AN ANTI-GOLD-WASTE LEAGUE

Press, Volume L, Issue 8581, 7 September 1893, Page 2

AN ANTI-GOLD-WASTE LEAGUE

-«e*~ CE'Uvus in the Leader, In these days, when everybody has, it oneway or another, finance on the brain, it might be well if the monometalliats and bimetallists were to turn their attenttes to the possibility of reenlating in semi way the enormous consumption of gold la the fabrication of articles of jewellery. Il Is estimated that every year gold to tit value of £8,000,000 is devoted to the making of ornaments. The addition made ta the currency iv the same period i* lm than one-half this value. Now that em country after another is striving to taudv liah a gold standard, a thing which caaaot be done without increasing the appreciation of the metal, with the accora*panylng result of depreciating the val—j of everything else, it would am,*} to be desirabie to increase the qoajttity available for coinage by diminiihisf the amount which is devoted to ministering to the vanity of mankind. Bstbow is this to be accomplished ? The days haft gone by when kings and Parliaaaeat* asserted their rights to frame sumptuary laws, prescribing what everybody shuuM wear or refrain from wearing; but thai which cannot be done by theinterfertas* of the State may be accomplished or voluntary co-operation. The giving up of so much golden decoration would be a mortification of the flesh; but this sort of martyrdom finds favour with indlvidaaa; who associate themselves together for to* express purpose of deriving enjoytasct from its practice. The vegetarians nsortay the flesh literally; food reformers deprtre themselves of the pleasure of eating waij* bread; total abstainers from alcohol ae* only reduce their faith to practice, am manifest a desire for the establishment of laws which will prescribe rules death]* with whatever man should-eat, drink, and avoid—when he may indulge in sacs things, and when he should leave them alone; if the non-smokers are not awe* ciated, they ought to be; th«re «• societies for the discouragement of to* use of opium and bhang, and for restrsr ing their supply; there are even organisations for the conversion of comic ssog* into psalm tunes, and there is a Salvstws Army whose chief aim seems to be to convert theatres into barrack rooaiv With so many models to copy froro, * sumptuary league having for its object the restriction of the waste of gold Vt vanities, and the application of the metal to its legitimate purposes only, should not only have a qualified success, but mlgM expect to become immensely fashionable. There would, however, be an oatcry of execration on the part of those who have, or imagine they have, vested interests«» the perpetuation of bad taste; bat there need not be anything of the sort, for Ita quite possible that the movement Mgat bring griat to the jeweller's mill. Ta* demand for ornamentation woald be merely diverted, not abolished. He Bifip* even find more employment in workuig up cheaper materials, so that the quantity of his trade should be enlarged ; but teat is quite a small matter when a great propose is kept in view.