Extravagant Americans

In two very important items of domestic expense tlie American people are extravagant beyond all excuse. In the matter of food tlie "waste is astounding to all who know of the continental írugality and economy. It would not matter so much that we insist upon having tlie most costly viands if we only had the knowledge of cookery and tlie sensë of saving which would make the most of them. Nine out of ten families might, if thcy knew how, live better at one-half of their present exponditure. But in the matter of elothing the case is, if possibie, still worse. Tliere is littlc or no question of what is becoming, useful, economical or apprppriate to pci-son or pur.se. The only earoisto le in, or as near the fashion as possibie. Silk, if possibie; if not, calicó that looks like silk. Broadcloth, if it can be got; if not, shoddy that imitates it. The expenditure of the man who can afford to live at the rate of $10,000 a year is imitated in brass, or by stealing, by him who is entitled to speud $5,000. Afar off, thp f 1,000 folks are envious and imitative in cheap furniture and dresses whieh wcrald lead to suspicion if every ono did not know them to be the mereat sham. If some of our people of advanced thouglit would give their attention to the subject of moral courage, even if it did no good, it would indioate a line of thought and action novel to the immense majority of our highlytrained, and whollybywhatothersthiiik possessed, men and women. - Providence Journal.