New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-31
RAPS AMERICAN SOCIETY
DR.. BGbbitt, Of Brooklyn, CnticiSss
1t SerereEu

The smart set" he termed it. came in for
some severe criticism at the hands of the Rev DR..
Dean Richmond Babbitt in a sermon on THE Sins
and Follies of Fashion" in the Protestant Episco-
pal Church of the Epiphany, Brooklyn last night.
He said in part:
| am more and more convinced that we of the
clergy must preach clearly pontedly and forci-
ply as possible 70 the sins and foIies of the times
dwell less on the exodus of the Israelites from
from American life. be less pictorial about ancient
Jerusalem and more practical about things hap
through YOU others on behalf of an effort to cor
rect some OF the glaring abuses of American So
There are, many ways to look az the selfish.
Of the so-called smart set" who either seem TO
make crusade to get themselves before the pub
the public as enthusiasts impaIe butterflies for e
mhiton in a museum. Whichever it be- the re-
initiate them. the sober thinking class have a pity
bushes for Them the patriotic american abbnre
them, and the genuine arstocracy of Europe laughs
The amount they spend on their dinners on their
balls, on their automobiles, on their dresses. on
the crowd until you might fancy they were Iuxu-
Tious and spendthrift Patricians of ancient Rome
Now, this class abusing fashion. so endeavor-
the imperlous law of social custom as selfish as
II IS foolish, cannot be excused on any ground
Their example is pesulent 10 democratic America,
tnelr antics violation OF an normal sanity. their
tan morals their lives with all their false glitter
Elc brilliant t1pperY are a personal degradation
make a rapid descent into that Avernus of the
senses where lie buried all the best and choicest of
human aspirations
The recurrent high balls and utter devotion to
brilliant costuming that ostentatiousiy often i'm
modestly exhibits the beauties of bodily FORM the
gambling 10 the wee sma " hours of the morning
in saloons redolent with sensuous atmosphere
tempt many of the younger women of the smart
set either to dangers to their to a disquaii-
cation OF domestic life, with its of wife
hood and motherhood or, when once married. wish
them speedily through the divorce mill" that Pc
cuar diabolism OF the American smart set"
Many wealthy men in this city and country are
utterly unworthy of the endowment of wealth they
carry. and in their ultra devotion fashionable
frittering, shame American manhood and all Chris
tan ideals. Born TO wealth. their aim seems 10 he
TO make laborfous business of trifng, and to kill
both time and money, and incidentally 10 kill them
selves by social exhaustion Many OF these men
are capable Of better things In many OF them by
heredity. has passed into them along with their
endowment OF wealth, the iron physique and the
stored energy of their fathers and of their
and often very commonplace ancestry They need
put 70 throw of the imEeTious thralt of a selfish
sinable life and To be like their fathers useful
ana honored American citizens setting examples
IKE our worthy Mayor. of devotion TO the public
Eooa. or Ike young Cornelius Vanderbilt. pouring
Lle TIDE or their energies along useful channels Of
cAlly service TO mankind.