The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-05
AMERICAN WAsTEFULNEsS
Noted Author Criticises an Aston
ishing Trait of a Great People.


From the Chicago Record.
The Rev. John Watson Qan Maclaren)
comes from land of thrift The Scotch.
by the very necessity of their situation
and surroundings, are obliged to be fru-
gal, with results that are apparent TO all
who are familiar with Scotch character.
The prodigalty and wastefulness Of Amer
leans seem to have impressed Mr.. Watson.
He says of them
IF one were placed in a witness box he
might be obliged to declare that they were
distinctly thriftless. An American filings
about his money with gorgeous pro5igal-
ity. Times there are when a hard-bitten.
poVerty-strieken Scot cherishes a bitter
grudge against his more friendly cousin.
1t Is when he follows him into CONT
mental hotel and finds the lackeys despise
his poor walls after the royal largesse they
have just received. We can only stand
aside and wonder at our kinsnian who
gets his money so easily, who holds it so
lightly, who spends it SO lavish,y-a man
surely of very princely habit and far re-
moved above thought of saving And vet
It may be allowed US 10 shake our heads
and have some misgivings as to whether
this prodisality is for the good of indi-
Fldual character and the firm upbuildng
of people. Is the ostenta tious waste of
1000 IN hotels wholesome or justifable
where the menu is bewildering in variety
and the portions supplied beyond all ne
eessity, and more is taken away than is
used? Does il conduce to stability and
self-restraint to be quite Indifferent about
tomorrow and to reserve nothing of to-
days earnings? Have not the farmers
traded reckless.y on the virgin resources
of the land? Have not the forests been
lmprovidently cut down? Is there not ev
eryWhere certain want of prudence and
MANAGEMENT Which cannot in the long run
minister to neral strength or even to ma
terial wealth? If il be true, as is contend
ed, thal every great empire has been built
on thrift, this means that the homelies+
of virtues does not end in the accumuIaS
non OF money, but results in the creation
OF manhood, And the best friends Of
America, therefore, desire that amid all
her prosperity she shall not fall nwav into
improVldence and luxury, but ever retain
and cultivate that habit of simple and Sc
tan fathers"
This reference to the Puritan fathers
suggests TO the mind the difference he
tween the American of the present and Of
former generations. For Americans were
not always wasteful. The founda lions of
the republic were laid by men who were
known for their frusality and small econo-
mes. It Is only since the civil war that
this tendency to conspicuous extravepanca
Whlch Mr.. Watson notes has appeared as
distinctive trait of American character
Habits of wastefulness are not conducive
TO me pest development of a people. Thrift
ana trugality are qualities essential to the
llenest Citizenship, and the nation that
does not develop them is untrue tn itself
Inc extravaganza which Mr. Watson
notes IS not confined to the rich. but is
prevalent among those who might be glad
70 save If assured of safe repositories for
their small sums. No nation on earth
would benefit so much by the establish
inehI Oh postal savings banks as the Uni
ted States. In no country are these insti
tutlons so badly needed for their influence
in intoxicating in the people the habits of
thrift and frugality that characterized the
typical American of preceding general lions