Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1896-04-30
PENALTIES or LUXURY.
Wealth and Pcsitlon Bring In Their Train
Many Undesirable Accom- paniments.


Wealth and Position Bring In Their Train
Many Undesirable Accomplishments.
Almost everybody who is poor or OF
moderate means is given to occasional,
IL not continual, attacks on the follics
OF the wealthy, and of the absurdities
that people with riches are guilty of.
Great wealth and position, tho lat
ter especially, have their penalties
The children of royal houses are re-
stricted in their pleasures and amuse'
ments, and from their earliest exist
ence are receptacles into which pre-
oepts and knowledge of oil sorts must
be crnmmed in order TO fit them for
their future usefulness.
In some OF the nges of the world, 1t
was not supposed that king could do
OF have anything like ordinary people.
One monarch had kitchen utensils, pots
and pans, made of solid gold; another
went angling with gold fish-hooks. In
neither of these cases was the precious
metal equal to that in ordinary use,
but they were made for royalty and
nothing else would answer. Heirs to
the throne are likely to lead exceeding
ly lonely lives, unless they happen to be
blessed with large circle of brothers
and cousins who can share their amuse-
ments with them. They cannot play
with the children of subjects, rs that
would be contrary to all rule and pre-
cedent. They must not do certain
things, simple in themselves, but sub.
ject to criticism because they do not
smack of the imperial. Some of the
feastng of olden times, as it is de-
scribed, strikes us az exceedingly ride
ulous. We would scarcely care to
have seen pearls mixed with our rice in
order to give II roynl flavor, neither
would we care for salad dressed with
shreds of gold; but these things were
done in those days, and the brains of
thrushes and the heads of parrots were
esteemed necessary dishes for the royal
table. Beans were served with scraps
of amber and similar absurdities were
| INDUCED in, absurdities which would
make present-day guests inwardly re-
solve to do almost anything rather than
accept second invitation to royal
banquet.
All through the management of royal
affairs we find rules and regulations
that would, according to Our way OF
thinking, make life miserable for the
unfortunate victims. Louis XVI. is
said to have had 80 doctors detailed
specially to look after him. That lie
lived was probably one of the most Ne
markable features of the situation.
A royal princess was always kept in
new clothes. 1t was contrary TO court
etiquette for her to wear the same gar
ment again and again, and she was by
court regulations required to wear -four
pairs OF shoes in week. Imagine tn,
distress Of poor little royal girl who
could never indulge in the luxury of ole
and comfortable shoes, but who must
for appearance sake always be seen II
new ones.
II Is useless to ridicule women il
items of extravaganza, when II is wei
understood fact that men have exceed
ed them thousandfold. One of tn,
ancient Romans had his horses collar
set with pearls and trough of ivor,
was provided for him to drink out OF
A nobleman, among other useless ant
absurd extrnvngances, had 40 ladders o
silver made for use about his palaces.
In the natter OF feasts, men seem {,
have gone beyond all sense and reason
and have gormandized in fashion
never even approached by women.
While wealth has its consolation ant
compensations, it has its penalties an,
pains. A young woman suddenly raiset
to enormous wealth by marriage wa
scandalized throughout her husband
entire family because she sat down Of
the floor to play with kitten. 1t WA
such an undignified proceeding and s,
entirely inconsistent with her posi-
ton that it was months before she re
covered from the consequences of sucl
serious indiscretion.
Much is expected of the wealthy
and one may sometimes seriously ques
ton whether great possessions ar
worth the responsibilities that com
with them.-N. Y. Ledger.