Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-07-08
LUXURY.
Sentiments.


ness and magnihcence in people OF
quality, is in private men extrava-
gance, folly and impertinence.
If sensualty was pleasure, beasts
are happier than men. Pleasures un-
duly taken enervate the soul, make
fools of the wise and towards Of the
brave. A libertine life is not life
of liberty.
| 3 Pray what were you made for?
| (says the emperor Aurelius) for your
pleasures! Common sense will not
bear SO scandalous an answer.
The declension Of manners in any
state is always attended with that OF
empire and dominion.
| Sentiments. ? z 4f|
| What made the Persian troops In
| Cyrus time looked upon to be In
vincible, was the temperate and hard
life to which they were accustomed
from their infancy. Add to this the In
fiuence of the princes example, who
made 1t his ambition to surpass all
his subjects in regularity; was the
most abstenious and sober in his
manner of life, as plain In his dress
and as much Injured to hardships and
fatigue as any of his subjects. and the
bravest and most intrepid in the time
of action. What might not be ex-
pected from a people so formed and
so trained up? By them 1t was that
Cyrus conquered a great part OF the
world. After all his victories, he con-
tinued to exhort his army and people
not to degenerate from their ancient
virtue, that they might not eclipse
the glory they had acquired, but care
fully preserve that simplicity, sobrie-
ty, temperance and love Of labor which
were the means by which they had OBJ
tanned 1t. But, alas it was not long
ere Cyrus himself showed the hrst
seeds of that luxury which soon over
spread and corrupted the whole ma
ton: for being to show himself on
a particular occasion to his new con-
quered subjects, he thought power, In
order to heighten the splendor OF his
regal dignity, to make a pompus dis
play OF all the magnificence and show
that could be contriyed to dazzle the
eyes of the people. Among other
things, he changed his own apparel,
as also that Of his officers, giving
them all garments richly shining with
gold and purple, instead Of their Per-
sian clothes, which were plain and
simple. To be all Of a piece, the
plain and decent furniture Of his
palace was exchanged for vessels OF
gold and silver without number, and
then the most exquisite meats, the
rarest birds and the costliest dainties
were procured, though not without
an immense expense, from the most
distant places. 1t must be acknowl-
edged that the rank Of king requires
suitable gradeur and magnificence'
which may on certain occasions be
carried even to a degree of pomp and
splendor; but princes possessed OF
real and solid merit, have a thousand
ways Of making up what they may
seem to lose by retrenching some part
Of their outward state Of magnificence.
Cyrus himself had found by expert
ence, that king is more sure Of gain
ing respect from his people by the
wisdom of his conduct than by the
greatness of his expenses; and that
affection and confidence produce a
closer attachment to his person, than
vain admiration Of unnecessary
pomp and grandeur. Be this as 1t
will, Cyrus last example became very
contagious; his courtiers, his gener-
ais and officers first caught the in
lection and in time carried their ex-
travagance and luxury to such an ex-
cess as was little better than down.
right madness. This taste for vanity
and expense having first prevailed at
court, soon spread itself into the cities
and provinces, and in little time in
fected the whole nation, and was one
Of the principal causes Of the ruin Of
that empire which Cyrus himself had
founded.
What is here said Of the fatal ef-
fects of luxury is not peculiar to the
Persian empire. The most judicious
historians, the most learned philoso-
piers and the profoundest politici-
ans all lay it down as a certain indis-
putable maxim that wherever luxury
prevails, 1t never fails to destroy the
most fiourishing states and king
doms, and the experience Of all ages
and nations but too clearly demon
strate this maxim.
There is single passage in Herodo-
tus that might supply the place Of
many examples. When Cyrus had re-
ceived an account that the Lydians
had revolted from him, he told
Croesus with a good deal Of emotion,
that he had almost determined to
make them all slaves. Croesus beg
ged him to pardon them. But"
says he, that they may no more re-
bel or be troublesome to you, COM
mand them to lay aside their arms,
to wear long vests and buckskins, /.
e. vie with each other in the ele-
gance and richness Of their dress.
Order them to sing and play on the
harp. let them drink and debauch,
and you will soon see their spirits
broken, and themselves changed from
men to women, so that they will no
more rebel or give you any un-
easiness." The event answered the
advice.
The luxury of Capua destroyed the
bravest army which Italy ever saw,
flushed with conquest, and command
ed by Hannibal. The moment Capua
was taken, that moment the walls Of
Carthage trembled. They caught the
infection and grew fond of pleasure,
which rendered them effeminate, and
Of course an easy prey to their enc
mics.
What was it that destroyed the re-
public of Athens but the conduct Of