The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-08-30
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In Il chapter on life assurance, which
appears in Blackwood's Magazine for,
July: the writer is some what severe
on wealthy men of our day, who are
too scroupulous in their observance nf
the maNims of:Poor Richard" lie
says:
Those who desire TO be absolutely
rich may, if their lives arc spared long
enough, attain that object by sordid
and perpetual pinching, and rigorous
abstinence from the cnjoymcnts, hos
pitalitics, and charities of existence.
1t is not difficult to accumulate cold if
man has courage +. be an Elves; in
deed, cases are almost daily cited Of
apparent panpers, amongst whose rags
and gallimcntrv i'll the corner of some
tctid cellar extraordinary boards are
discovered. No one, however, but a
mere caitill' would addict himself to
this kind Of metallic accumulation; and
it is noticeable that the practice is
chiefly confined to dried up bachelors,
who have either no relatives to succeed
them or who hate their relatives cor
daily Poor wretchcs! II, ere they had
given up the ghost on their ill-lcndcd
couch, and been deposited in tho pal.
try shells which they have bcspokcn
from Il motive Of posthumous ccono.
my, they could obtain vision of the
serene or lively countcnancc of those
who shall walk at their funeral ami di-
vide their gains; iflicy could be pros
pecttiveIy present at the banquet which
is to follow The ceremony. aud witness
the enormous consumption Of liquor
qua!lcd, not in honor Of their memo.
rlcs, but by way of congratulatinn to
the incbriatcl hcirs-if they cnul
hear, by anticipation, the remarks Of
the .Iocular guests: the rctaiIcd ancc-
dotcs Of their mcanncss, and the com
mentarIcs on their cruel scllShncss-
they might possibly, before the spirit
has left the clay ask themselves scri-
ouSly for what end. and either in this
world or the next, they have consent
eel to lead tie life of muckmurms. and
insure the contempt Of their race
For, of all creatures upon the earth,
none is SO dcspicab!c us the miscr. 1t
is not impossible that the pronigatc
may have Il friend, for here is usually
LETT about him some touch of fhumani-
ty-somc one unbrolicn chord Of the
finer feelings of our naturc-but the
mlscr meets with ITO sympathy. lIv-
cn the nurse who is hired to attend
him in his last hours, loa,hes the cIast-
ly occupation, and longs for the mo-
ment Of her release although the
death damp is already gathering on
his brow the thoughts oflhc departing
sincr are still upon his gold, and at The
mere Jingle Of Il key he startcs from
his torpor, i'll II paroNysm Of terror,
lest surrcptitious attempt is being
made upon the sanctity of his strong
box Deeds there are many in that
box; but where arc the deeds that
should have cemtnrtcd the dying man?
What blessings has he purchased for
himself through his long useless Iiit?-
There arc no prayers Of the orphan or
widow for him, not solitary voice
has ever breath d his name to heaven
as Il bcnclactor. One poor penny, Civ
cn away in the spirit Of true charity
would now be worth moro to him than
all the gold that the world contains;
but, notwithstanding that he was Il
Church going man, and familiar from
his infancy in those awful text in which
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