AN AGE OF LUXURY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3137, 13 March 1909, Page 4

AN AGE OF LUXURY.

Luxury among the well-to-do seems to be on the increase in most civilised countries. The United States probably leads, with England a good second. Gsinrmy is usually regarded as a country of thrift and simpla living, but Prince Bulow has thought it advisable to utter more than one warning against the growth of extravagance. The London "Daily Mail" remarks that ii: the old days when Germany was poor, and the exhausting effect of the Napoleonic wars was still felt, it was no unusual circumstance for poor officers to go to bed rather than spend their money on gas and candles, but to-day Berlin is witnessing a display of luxury and magnificence unprecedented in its history. All classes appear to be increasing their expenditure, with utter disregard of the menace of coming taxation. According to this paper's Berlin correspondent, go-'rs costing up to £4OO have been freely ordered, furs costing .£I,OOO co £3,000 have been purchased; and boots and slippers ornamented with jewels have sold as high as £lO a pair. One firm of jewellers sold £75,000 worth of pearls alone in a few weeks. Dozhhs of new restaurants do a huge trade all night with people who think eating rare food, drinking expensive wines, and smoking cigars up to 7s a piece, is a high form of enjoyment. Paris is said to be ahead of Berlin, and to differ from the German city in practising refinement' and simplicity in luxury. Rare flowers, the most exquisite table silver of the lightest kind, tablecloths costing £2O a"d £3O a piece, and serviettes at £G a dozen, are some of the manifestations of this spirit of extravagance.