Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/852

 838 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

Adirondacks is likely to become an advocate of parks and breathing places for the congested population of a large city. The luxury of a well-appointed home may cause one to see more clearly the degradation, both physical and moral, involved in the unsanitary homes of the slums. The foreign traveler may return with ideas concerning education and industry and social reform which may be applied advantageously in his own coun- try. He who has enjoyed the effects of beautiful music either abroad or in his own drawing-room may easily become an advo- cate of open-air concerts for the people. The visitor to the British Museum may easily become an enthusiastic friend of the Library of Congress, or may see more clearly the necessity for more and better libraries of various kinds. The economist may not be able to figure out the benefits here with mathematical accuracy from the standpoint of the production of wealth ; but the defense of the elevating and refining luxuries rests upon the broader basis of the development of the race. We must admire that noble and unselfish spirit which religiously abstains from all luxury that more may be directly given to relieve the suffering of the distressed ; but we can scarcely approve the wisdom of that course which cramps and starves the self, and hence retards its development, making it thereby less serviceable to others.

It would seem, then, if our course of reasoning is correct, that the possession of wealth is not without its obligations ; and also that the ethics of citizenship does not demand the abjura- tion of all luxuries, but rather the careful selection of those which are durable and unselfish, and elevating and refining in

their nature.

THOMAS FRANCIS MORAN. PURDUE UNIVERSITY.