Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-11-05
THE FIRE SIDE.
JYhnt constitutes ,peaIth7

Whnt constitutes aUedith7
Fank Clermont inherited an estate of twenty
thousand year; having, besides, fifty thousand
pounds in the funds, W hich were left to him by
great uncle.
The ready money was all disposed of before he
was ofage, and ten years after his income was
reduced 10 five thousand per annun. He could
not make il less, one fourth of his property be-
ing so entailed that II was virtually impossible
for hun 10 get ria ct it. lie nevertheless consi-
deredhimself 10 be reduced TO absolute beerary
and became more discontented, perhaps, than il
he had been without the common means of sub
sistence.
He is prosecuted by dUns from morning iii,
night. His equipage is shabby, and he is
looked upon in his own circle as a ruined man,
and of course treated as one. Bv Iii, friends
who have not entirely forsak IN him, he is usual
ly invited IL help off with the fragments of taasts
which have the day before been given to his for
mer titled companions; and his own entertain
ments are attended by those only with whom a
short time ago he would have deemed il a de-
graduation to associate.
AT first he thought Of retrieving his circum-
stances by marriage, and commenced fortune
hunter; but being unsuccessful in an overture
which he made to a lady whose reputed fortune
was two hundred thousand pounds, he gave up
the pursuit in dispair, and has since taken so i'm
moderately 70 drink, that he is fast hurrying
himself TO the grave; SO that, literally, he may
be SAID TO be dying of want, though he is i'm the
receipt of five thousand year!
P-began the world without shillDp but
by unceasing industry, By watching for and Ia
King advantages OF every opportunity by which
money was to he made, and when made. bv
using II most parsimoniously, he has at last sue
cecded in realizing plum tho ultimatum of
his worldly desire, the object which he had in
view from boybood-the hopes of attaining which
caused hls most arduouS exertions to be ssLa-
Dor absque lahore"
He never even allowed himself the indul.
gence Of hackney coach, or ride on horseback
TIL he was worth ESQ, 900; but soon after this
sum was realized, his ideas became more expan-
ded, and he absolutely began to think that he
could afford TO marry widow with ten thou
sand pounds, towards whom he had long felt ra-
Their tenderlY.-Hc made the state of his heart
known, and as the lady deemed it prudent
connection TOO, there was not much hesitation
on her part. Never couple united whose
ideas were more entirely alike. Wealth was
the grand object which they both kept constant
~ IN view, nor did they cease living with their
ancient parsimony till the plum was attained:
but as soOn as ii was, they launched ont, and
now they sport one Of the most splendid equi-
pages III the city. Their entertainments are first
rateIn their line. They have an elegant Coun-
try villa at Richmond, and in fact revel in all
the luxuries ofwealth, and are regarded by ev-
cry one as people of consequence; yet will
venture to say that they spend within Two thirds
OF an income which is not more ample than
Frank Clcrnont's, who finds the whole of lis to
be insufficient to procure him the common ne
cessaries of life.
What constitutes wealth. il not an unamusing
peculatIon--perhaps no two people have ideas
alike upon the subject. a poor man, who is
obliged TO support wife and large family on
pound week, imagioes that hundred year
would procure every luxury that his heart could
desire; while hundred year with gcntlity at
tached toit, is considered to be a most misera-
bic pittance.
Yet there are those who can be C Passing
rich with forty pounds year." but then they
possess that d" wealth OF the mind" that true in
dependence, which makes riches or poverty a.
Ikea matter ofindiGcrence to them. Mr..
man ofprofound erudiiion, was lately EMPLOYED