EFTA01133029.pdf

Conspicuous Consumption s own, but it has utility also as putting in evidence would to hi inuch larger consumption of human service than leisure per- a shown by the mere present conspicuous grievance be untrained person. It is a serious [1 formed by an duties t if a gentleman's butler or footman performs his carriage in such unformed about his master's table or habitual occupation may be style as to suggest that his Such bungling work would ploughing or sheep-herding. master's part to procure the service imply inability on the imply of specially trained servants; that is to say, it would and for the consumption of time, effort, inability to pay instruction required to fit a trained servant for special service under an exacting code of forms. If the perform- ance of the servant argues lack of means on the part of his master, it defeats its chief substantial end; for the chief use of servants is the evidence they afford of the master's ability to pay. What has just been said might be taken to imply that the offence of an under-trained servant lies in a direct suggestion of inexpensiveness or of usefulness. Such, of course, is not the case. The connection is much less immediate. What happens here is what happens gener- ally. Whatever approves itself to us on any ground at the outset, presently comes to appeal to us as a gratifying thing in itself; it comes to rest in our habits of thought as substantially right. But in order that any specific canon of deportment shall maintain itself in favour, it must continue to have the support of, or at least not be incompatible with, the habit or tutes the norm of its aptitude which consti- leisure develoment. p The need of vicarious or conspicuous consumption of service, is a EFTA01133029