The herald., 1897-02-21
LUXURY AND WASTE

Gently Mr.. Bourke Cockran-whom the
west has already learned to distrust as be-
nigmerely mouther of words-declared
that "The woman who, under the i'm
pulse of vanity, orders a new garment
is contributing largely to the increase of
commodities throughout the world In
opposition to this comes the statement
of Bishop Potter: 1.-The amiable sup
position that luxury and extravaganza
put money into circulation, and so pro-
mote beneficient expenditure, becomes,
in the face of our modern civilization.
with its complex and tremendous social
problems, simply monstrous imperti-
nence."
| Much discussion still obtains relative
to the Bradley Martin ball, one metro
politan journal going so far as to de-
clare that pastors like Dr. Rainsforl
are no better than anarchists, while the
Rev. Dixon, in burst of alleged oratory
informs us that if he had the means, ne
would build yacht to cost million dol
lars, that he might travel around the
world and teach men. He does not
state Just what he would teach them,
but we can fancy his sailing up the Red
sea in his million-dollar yacht ana
somewhere overtaking Christ in leaky
boat among his fishermen. Aye we can
even fancy the Rev. Dixon's being cour-
teously condescending to Christ at such
a moment and holding out his jeweled
hand for him to kiss-the wearing of
diamonds, of course. being another
blessing to the poor, as Mr.. Bourke
Cochran and other orators should know.
distinguish an Irish bull from truth. 1t
will be necessary to go back to the A B c
of political economy. We remember that
men are divided into two great classes
producers of necessaries and consumers
of necessaries-and that while We are
all consumers, only very small por-
ton of us are producers, for We must Ill
eat and clothe ourselves, though we
cannot all wear diamond rings. Now,
the number of men who produce nothing
wealthy idlers and their servants and
those engaged in the manufacturing of
luxuries for them-is estimated to be
one-half of the total population. And
the cheaper the price of necessaries the
larger the army that can be supported
by the wealthy and luxurious class.
For example, let us suppose a COM
munity Of 1000 men, wherein it is found
that by working six hours per day IN
producing the necessaries of life, all
were enabled to support themselves.
Now, let wealth step in, with its many
demands of luxury and extravaganza,
and remove 500 of these men for its own
service-servants, jewelers., furriers,
what you willard tAe result is that we
have only 500 left to produce necessaries,
and that they must toll twelve hours
now instead Of six. For men cannot eat
wealth nor clothe themselves with It;
and it is a fact that wherever we find
great wealth, we find even greater pow
erty, for men who produce the neces-
saries of life must toll longer hours be-
cause Of their diminished ranks, occa-
stoned by the number in the service of
luxury.
But Mr.. Cochran says that 1t is a good
thing to stimulate the luxurious crav-
ings Of the rich, because it necessitares
more work for the poor. And 1t is right
here that Mr. Cochran has gone astray,
in company with numerous others, and
we would say to him that it is not more
work and at longer hours-and we have
shown that luxury means both-that
men wish, but less work and shorter
hours, and more food for the body and
for the mind. No nation can subsist on
hard manual toll at long hours ami
little food: such treatment makes surly
cowardly animals of men, and if Mr.
Cochran does not believe it, we would
suggest that he take a glance at the
Mexican army, where the men are sup
ported on few cents day for corn
meal, and where the officers ride into
battle behind the men with drawn re-
volvers to shoot the deserters This is
what luxury means. Wherever we fni
protiigate court and a spendthrift
monarch, we shall find starving peas
antry, regardless of the amount of mon-
ey in circulation.
But how is it that diamonds, and seal
skins. and jewelry, and silks, and fine
paintings, and palatial residences mean |
waste? Simply because the value CT
everything is all contained in the labor !
involved in its production. Gold for !
instance, is found to be worth $40 per |
ounce, troy, because such is the aver
age cost of its production, and the same |
with diamonds, silks, mansions, paint |
ings, etc. Hence, when Mr.. Cockran's |
wealthy lady supplies herself with furs, !
diamonds and fine raiment at an ex-
pense, say, of 100000, at the average
price for labor of $40 a week, we can
readily see that such an expenditure
means 1000 weeks, or twenty years en-
ployment for one man, or one years EN-
ployment for twenty men. And that all |
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