Samuel Smiles：Thrift, Excerpt 203

The vice descends in society,--the middle classes strive to ape the patrician orders; they flourish crests, liveries, and hammercloths; their daughters must learn "accomplishments"--see "society"--ride and drive--frequent operas and theatres. Display is the rage, ambition rivalling ambition; and thus the vicious folly rolls on like a tide. The vice again descends. The working classes, too, live up to their means--much smaller means, it is true; but even when they are able, they are not sufficiently careful to provide against the evil day; and then only the poorhouse offers its scanty aid to protect them against want.

Source： https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14418
Locator：Excerpt 203 · Verified：2026-10-19 · Verification：Short excerpt

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