The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-18

to vague confusion between the demi-monde
and the higher classes. The left-hand queens
elbow those OF the right hand, and the latter
initiate the manners. tone and fashions OF the
former, and sometimes even take leaf out
OF their book They meet secretly to
change condolences about a husband or a
lover. They consider themselves in the light
OF rivals and meet at charity bazaars, races
and hotel tea parties. They employ the Same
dressmaker and milliner'
1t will be we'll to prove by few historical
instances that great calamitous wars have
already been preceded by period OF un-
bridled extravaganza. The typical illustration
is the fall Of Babylon, whose doom, as related
in the Bible, was announced to King Bel
shazzar In the midst Of his wanton revealing
by the prophet Daniel.
The, collapse OF the Roman Empire Was, Of
course, heralded by the most tremendous
and long continued era Of luxury the world
has ever known. The catastrophe was due
to the thrush OF those barbarians who had
long been plundered by the Romans, and
who had therefore contributed to their
luxury.
To turn to a different period OF history, ne
find that the French Revolution was preceded
by the extraordinary eItravagances OF tho
eighteenth century. That was the age OF, the
Pompadours and Du Barrys and Of King
Louis XV.'s unspeakable revels at the Pare.
aux-cerfs.
The Franco-Prussan War Of 1870 was
heralded by the glitter and license OF Ma.
poleon ILLS tinsel empire. 1t would be
wearsome to enumerate all the cases where
great social extravaganza has introduced
great war Such excuses are invariably the
beginnings Of a racial malady whose crisis
is wholesale slaughter.
1t musl be remembered that the extrava-
gance of the last few years has far exceeded
that of any OF the historical periods men
TONED In those earlier periods the mass OF
the people>lived simply and roughly To-day
the craving for luxury has infected every
class or society, down to workmen and peas
ants This point has been we'll brought out
by my friend, Professor Guglielmo Ferrero, OF
Rome, in his last work
why should extravaganza lead to war? Is
not war the one thing that must end the lux
nry with which the people are infatuated?
The answer to these questions is that extrav-
agance produces greed, which leads to war;
Those. who are mad for luxury seek ever
more and more wealth to satiate their de-
sires. One country desires the rich colonies
of it's neighbor. Another country wishes to
hlch the world-embracing commerce, OF its
rival. The jewelled costume balls of London
excite the envy of those who give SSartlan-
apalian feasts in Berlin. The wealth which
has made such extravaganza possible has
also made possible the accumulation of vast
ornaments. The logical outcome OF such
conditions must be that one nation will use
its arms to seize the wealth of it's neighbor
The lesson which the philosopher will draw
from these facts is that if we wish to put an
end to war we must return to simple living
and high moral ideals. War will not be endad
by an agreement to limit ornaments. 1t will
only be ended by the consciousness of every
man that luxury is not a thing worth fighting
for e.o