THE SPENDING AGE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 72, 18 December 1919, Page 11

THE SPENDING AGE

« REFLECTIONS ON AFTER-WAR MADNESS: ft is difficult (observes the Now York; "lOveniag Post" editorially) to bo hard on Hie suddenly affluent washerwoman who is investing part of Uor "old man's" ; bewildering wages in mauvo erepo-de-chino garments which are qui to useless' to her, but aro at the samo lime the; banners of her emancipation from tho; need to toil soup-bones several times and wear some ono s cast-off dancing slip-; pers in a snowy backyard. Thousand* who all tlreir Jives had never had a Bropor 'breakfast, sufficient changes of clothing, or a wholesome dwelling naturally lost their heads when they began to "cam eighteen dollars a day—but with tho promise from their union leaders of. thirty liv Christmas, and after that mora; and'more. Tho verv poor whose.-wages; have been rising have a childlike belief that all those green bills will buy every-, thing forever. For a long while, thoy. saved desperately, and it seemed to make no difference in their condition. • Now, a monetary miracle having been wrought, they would make tho-rest of their days; one" enormous outinj, Wo have for many years had our permanent class of extravagant spenders who were expected and exhorted to spend because thev were rich. It.\ seemed desirable that groat fortunes should not li« fallow, Now the. great fortunes are; payiii" great taxes, and those who are Nsir'ji'r orders to .builders of motor-cars-and hats aro not tho members of old wealthy families. Nor arc they of the: nouvcit'u riclm persuasion, for they aro; innocent of .social ambitions, they only: want luxury for themselves. To t lie im-: pression thev make upon society Iney. are superbly' indifferent. They have bo-, come a now lypo which is to-day wi numerous (hat it cannot to ignored. I hey! shun responsibility or lies of any sort. Poring the war they made loud outcry, ti'-iiins't (iovernment: restrictions. Now with full purees they swarm at the jeweller's, furrier's.' haberdasher's. J'ho women display-deathly white iioses and; mouths which, like the poet Neiliard «; nr.npv. are "a visual, shout, of red. The men have- vague. features and cigarette ■ complexions. They travel by subway butthev pay ten dollars for n dinner and; five for a tie. Their assistance, in keep- : ",,-' prices starvation-high for, those who ,\u recognise responsibilities is Riganl'c.. They are helping us to proswtjhc world; withsuch a spectacle, ot shortsightedness. i,nd lack of restraint as.has.not often been-beheld. . ■'. , ,; The explanation of the victory Of; Fiicnding over saving may he in _ho, growth of economic mdenoiidoncft tor. pi] lhe members of a family f.nd in tho; "iVcreav of transient residence. Name : and station no longer depend upon hav-„-a "place" and a bank account. Wh. the disi ppearaneo of neighbours goes tho. iced to maintain,a. position which used; -, )]<. a potent stabiliser. A man «ln«, ~- ,i,rn h pennies in order that: 1.0.ra. wot -sixteen are making more r.tmn R" mar profit by <hem. In this age of he houseless entertaining Is suffering ft; leelie. People entertain theniselves, not' ■ be friends. For what object should a ai' save, except to pay for h* ftin--,-n|» To many that is ,no great, m- %- ntion Tho head of the house has I his ormer state. Wlhmi every one... ke Fan is hailing the flying momenthe nrospeets for sober diligence rre- not reform-w«uW be n restora ion of the old. iTnnestead. the old lingWxmr and «»■ Sy hat bad to to taken care of.