Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-11-02
NJ | S C. E L L A N Y
From The World of london, in Blackwood for Sept
CONSOLATION OF POVERTY

To conclude, there is no greater advan-
tage to o man Of humble fortune in London,
especially, if at the same he be man Of
merit or education, than the apparent equal
ity Of condition desirable from that obsCu-
rity in which each individual is enveloped,
outwardly at least, in the immensely of
London. Whatever may be the dfferen
ces in our social or domestic position -
whether we repose under the roofs Of pal
aces, or enjoy slumber broken by the
tomca.s caterwaulng outside our garnet
tiles whether our pocket-book suffers un
der plethora Of bank notes, or it is our
worse luck to wander along the street
jingling hree-half pence in the lining Of
our brooches whether we are engaged to
dine with Prince Albert at the palace, or
Duke Humphrey in the Park; whether
we walk about in search Of dinner or an
appetite-fore CAD as long as we are not
out at toes or elbows so long as we can
keep the nap on our hat, the grease off our
collar, and the gloves on our fingers, we
are equally citizens Of the great republic
Of London streets, and eligible with the
first man in town TO the highest honors Of
the pare. WE'LL sir, and pray what more
would you have? Can tho Duke Of Nor
cumberland eat more than half pound of
beef-steaks at meal, or imbbe at draught
more than pot of mild porter! Can Es-
terhazy wear more than shirt al a time,
though he may have dozens in his ward
robe Could D'Orsay himself venture to
sport three hats, one on the top Of the 9TH
err, like our friend Peter in the Tale Of a
Ihb2 Can Cecil Forester put on more
than a pair Of primrose kids in the fore
noon, and another in the evening?
Contemplate, then, with the spectaclcs
Of good-humored contentment, how artiii-
cial and intrinsic to happiness are the su-
perlluites Of this life: thanks to discern
ing public, we can command, while heaven
spares us the use Of this right arm as much
food as satisfies the cravings Of nature,
which is all that the great or allluent can
consume while we have one shirt on our
back and the other at the washer woman's,
we nave no occasion to make an inventory
of our wearables. We contrive to procure,
by hook or by crook, good suit of clothes
every year; and, unless man chooses to
roll himself in the kennel, ne cannot wear
out suit Of clothes in less time. We sur
mount Of caput with orr hat, (while d.
Orsay does the same with one of his hats,
and, to all appearance, our heads are
equally furnished. We cannot rival Cecil
Forester in primsose kids but while the
Eear Of Wilton wears well-f;ting blacks,
who will quarrel with us who follow the fash
ion Of the Earl Of Wilton ?
Then, again, rccollect with thank(ulness
the manifold blessings that await poor de-
wills like us, we have nothing 10 lose, COM
pared with those who are embarrassed with
luggage on their journey from this world
TO the next. How much have they not TO
pay for carriage, porterage, overweight
age, custom-house oAicerage, and the devil
only knows what how much Of their SUI
pcrfuity is lost, how much stolen, how
destroyed, how much packing and unpack-
ing for things that, when found, are not
wanted, or that, wanted, are not 10 be
found how much confusion, cmbarrass-
ment, and delay, unknown TO us, whose
knapsacks are slung on our shoulders, and
who pleasantly toddle along, carolIing -.
"A light heart and a thin pair of breechss.
VIII go through the world, my brave boys :.
Again, how fresh and vivid are our sem
satons how sweet 10 us are the sunny
glimpses that ,ciW cross, lighting up some
distant spot Of the landscape with the hues
of the land Of the blessed We have still
something to live for, pleasures are in store
for us, hope tells us we are yet TO be hap
Ply, and we are willing TO hug the dear de-
ceit: easily are we pleased who are &C
customed TO make pleasure our business ::
necessity impelling us to labor, and labor
giving US the means of repose, we groan
not under the oppression of the idle hour,
for the idle hours allotted US are few, and
descend upon our souls like dew upon the
flower. Contemplating both sides of life,
we learn 10 distinguish between the splen-
did and the happy lot. If envy Of great
wealth or greater station, for moment
olsturbs our genteness Of soul, we turn our
regards upon the miserable, and conscience
rebukes our impiety. Content with what
we are, tho end Of our pilgrimage is served
by our struggles TO do better We Jour-
ney pleasantly on, through smooth and
rough, taking all things easily, yet not in
differently, and thanking the great God for
what he has given, and for what he has
withheld