Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-06-27
The Men Of Science a. Men Of
Wealth.

& w ~
lar aud unfortunate that WEALTH did
not better understand and appreciate the
mode by which il might enoble its des
tiny. Mere wealth is thing of very
low degree. Very little talent and very
little worth may acquire il, by adhereing
10 certain maxims Of attention, industry
and frugality, and still more easy If con.
tent TO practice kind of meanuess. -
But wealth alone is rather a cohtemp,i-
BILE affair. II may raise degree of au-
thorily over poor dependents, or erect a
large house, or buy pair of horses, a
bracelet, or a goblet, but without other
powers than its own il is respected by
none. faaasar4eH1 .aa5. III
- Wealth, then, should use its power in
acquiring that nobility and dignity which
is denied to itself, and will be yielded
only TO the performance of good actions,
the patronage Of Art, or the support of
Science. ,8f aes.s-, -.1rgr.s.sl
In Europe, wealth buys itself Pat
ent Of Nobility; because to titled rank is
yielded respect, which no vulgar mon
ey bags can command. llg19 a .Iaang
Blu, in this country, there are no pat
ens of Nobility 10 be had. There are
no titled ranks. What then must wealth
do to acquire The respect of The people!
II may practice and difTuse works of be.
nevolence. But there is much wealth
that will seek a more selfish mode of H.
lustrating lis own acts. Ii must have
something which will be known, and
while il is useful will shine before the
world, will give sounding bame.--
This ambition is natural, and if exercised
on worthy objects, is even commendable.
How shall this kind of wealth employ it.
self, that il may Illustrate name. @..
a We have hadin modern history. one
most signal example of what ambitious
wealth, employed in encouraging and
adorning the Public Arts, may do. II is
that Of Florenline De Medici, in whose
warm patronage the Arts grew, genius
was encouraged, and Literature flourish
ed. But, alas! how few de Medici have
there been! While we have one such
example, thousands have made large for.
tunes, lived in vulgar wealth, aud died
sortied, corroded like cabbages on dung
hill! 8 atin 6gHi i0
II these men had any perception OF
their true position, they would have
seen, that all their wealth was absolute
~ lost, for any purpose of ambition
The only way in which il could acquire
dignity or respect was TO ally itself with
either Worth or Intellect. To those
who have sagacIty enough TO perceive
this the way is open. Let them take
Science or Letters by the hand, and
while il aids them, elevates itself.
Such was the ense with James Smith
son of England. who sent his wealth to
This transatlantic land to illustrate his am.
bilion and his benevolence. Professor
Henry. who is now here lin the Ameri-
can Scientific Associa.ion) is secretary
of The Smithsonian Institution. Ii is no,
remarkable, that our own country can
furnish no man iif we accept Astor and
his l.ibrary,) 10 do such an act as this!
1t was left to an Englishman TO found in
America the noblesl Institution (excepl
West Poin0 we have! rsarra e.. ,..,y.s
But, men need not have great wealth
to accomplish much in this way. 1t is
only necessary that we should be wW-
ing and then other Institutions may bt
founded. by the Union Of means.
The men of wealth can never serve
their ambition SO well, as when they aid
science and letters. They will never
die, and whoever can unite their names
with the reRown of literature or science
will send them down 10 an admiring pos
terity. IKE Horace, they will have
erected a monument more durable than
brass. bHats M @