Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/851

 ETHICS OF WEALTH 837

It is necessary, however, to carry the analysis somewhat farther. The excessive expenditure of wealth in jewelry, pre- cious stones, and extensive wardrobe to gratify a peculiar vanity may be expenditure in a comparatively durable, but at the same time not a highly commendable, form of luxury. Such an expenditure is essentially selfish. This leads us, then, to dis- tinguish between selfish and unselfish luxuries. 1 It would be a truism to remark that the unselfish forms aid more in race development and hence are rather to be desired. Although the terms "selfish" and "unselfish" are trite and commonplace, it is by no means easy to draw a sharp line of demarkation between the two classes. There would be no substantial agreement as to the location of the line. Many persons following Ruskin, and some of the great moralists of this and other ages, have con- cluded, in effect, that practically all luxury is selfish and hence immoral. Many a good soul has felt twinges of conscience at enjoying a comfortable home with luxurious surroundings, while others were in need of the absolute necessities of life. A strong case has been made out against luxury along this line. There is a good deal to be said from this standpoint, but it is a deplor- able fact that the arguments are taken most seriously by the "children of light" instead of the "children of luxury" who need them most. The ethics of citizenship does not demand that we should adopt this line of reasoning and abjure all -lux- uries which seem to be selfish. Certain it is that many luxuries which at first thought seem selfish are in reality not so, but are conducive to the general good. It may not be apparent by what method we are able to make mankind in general participa- tors in the luxuries of our homes, our libraries, our pictures, and our travel. They cannot be direct participators, but the indirect benefits accruing to them are numerous and substantial. Lux- uries can scarcely be termed selfish the results of which conduce to the general good, and it is undoubtedly true that certain lux- uries make us better and more useful citizens. We may as a result be more serviceable to our friends and to the state. The person who has been invigorated by a summer's stay in the

1 Cf. MACCUNN, Ethics of Citizenship, p. 219.