The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1851-05-08
From the Pottstown Ledger
THE MERITS OF LIBERALITY.

THE MERITS OF LlBERALLTf.
Lberaliiy is one of the noblest attributes
Of generous spirit; yet there are variop'
reservations and qualifications that shouls
attend the term before il is applied to every
Zone who spends his meney profusely. Some
one says-we don't know who any more
"a man may ostentiously display seeming
iibefali,y in public places, and yet be the
most despicably mean creatures on COD,
footstool. Let US make ourselves understood
land we can do it no more striking way
than in presenting one instance of the. many
that are daily brought to our notice. A man
will enter a public place, and being anxious
to rate as ga whole-seul fellown and be con>
sidered among the travellers as one Of 'em,
he boislerously insists that the whole crowd
shall stand up to the rack and take some
thing while he offers toast that is dsaAh
on the pigmy creatures in human shape who
havnt soul enough TO enjoy a sgin-sling' or
"a brandy-smasher' in a company Of Jolly
b'hoys. Gracious! what liberal and mag
nanimous fellow that win be in the eslima,
ton of certain class of people He's a
fellow with heart big enough to I'LL all out
Of doors, according to their estimate of what
it takes 10 constitute such character But
turn over the picture and look At the other
side for moment Whose money is it
that this extremely liberal fellow is spend
-;-ss--e..s-;..ir- ssos' TINS uwu n you enquire
ten chances to one, you find he owes the
storekeepsr, the tailor, the halter, the shoe-
maker, his washerwoman, his boarding.
house keeper ard every body he can borrow
money of 'for few days only and, as a
matter of course, the printer. II was, there.
fore, no, his money upon which he was
making such bust and when the romance
comes to be taken from his acts, it is found
that he might jast as well have put his hands
into other peoples pockets and taken there's
from the moneyup which he is displaying
such gracious liberality. He can show off,
he can stand treat-hs can appear not at all
to regard the contemplate pelf-he can des
nounce the stingy misers who refuse to Join
him in his carousals of dissipation-and all
the tune be doing il at tae expense of these
very ones he is denouncing.
Now, if there is any meanness that we
loa,hs to an utter scorn, tt is tina, spirit which
fourishes at other peoples expense. We
consider the m an who is guilty of IT, meaner
Gin the words of Mrs Partington.) thnn
parsley, and lowerihan pig--for while the
latter viii get into your feed chest and make
gu,on of himself, he will not affect
munificence at your expense, BY inviting
friendly pigs TO participate.
These are mol uncalled for remarks. We
see every day, men living beyond their in.
comes, when they might live comfortably
within them. There can be no greater mis-
take committed by the man who desires to
live honestly, than by exceeding his means
(when his income is reasonably in his ex-
penditures. AS soon as he does that, he is
getting into somebody else's pocket. To do
il is dishonest--and very bad kind of dis
honesty, too. 1t is swindling economical
men, who are trying to clay up something
for stormy day" out of their hard earn.
ings.
E Now there is one wayto be liberal much
preferable to the false iiberality we have
been condeming ; and it is to pay every man
what you owe him, be ever ready TO assis,
brother in distress, encourage all efforts for
the intellectual and moral improvement of
society, be kind and generous towards your
friends, and wrong no one. This liberality
willnot leave you with the crown of your
hat going fiper,y-iap, il will not rob you Of
your credit, it will destroy your health, and
it will not make you despised by every res.
peclable man. 1t is at least, worth trying.