KEEPING UP APPEARANCES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2486, 16 June 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

KEEPING UP APPEARANCES.

It has been the aim of this journal to strike at the evils of the day, aud as one of the most glaring and most serious of current errors is that of "keeping up appearances,' , we think a few words on the subject will not be amiss. To the thoughtful mind and close observer, it will readily be seen how many troubles arise from this habit. Homes wrecked, fortunes wasted, domestic ties severed ! Let us take for instance, the prosperous merchant. His own or his wife's ambition, or perhaps that of both, lead him to wish to be ranked socially with the millionaire and his family. To do this, a fine establishment, glittering equipage, costly raiment and elaborate entertainment must be the order of his expenditure. Slowly but surely he sees his outjjo far exceed his income. He ruminatee that when the girls are married and the boys well started in life, mother and he will draw in their horns, He guesses he can stand it a little longer without squealing, and so it goos on. The girls, if married at all, very likely tako someone who has to be provided for as well as themselves (many an instance of this kind will occur to our readers ). The boys, somehow, do not make a success of getting ahead, and suddenly paterfamilias finds he is on the verge of ruin. To bridge over the crisis, mercantile honor is tampered with and desperate risks run, in the hope of tiding over the difficulty, with what success the records of bankrupts, suicides and defaulters show. Another class which swells this record,

is composed of salaried men's familiesmen who fill pqsiticius where the monthly stipend is all they have to look to. Instead of carefully measuring out the allowance to permit of an item of balance fora "rainy day" period, every cent goes frequently faster than it comes in ; by which we mean, the month's pay is anticipated and spent in advance, all to keep up appearance of being as well to do as one's neighbour. The struggling clerk finds his income totally inadequate for suoh demands and defalcation is the reeult. In a society liko ours, where the daughters of a Bank President meet on terms of equality the daughters of the most poorly paid official in the same Bank, the fact almost happens that the poor girl makes a constant endeavour to dress as well, and present as good an appearance as the ricli one, never realizing that to accomplish such a desire some one must suffer. Morality, honor, peace of mind are bound to go to the wall in such a struggle, and for what! Surely it has been the experience of every one—{or each of us has visited where an effort haa been made—to dine with those whom we know and feel are giving an entertainment they aan ill afford ; and how painful it becomes the straining after effect in such hospitality—the stinted wine, the strange hired service, the piece de residence of one grand dish, and the many ill-cooked home-made ones. The youug girl who associates with those better off than herself, is often forced to take the price of a sadly- needed undergarment or a new pair of boots to buy candy, treat ice creams or pay oar fare and matinee tickets in order to keep up the appearance of a full purse. The young man takes what is justly due to others, to sport gay attire, set up drinks, buy fjne cigars and pay social attentions in the way of flowers, bonbons and theatre parties—to keep up the appearance of a social swell. And so it goes on ad infiniturn. We acknowledge there are cases where it would be better if some attempt were made to keep up appearances. For instance, when a church choir faces the congregation its members should pay some regard to the santity of their surroundings, instead of carrying on loud whispered chats between themselves, and bestowing nods and smiles upon their friends in the congregation, bo on a Sunday morning it is well to keep up an appearauce at feast of one's appreciation of the Fourth Commandment instead of choosing tho church-going hour for horsoback rides or driving parties. So, too, the conjugal tie is more respectable when the appearance of mutual regard is kept up than when a " go-as-you-please " pace is indulged in unblushingly by one or both. At some future time we may elaborate these remarks, but these will serve to point out what every intelligent, honest reader will acknowledge is the truth in regard to much that goes on around us daily,