The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-11-18

RIsE AND FALL OF FAMILTs.-Evcry
Young man should start in life determined 10
act upon the motto, Nil Despermdun, or
don't giUe up the ship. Let'him, on com.
mencng life, look around him and see who
are the courted and respected of society,
and ask from whence they sprang. In
ninety-nine cases out of hundred he will
find them to be those who, at his age, pos.
sessed as little of the world's3gear, as little
of aid extraneous, as he himself possesses:
men who commenced the world with moth.
ing, and whose advancement in life solely
depended upon their own husbandry, fru-
gality, integrity, and strict attention to busl-
ness.
Most young men consider il great mis-
fortune to be born poor, or not to have cap
ital enough TO establish themselves at once
in good business: this is a very mistaken
notion, for, so far from poverty being
misfortune to him, if we may judge from
that we every day behold it is really a bles-
sing; for the chance is more than ten 10
one in favor Of the success of such young
man over one who starts with money.
Look back twenty years and see who
commenced business at that time with a
bundance Of means, and trace them down
to the present day. How many of them
can now boast of wealth and standing! On
the contrary, how many have become po or,
lost their standing in society, and are passed
by their once boon companions with look
which plainly says, / Eno,C yOu not.
In this country, the wheel of fortune j,
constantly turning, and he who is at zenith
this year, may be at nadir next, and excite
no surprise Itis seldom that the third, or
even the fourth generation enjoys property
or station IN society which was won by
the industry of the first. This constant
change is the natural result of causes in
continual operation. The first generation
starts in life poor, but industrious and hon
est, he resolves to acquire property, and, at
|
command respect. BY dint of long perseve-
rance in business, and the attainment of a
high character for integrity and fair dealing,
he succeeds, (such man never fails,) and
becomes wealthy. His sons succeed him,
perhaps MAINTAIN the character of their faith
er, and add to the wealth he left them; they
were educated to business, and know how
the property they enjoy was acquired But
their sons grow up, and from infancy find
themselves in the lap Of luxury, and rocked
in the cradle Of ease; their mindssare never
turned on business-that is beneath them
they are engrossed in important nothings;
scorn labor; run the rounds of folly: marry
light-headed and fashionable ladies', who
have as sovereign contempt for laborers,
and the useful things of this life, as them
selves; dash away few years in their car
riages; lose their parents; divide the proper
ty; attempt to carry on business; are inca
pable ofmanaging it; fail-struggle to keep
, up appearances and their places in fashion,
able liie-are obliged to retire-wretched
I and miserable at home-and get through
I the world as they can, carrying always the
appearance of shabby gentlemen, and bt
ing looked at askance by their former COM
: palionF. Their children are even more
q miserable than themselves; being brought
up with the idea that labor is degrading
# and that they are superior order, while
e necessity compels them TO resort to some
i means of getting a living; pride and power
I ty are at war with them, and they drudge
4 outa miserable and precarious life.-.4mer'
lean Magazine.