diplomatic
corps; then TO the Judiciary; to the
congressman; then the reception TO the
army and the navy; and finally the re-
ception to the people. At other times
the justices of the supreme court are
banquetted by the president, as are
also the diplomatic corps; and the
members Of the cabinet. In turn the
members of the cabinet give banquets.
This is a good old custom and it
would be needless to protest against it,
much less to hope for less expense.
Yesterday in nOn-official life the mar
riage of Miss Busch and Count Paul
Won Gontard of Germany occurred at
St Louis. This wedding was planned
with the idea of expanding as much
money as possible. and it is said to
have been even richer in its effects and
in the outlay made, than any Of the
New York functions, including the
Vanderbilt nuptial circus The sum
for the decoration of the church and
the home where the reception took
place is said to equal kings ran
som" No doubt it did. The sum
was put out simply for "show." It's
benefit is that it distributes
working people, tradesmen and !
florists so much money and eventually /
carries it into circulation and into the |
pockets of the people. But the first
principle in the eXtravagant display is !
bid, If only because of its denonStra-
ton Of excessive riches in a time of |
widespread adversely.
For extravagant display and pomp |
is either the creature of or the creator |
Of class. Social brilliancy is the value |
l. -,
1t is the "I-have-it-and- |
distinction of the child. |
and our ariStOcracy differs from that /
of limited monarchy only in the fact
that the English aristOcracy can say
to its social interiors, I-have-it-and-
you-cannot-get-it" The Knickerbock- /
ers of New York have even gone so
far as TO initiate this, by setting up
Dutch ancestry as a barrier to the
G0ulds, and other rich families.
Riches are not prodigal as a rule |
When extravaganza is practiced it is |
on a profit-and-loSs basis. 1t makes |
an expenditure for the purpose of gain
ing entrance either into a higher so
cial class or for the purpose of daz-
cling completely and taking the lead
in the class attained hitherto.
To attempt to eradicate this Gus
tom would be the work of a fool. 1t
is as deep-rooted as government it
self, and national officials drop into n
or a banquet as one of the
earned pleasures of their election. But
what is of interest is the question as
to how far this tendency 10 pomp.
and show can go without
npSerting the simple formalities. if not
the beliefs, of a republican form of
government
That we have drifted fast in this
direction of show is shown by PEI
fer'S protest against expensive fun
erals To bury a senator today it
costs the government on an average !
If S4.542 each. In 1855 Senator RuSk
If Texas, and in 1867 Senator Bell of
New Hampshire, were buried at the
nominal expense to the treasury of 81
zach.