The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-10-07

SlOuS lOT Oul luIulC "SAioiS' liz
come across a letter written by a
French lady which expresses what l
want to say so much better than
can that will copy it and ask you to
publish it. Let us read and reflect.
ssForewarned is forearmed:'
''Sir-It is often said that one ex-
ample is worth many sermons. Shall
I be judged presumptnons If l point
out one, which seems to me so strik-
ing just now, that, however painful,
I cannot help dwelling upon it?
cit is the share, the sad and large
share, that French society and its re-
cent habits of luxury, of expenses, OF
dress, of indulgence in every kind of
extravagant dissipation, has to lay to
its own door in it's actual crisis OF
ruin, misery, and humiliation.
Bitter must be the feelings OF
many a French woman whose days
Of luxury and expensive habits are at
an end, and whose bills of by gone
splendor lie with heavy weight on
her conscience, if not on her purse.
with us the evil has spread high
and low. Everywhere have the ex-
amples given by the highest ladies in
the land been followed but too sue
cessfully.
EVERY year did dress become more
aextravagant, entertainments more
costly, expenses of every kind more
considerable Lower and lower be-
came the tone of society, it's good
breeding, it's delicacy. More and
more were monde and demi-monde
associated in newspaper accounts of
fashionable doings, in scandalous
gossip. ..
Living beyond ones means be
came habitual-almost necessary
for everyone to keep up with, if not
go beyond everyone else.
"What the result of all this has
been we now see in the wreck of our
prosperity, in the downfall of all that
seemed brightest and highest.
deeply and fearfully impressed by
what my own country has incurred
and is suffering, cannot help feeling
sorrowful when l see in England
signs of our besetting sin appearing
also. Paint and chignons. slang and
vaudevilles, reading doubtfully moral
novels, all in themselves small Of
fences, although not many years ago
they would have appeared very helm
Gus ones, yet they are quick and
tempting conveyances on very dan
gerous high-road.
ssI would that all English women
knew how they are looked up to from
abroad-what a high opinion, what
honor and reverence we foreigners
have for their principles, their truth
fulness, the fresh and pure innocence
of their daughters, the healthy youth
fulness of their lovely children.
'sMay / illustrate this by a short
example which happened very near
me- During the days of the Reyo-
lutions of 1S4S, al the houses in
Paris were being searched for fire
arms by the mob. The one | was
living in contained none, as the mas
ter of the house repeatedly assured
the furious and incredulous Repub-
licans. They were going to lay vio-
lent hands upon him, when his wife,
an English lady, hearing the loud
discussion, came bravely forward and
assured them that no arms We're con-
cealed. You are English, we believe
you: the English always speak the
truth was the immediate answer,
and the rioters quietly left.
''Now, sir, shall be accused of un-
just criticism, OF loving and admiring
your country, as these lines will
prove, certain new features strike me
as painful discrepancies in English
life?
Far be it from me to preach the
contempt of all that can make life
loveable and wholesomely pleasant.
/ love nothing better than to see
woman nice. neat, elegant, looking
her best in the prettiest dress that
her taste and purse can afford, or
your bright, fresh young girls fear
lessly and perfectly sitting their
horses, or adorning their houses, as
pretty as care, trouble and refine
ment can make them.
1T is the degree beyond that which
to US has proved so fatal, and that l
would that our example could warn
you from, as small repayment for
your hospitality and friendliness to
us in our days of trouble.
MAY English women accept this
in a kindly spirit as new-year's S
wish from A French Lady.
December 20.
These evils are creeping on us.