bth Sept. Law Jeune, although a great philan-thrapist, can scarcely be considered optimistic in the view she takes of the fas already indulged more: than once resent state of English society. She
in severe diatribes against her own sex and has lately appeared in print in the character of a modern prophetess warning the unwary of the impending doom of the great city. Lady Jeune evidently: considers that a social sword of Damocles is now hanging over London, and that some day it must inevitably fall, to be followed by utter ruin and disgrace for all the unlucky mortals who have not secured a safe retreat in time. Without wishing altogether to echo her pessimistic utterances, we must admit that there is a vast amount of truth in them; and her paper contains so much that applies equally to both east and west that it may be worth while to quote from it in our columns. She says: "'laxation is increasing, rents are falling and the foreigner has robbed the English inventor of his earnings; on every hand the demands of the working classes for higher wages and shorter hours are louder, and among the masses in whose hands is the government of the country, the feeling is fast gaining ground that of what the rich have they should get their share. These are the facts we Dave to face and the crisis has to be tided over; and it can only be overcome in one way and that is by a reduction in individual expenditure and a general lowering of the standard of luxury and style of living which now prevails. It will not alter our lives nor make them less pleasant in reality; but we shall live much more simply and our expenditure will probably be half} what it now is." Lady Jeune adds that London will be just as full and people as agreeable when this wise course is adopted; Society will only return to the simple habits of former days which need not in the least deprive life of all the beauty and refinement of our time. She further remarks that the moderation and simplicity necessitated by the new state of things cannot fail to exercise a salutary effect upon humanity in general. Such restraining conditions will inevitably restore some of the noblest characteristics of our race, which for a time have been laid aside, and whose resumption will doubtless make us more worthy of the traditions of our predecessors. Lady Jeune may be congratulated on the courage and boldness with which she preaches her gospel, a gospel that we may all read, mark, learn and inwardly digest with advantage. There are those amongst us who watch with horror and dread the increased love of luxury and ostentation that is a growing feature of our nation, remembering that in every stage of the world's history, the downfall of a great kingdom
excess. Babylon, Athens, Rome, all bear a tragic record of civilisation that has been pushed to the extremest edge of extravagance, and then given place to ruin and desolation. It is a curious and noteworthy fact that as a nation becomes more advanced and refined an almost vulgar desire for lavish display springs up like a weed in its midst. For what is it but vulgarity? This barbarous notion that a high social standard can be attained by vast expenditure, and that greater clat is secured by spending hundreds of pounds over choice flowers to be tortured to death in a heated ball room. If we look the matter full in the face with the aid of Lady Jeune's search-light, does not fin-de-sidcle humanity assume rather pitiful aspect? We talk ignorantly of Epicureanism almost as if its teaching were sinful; not realising that our own system possesses all the qualities with which we wrongly endow Bpicureanism whose wise doctrines would be a judicious leaven for our mistaken way of life. relinquish what is really only garish vulgarity; and if we could but be induced to recognise our extravagance by that title it would be easy"to let it" go without a pang. Rudyard Kipling says that a well-educated sense of humour will save a woman when religious training and home influences fail. Doubtless the saving attributes of that very desirable commodity would not only be confined to the fair sex if we sought its aid in the present crisis, If we could once be persuaded to see the ridiculous side of our ostentation there would be some hope of bidding it an eternal farewell.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.