The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-11-05
WHOLE NO. 1901.
POVERTY.


However the generality of mankind may
dislike the idea of being poor, still poverty
has its comforts, its convenences, and its adj
-antages. 1t keeps the mind in activity, and
REEVES it from that sort ofstupor into which
VIII. some persons who are what IS called
Well-of in the world, it is liable to fall, that
IS, d"agreeable feeling, which is APPLY
deslgnate', by Geo. Alexander Stephens
nothing e-doshness kind of COM
plant very Epidemic amongst moneyed peo-
pie not IN BUSINESS, but never heard OF
amongst such as. owing to their peculiar
circumstances, find the evils of every day
sufficient for it. ADD ave obliged to leave to-
morrow to provide for itself. 1t, therefore,
gives an energy and spring to the mind
which prevents 1t from sinking into dull
state of apathy, and ftsthe person for en-
terprises and exploits which men in easier
circumstances would shudder at the idea
of undertaking.
Its beneficial influences upon the body
are no less than upon the mind, 1t is
rare thing to hear of poor man being
troubled with the govt or apoplexy. 1t
keeps the body in cool, temperate state,
and the poor man is spared the disagreeable
ceremony of swallowing the nauseous po-
tons of the Apothecary, frequently CON
sequent upon good eating and drinking
among those in other circumstances
Anxiety, too, is generally looked upon as
prejudicial to bodily health and who is
more anxious than the man of money who
is more free from anxiety than the man of
none Few things are more conducive to
health than an active life, and this is the
poor mans portion. Whilst the rich not
unfrequenty shorten their existence by in
dulging in bodily ease and luxury, the poor
man is actively employed in seeking the
necessaries of life, and his health is bene-
fitted by his exertions
Poverty is the best schoolmaster in exis-
tence. 1t teaches men to distinguish be-
tween their real and professed friends, and
gives a more correct knowledge of man
kind. The poor man has no fatterers. He
may meet with rebuffs, and Sights, and
neglects, but he may be sure they are all
realities there is no dattery in them, and
therefore he is not deceived. Neither is
he troubled in giving advice in cases which
he knows little and cares less about; be-
cause, as the profundity of a PERSONS judg-
ment is frequently appreciated according to
the depth of his purse, 4 man that is poor Is
seldom credited for much, whilst, as Don
Quixote says, the rich mans blunders pass
for maxims in the world"
Strange, that with all these advantages,
and many more that can be mentioned, SO
few should choose state so free from care
and anxiety, as that might he, we're people
only satisfied with it. But the fact is, mans
mind is prone to be dissatisfied in every
state, and to be always wishing for
change. Hence, the poor, perceiving con-
venences enjoyed by their less poor neigh
bors which their circumstances Will not al
low, strain every nerve for the attainment
of them, and thus, from grade to grade, up
wards in the scale of society and, after all,
the rich man is far from being the happiest.
The same desire of change still exists, and
he, not knowing the real cause of his ankle
ty, foolishly imagines, that, by still adding
to his wealth, he will increase his happi-
ness whereas, the best change he could
make, and one which would etfectually Sc
cure his happiness and independence, would
be, to become poor. This would teach him
a lesson he never learnt before, and make
true philosopher of him. He would soon
find out, by that means, who were his friends
and who were not, who valued him on ac-
count of his personal worth, and who on
account of his wealth. The circle of his
friends would soon considerably diminish ;
but he would have the satisfaction, which is
worth the whole sacrifice, to know that the
few who stuck by him were true.
We have thus proved, that poverty is
preferable to riches, and have no doubt that
our readers will be convinced, that the
present money mania, a thing which, in
deed, has always existed, but which has
shown itself, according to the opinion of
many, more in late years than formerly,
arises from bad taste and false idea Of
what constitutes happiness.