Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-04-30
From the Olive Branch.
Perfection i'm Living.

How few understand the art OF living hap
PLY And is it not strange, when so many have
lived before us, and we might derive the advan-
tage of their experience, that after all We so fail
of attaining the desirable end We begin wrong,
and then keep on wrong, and Of course are doom
ed to end wrong. Take for example newly
married pair. The enquiry is not often what
can we afford, and how can we best consistently
live 2 but what can induce my father to give
me! how handsome an outfit can possibly OBJ
tain ?-The Brussels carpets and long mirrors i'll
the houses of the affuent, did not always hang
there. There was a tedious process of accumu-
lation before sufficient was earned to justify the
outlay. The old man, ten chances to one, sailed
to foreign lands, encountered storms and ship
wreck, but not disheartened, still pursued his
employment, and at length became a successful
owner and retired from his exposed condition
upon the waves. But he has daughter-she
never knew of her mothers anXieties, lest master
and cargo should be lost {; for she was too young
to be distressed with imaginary troubles. She
is to be married; and this same hard earned
money is freely expended, and the new mansion
outvies the old one; but, alas, we fear the expe-
rience of that toling pair wanting to learn the
art of living rightly. The idea that father is
rich and shall never want has ruined thou
sands.
There, too, is the opulent merchant Was
he always so? Some may tell you he once ira
ded in very small way, but they remember too
how carefully he kept an eye to his accounts,
that expenditures should not exceed the income.
Is the son pursuing the same course? Where
he rides, the father walked. When the father
began life, the evenings were not spent at thea
tres nor amusements, but in snug corner with
little square table before small fire, he used
to figure up how much he could afford to pur-
chase for the enlargement of his stock; and
then his prudent wife was willing to dispense
with all useless fnery. How is it now! He is
worth two hundred thousand! Does he enjoy
more at the marble tvble, when the son is vexing
him to know if he may not 60 abroad, as an
apology for doing nothing, than at that little
square one where only one candle shone upon
his Day Book and Ledger 2 He will tell you,
But Frank must be indulged' and the money
is launched out which will unfit him for a busy,
industrious, happy life. Travelling merely to be
idle, never benefited anybody; for they are too
indolent to improve.
| Things that are had for the mere asking, are
not priced like those for which We have toiled.
1t is miserable notion that we must shield chill,
dren from knowing how to labor-aye, and from
actual labor. They never can know happiness
they never will live well.
| When shall we learn that it is not what is
aoitbout but what is aoithin, that gives the true
perfection of livingl really believe the whole
trouble lies in doing rather than overriding
When l see people so vexed because they cannot
procure some one to do for them what they
would feel all the better for doing themselves
my envy for the wealth occasions the torment
ceased. The fretfuness of the present day is
much on the increase, simply because we are sc
dependant on Others. The multiplication o
luxuries, makes the multiplication of servants
We overload our tables, and at the same time
have distaste for viands which no toll has
sweetened. The poor body is put under " elec
tric shocks" because our nerves sre too weak tc
oversee our cook or direct our chambermaid.
We are forced to ride where we should walk
and then complain of the inattentlon OF th'
coachman, and scold him about his carelessness
"Getting ones living" is considered vulgar, ane
as no passport to good society is furnished peo