The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-09-16
Living Within Means.

The present financial cmbarrassmcnts of the
country, and the frequent failures Of business
men, rcputcd wealthy. give new force to the
homely counsel. Lire uithin yo,r means. This
duty is still more strongly urged by the late
prominent cases of dishonesty which have 50
far aggravated the general pccuniary distress
The habit of living always within ones means
Of promptly dischar2ing every obligation Tor
necessary expenses, is an important safeguard
against dishonesty. The aristocratic and DOM
iuant influence OF wealth in our large cities has
baieinl effect upon all classes of society Ha-
bits Of extravaganza are contagious and every
body lives for outward show. The competition
Of society in New York is the competition of cX-
travaGanCc. To have 4 finer house or costier
furniture to keep more showy establishment
to give more brilliant entertainment to use
more gas-light in day party, or more candles
in an evening one to 90 beyond all precedent
in superfluitcs-this is the ambition of the rich.
And the very rich excite the envy of the less
rich. and the less rich stimulate those of mode
rate income. and these again provoke begin
ncrs and so from the highest to the lowest, it
is one career of fast driving over the same
course. One can not bear to be Outdonc by
nci2hbor or acquaintance to go to parties more
stylish than he gives ; to visit houses fur
nshed than his own and therefore he must af
ford the same. or must hare the same whether
he can afford it or no. With some the love OF
display is constitutional inirmity; others
court the reputation of style and of generous
living and Extravaganza in living often quick
ems invention as 10 the means of living at the
expense of honesty.
To drive a fast horse and to give n brilliant
military picnic may be well enough in its way;
but to pay Tor this by selling bonded sugar and
cotton. and then setting the store Oh fire to con-
ccal the fraud. is not well. That is neither
good tactics nor good morals To speculate in
stocks, so as to make money rapidly. and thus
to rise in the opinion of ones friends. may be
well enough in its place but to do this by bor-
rowing money Of an employer without his per-
mission. ard then to rob his iron safe in order
to pay back what has been already plundercd
from his bank account is neither good financicr-
ing nor good morals.
The temptation to sTch crimes arises from the
eXtravagant habits of the city with respect to
dress. furniture and living. Wealth is here
used for shotc more than in any other city in
the world. The effect of>how is studied in bus
mess in buildings. in furniture, in dress. in eve
rything that money can procure. Where the
English study comfort. and the French elc-
gancc. we study ctIect--mcre show; for the
show of wealth is taken for the substance. and
as We have said, wealth is the passport OF soci
ETY.. Now it is not enough to say that this is
in bad ta-te-though this ought to condcI.la it
but it is bad morality also.
Extravaganza is the parent OF fraud and the
example OF employers in eXtravagant living
has deteroratiug influence upon the morality
OF those in their employment. loung men a,e
tempted TO eXtravagance in dress; and instead
of outstanding their resources for the future
tbev often run into debt, or Overdraw their ac-
counts to meet present excuses, and thus are
tempted to fraud Wives and daughters, by
love ofdisplay, or through envy of their neigh
bors, urge husbands and fathers to habits of ex-
ira, az ,nce that soon bring before them the al
tentative of bankruptcy or fraud. The safe
guard here is to live strictly within your in
come. No matter if you cannot vic with your