Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-10-16
Original Miscellany.


United States bad, within the last twenty
or twenty-five years, become The most ex-
,ravagant people upon earth, was reminded
by person who sat opposite to him that he
must have changed his opinions most unac-
countably within few days; TOR, said he,
il is not week since heard you. while
sitting in the very same place, charge your
countrymen with being almost as avaririous
as the Dutch, and how, would lain learn,
can you contrive TO reconcile two charges
so very opposite to each other? THE
two charges, (replied tie old gerteman)
are not at all rtcnncilable-vanity rem
ders you eytrayagant, and extrayagancek KIM
dies an Unsuitable cupidity in your bo'oms.
Avarice acts in two ways-it prompts TO
Undue acquisition in some, AMI to unlees-
Ing retention in others /; and he is no less
liable 10 the charge Of avarice, who by hard
dealing and extortion wrings from his neigh
bors more money than he ought, in order
to supply his extravaganza, than he VINO
starves himself only 10 hoard up pelf." AS
Ireturned home, revolyed the proposition
in my mind, and could not help thinking
that on question respecting the relative
qualities of avarice and extravaganza, (of
which candor must own that we have our
full share in this country Sir Roger De Co
yerley's decision would come in with great
propriety-" Much may be said on both
sides." send you some OF M desu'iory
thoughts upon the subjects.
Some rich men starye to-day for fear OF
starving tomorrow las man leaps into the
sea to avoid being drowned -and the in
digent often consume in an hour what they
may feel the want of for year as il old
people boarded money because they cannot
want it, and young men threw it away he-
cause il was necessary to their subsistence.
II coretousness, as il has been said, re-
sembles dropsy, extravaganza resembles
madness and it would be as just to pres
crbe laws for extravagants, as il would be
absurd to preach sermons TO idiots.
How often have we seen in our large CT.
ties, fools and coxcombs with their curri.
Giles, and tanlem-gigs, and coaches, dashing
dit and dust upon the sober and the wise,
and soon after walking the streets in po-
verty and rags, and covered with dirt and
dust from the carriages and coxcombry OF
others.
The boarding miser torments himself,
and the spendthrilf Furnishes The innocent.
The former heaps for others, AMI the latter
SKATERS what Others had heaped. Tie
hoarder thinks SO much of the time 10 come,
as to forget the present; while the squan-
derer is so much taken up with the present,
that he lorsets the future. The frs, lives
as If he were never TO die, aud the last as II
he had but day TO enjoy. Both are mis-.
chievous members of society the one oc-
casioning stoppage in the circulation, and
the other causing an h9merrage. The
boarding miser is like fog that inlects the
air; the prodigaI resembles an outrageous
hurricane that dissipates and sweeps away
every thing before il. The hoarder passes
restless nights, though he has nothing to
fear; the squanderer, if he sleeps sound
himself, roLs his creditors of their repose.
The boarding miser is ridiculous creature,
and the prodigal noxious animal.
/ When we are young we keep for old age;
when we are old we save for death. A pro-
.igaI makes pompous feast-and spunges
on the public for a funeral.
The character of covetousness is what
man acquires more through some niggard-
illness or ill grace in little inconslderable
things, than in expenses of any conse-
quence. very few dollars year would
relieve man from the scandal OF avar'ce.
Coyeting what We need not, deprIyes US
of the true use. content and fru.tion OF what
we already have.
Considering an avariclous mans cares,
his fears, and his starting sleep, and that
while he has all the anxious and disiractlng
cares and vexations which attend the pos
session of an estate, he is so bewitched as
to undergo the Inconvenience oil poverty,
the Indebtedness OF his condition would III
duce one to say, that the greatest curse
man may wish another would be that he
may love money and live long.
That man is rich enough who needs not
either 10 fatter or to borrow-and truly
opueat is he who is satisfied. Want lies
in desire.