Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1854-09-20
Written for the Smyrna Times.
Who are ths Happy!
BY ERIGENA.

l.
BY ERIGENA.
How vastly do we differ in our individual
estimate of what constitutes real happiness -
1t is true that what is one mans meat is another
mans poison that after all, this is not to be
wondered at. In the minds of some the highest
state of enioymen; which they may imagine, is
TO lie all day on a sofa and read books of ro-
nance. The i'm ginatlon of others are equally
futile, whose ideas of future state would be
to spend their time in drinking and feastmg.-
Another class Of people think no one can be
happy uAless he is rich; and thus half the world
seem to be striving, at any cost, to get rich,
suffering much present Inconvenience tor the
sake OF harding u money. Now, If we could
| but realize the fact, 1t Is Il tru.tess business
this heapmg up golI-Ienyng ourselves the
Comforts Ut eXistencc-lI order that, by anu
by, we may become wealthy; refusing those
cn rites wa oh yield such great reward to our
secret colsc .uusness OF duty, and those nnu-
merabe Little acts OF generosity that create d
world OF good feeling IN the givcr and receiver.
When We see u man who has accumulated pro-
perry after thus style of selfdenial, we bethink
us OF the words OF "a certain philosopher, who, |
looking at Il r.cn man, SAID: Poor man, he |
lolled day and night, until he was forty, to gain
wealth, and he has been watching it day and
night ever since, for his victuals and clothes!"
True wisdom will ask for only enough-more
than that is dangerous; for the most OF those who
have much buy nothing, nothing but repent
ance with their money. The love of gain, once
fairly rooted IN the heart, Will spread like the
tree on the PLAN of Benores, the many-tibred
Bantam, choking, IN its iron tendrlls and stout
limbs, all the green blossoms of charitable
spirit. We forget the nice relationship and
ties of life, the true doctrine of ependence
:, one upon another, and sit with clenched fists
and ron locked hearts. The path that leads to
riches ana fortune so often passes through the
narrowest deiles 81 meannesS, that an exalted
spirit cannot stoop to tread 1t; and thus 1t Is
that meaner souls and more groveling DISPOSE
tons seem mostly to share the iavors of fortune.
!. Your true philosopher will not coyet Riches
he reasons shrewdly. lie has seen wealth
! sever the bonds OF love, and cement the chains
; Ut hatred. lie has seen riches foster spirit
. OF extortIon, and SOW the seeds OF consciousness
: IN the hearI--he has seen money create more
wants than 1t ever supplied.
, If the world offers any perfect felicity, it lie
in middle estate, equally distant from penury
and excess; it is d calm freedom, secure
tranquility, thankful enjoyment OF ourselves
:, and all that is ours. There is a happy medium
in all things-tollow that and avoid extremes
= and you will secure explcable peace of mlnG
" and hold TO recttude and prosperity. There
is no better evidence OF the excellence Of th,
doctrine, especially as applied to the accumula
. ton of wealth, than the TACT OF the two-fol(
curse that rches SO often entails, being, il
-" many Cases, nl-gouen by tight dealing, and i'll
spent by loose abandoning. Community, to b.
~ most happy, should be most equal in posses
sions,--tor, where we see extreme wealth, W
- are sure to meet the opposite extreme at abjec
- poverty; and all wisdom goes to show that n
one portion of socisty can reach an enviabl
degree OF prosperity while another is grovel
an ling in misery
= We are social beings, and must in grea
~ degree, dcpenu upon the sympathies OF other
~ for our nrPpines, Let him who expects on
cl IS o. sc. y prosper IN the highest de
80 gree, Wnl "a" u;hurs are IN Distress le
- n, =. .u4;.r sdys, cry whether on
- suro - can sin,le while the other
pIacuel :" We 90 not believe the Creator in
IA. teuGed that the greater part of mankind shout
, Is come lnto the world with saddles upon thcl
YER back and brIdles IN their mouths, aud favOre
a few, ready booted and spurred, TO ride the res
v TO death. Yet, il this matter of wealth, peopl
d ~ frequently make great mistake in their est
eir mate of riches, aad count him who owns tn
- largest house and the broadcast lands to be th
nm wealthest If his fellows. Is it so! Let I
lle- see. man may own estates rare gems
.om art, and even mountains, but when tbs wick {
,or life is exhausted, and he dies, he is the ownt
ess, of only six feet OF ground by two
and Now, the poor artist who has visited thu
,ck- mans gallery, has enjoyed his pictures--f
al more, perhaps, than he could who owned ther
a. A man may be rich enough TO dine sumptuou
sure " dozen times day, yet he has appetite f
lent only three meals, and can enjoy no more;
and may have forty horses, and yet can mount b
the one; he may own cellar Of the rarest wine
,ent and Yet can drink but one bottle. He cam
zied pet up rain storm or sunshine for his excl
fea- sise heneht-the poor man must share the
AIRED both equally with him; the same sky is Oy
the all, sh- Tfeas3 geaA yiaG $50
ning LEWIS, prL' ya4sai aiea d