The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-23


Teas and big receptions cost much
or little. Some hostesses serve only
cups of good tea with inexpensive
waters or simple sandwiches of plain
bread and butter nuts or lettuce One
woman who entertains constantly says
her friends are the best decoration
her home can have, 80 she never uses
flowers beyond those which are sent
to her. The most expensive small
company IL a cotillon. One given for,
say twenty couples, will easily cost
$780, for the favors of a private cotil-
Ion have TO be novel and of real
value, the decorations u little more ex-
pensive and the supper more elaborate
than for an ordinary dancing party.
But it is really the favors that count.
Suppose, for instance, one favor Is lace
fans for the ladies', the cheapest would
cost 81, and there is $40 right there.
Club cotillons are gotten up much
cheaper. some of the preetiest costing
but $25 for hail and music. For big
parties the bill may easily run up into
thousands. One such party is said to
have cost the host $1,000 for flowers
and electric lights. Weddings, too,
count up high, for there are carriages,
favors, white satin ribbon by the bolt.
decorations extraordinary and the ex-
pensve gowns, music and supper.
Only those who have married Off their
daughters know what weddings cost.
A big wedding may easily eat'up $4,000.
A big evening party. with dancing,
may be given for 800. Electric light
effects may be arranged for about $50.
During season hostess seldom
gives but one large tea and one large
evening party"
To the foregoing must be added the
costs OF sending out invitations. possi-
bly, 500 year; 800 for theaters; 5000
for carriages; at least 5000 for extra
servants or other labor which would
otherwise not be needed; and any
where from $50 10 $1OO for flowers.
totalled in the Press nor have we
the heart to try to supply the missing
addition. 1t is close enough to say
that to keep up with the pace here in
dicated would require for the average
family an income of not less than $10.-
600 a year; for. supplementing all the
expenses mentioned above, we must
not forget to reckon the cost Of keep
ing the father of the family in appro-
pirate society trim. This will certain
ly exceed $1.50.
Is such a scale of luxury profitable
from any standpoint, even to those
who, so far as money is concerned,
can easily afford it? Are the friend
ships which make life worth living de-
pendent upon 1t or necessarily pro-
NOTED by it? Even when this gener-
osity in entertainment is genuine and
not due to the prompting of mere
desire to make a show or a stir, could
not every essential pleasure in the
association of congenial people be ex-
tracted much more economically and
ous]y to works of education and benev-
olence? The figures cited above do not
represent the extremes but rather the
beginnings of social luxury in Amer
lea. For every dollar spent in social
display in Indianapolis today we may,
Judging from the past, safely count
upon SO being spent ten or twenty
years hence. And where the Society
of indianapolis eXpends it's thousands
the society" of our larger and
Weather cities like New York and
Chicago is eXpendng millions. 1t may
be gratifying TO know that the op-
portunities for achieving material
prosperity are such in this prospering
| country that this luxury can be af-
| forded by continually growing num-
| ber; and it may likewise be true that
| the growth in the splendor of those
! whom we nowadays consider rich Is
not greater proportionately than Is the
! growth in the comforts and conven-
fences of the poor. But at the same
time, extravaganza Is extravaganza;
| and it seems strange that business
men who would consider unpardonablt
| the wanton waste of n penny in con.
nection with their commerce or indus
ty can view SO compacently and con-
tribute SO cheerfully to the great
waste, running into the millions, which
is characterizing the American peo.
pies social life and which is increas.
ing at a pace worthy of thoughtful
consideration.