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Editorial
March 1, 1925
Casper Daily Tribune
Casper, Natrona County, Wyoming
What is this article about?
An editorial critiques the 'American Standard of Living' for promoting extravagance, envy, and moral decay, linking it to embezzlement and unhappiness despite material comforts. It calls for changing lifestyles and restoring Christian character through family, school, and religious training.
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Our Standard of Living
An insurance company official who has the direct means of knowing the facts makes the significant statement that the chief cause of embezzlement today is "extravagance, living beyond one's means," because of the ambition to secure "social standing," and this cause has been brought into being by the fact that "family training, school training and religious training have been put on the shelf in many households." In other words, lack of Christian character on the part of parents has very naturally resulted in lack of Christian character on the part of their children. The only remedy for the situation, according to this official, is to "change the method of living and the ideas of happiness of the people."
This is only a lame way of saying that the character of the people must be changed. They have been living according to false standards. They have been possessed or obsessed with the idea that a man's life consisteth in the abundance of the things which he possesseth; that real happiness depends upon the satisfaction of sensual appetites, the gratification of pride of possession, efforts to emulate the style of living of one's richer neighbors, and the arousing of envy and jealousy in the souls of one's poorer neighbors. As an old biblical writer puts it, "The fathers have eaten sour grapes and the children's teeth are set on edge."
It is fortunate, if it is not too late, that people in this country are beginning to realize what a curse to our civilization have been those words: "The American Standard of Living."
They have led multitudes of people to believe that the main end of life and effort is to live in the same style as do their neighbors and they have been prolific generators of envy, jealousy, snobbery and consequent hatred. People now-a-days have a thousand and one more comforts and means of satisfying appetites than their forefathers had but they are no happier, even if they are as happy, which is very doubtful.
An insurance company official who has the direct means of knowing the facts makes the significant statement that the chief cause of embezzlement today is "extravagance, living beyond one's means," because of the ambition to secure "social standing," and this cause has been brought into being by the fact that "family training, school training and religious training have been put on the shelf in many households." In other words, lack of Christian character on the part of parents has very naturally resulted in lack of Christian character on the part of their children. The only remedy for the situation, according to this official, is to "change the method of living and the ideas of happiness of the people."
This is only a lame way of saying that the character of the people must be changed. They have been living according to false standards. They have been possessed or obsessed with the idea that a man's life consisteth in the abundance of the things which he possesseth; that real happiness depends upon the satisfaction of sensual appetites, the gratification of pride of possession, efforts to emulate the style of living of one's richer neighbors, and the arousing of envy and jealousy in the souls of one's poorer neighbors. As an old biblical writer puts it, "The fathers have eaten sour grapes and the children's teeth are set on edge."
It is fortunate, if it is not too late, that people in this country are beginning to realize what a curse to our civilization have been those words: "The American Standard of Living."
They have led multitudes of people to believe that the main end of life and effort is to live in the same style as do their neighbors and they have been prolific generators of envy, jealousy, snobbery and consequent hatred. People now-a-days have a thousand and one more comforts and means of satisfying appetites than their forefathers had but they are no happier, even if they are as happy, which is very doubtful.
What sub-type of article is it?
Moral Or Religious
Social Reform
What keywords are associated?
Standard Of Living
Extravagance
Embezzlement
Christian Character
Moral Decay
Envy Jealousy
Materialism
Social Reform
What entities or persons were involved?
Insurance Company Official
American People
Parents And Children
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Critique Of The American Standard Of Living
Stance / Tone
Critical Of Materialism And Extravagance, Advocating Moral And Character Change
Key Figures
Insurance Company Official
American People
Parents And Children
Key Arguments
Extravagance And Living Beyond Means Cause Embezzlement Due To Desire For Social Standing.
Lack Of Family, School, And Religious Training Leads To Deficient Christian Character.
False Standards Prioritize Material Abundance And Sensual Gratification Over True Happiness.
Emulating Richer Neighbors Fosters Envy, Jealousy, Snobbery, And Hatred.
The 'American Standard Of Living' Is A Curse Generating Unhappiness Despite More Comforts.
Remedy Requires Changing Lifestyles, Ideas Of Happiness, And Restoring Moral Character.