The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-09-02

INCREASING DEsTIrUTIoN IN ZANTE AND CEPH-
ALoNIA-Our dates from Zante are to the 9th
ult. Our correspondent says -" The condi
ton of these places is most distressing. The
disease of the grape and currant vines is MAX
ing rapid progress. The olive groves also be-
gin to show symptoms of disease; and should
they fail, the situation OF these already impo-
verished islands will be most appalling. The
famine is on the increase. Our cities have be-
come literally beggar cities. The needy can
no longer find buyers for the few articles of
apparel which they can dispense with during
this hot weather; and though with scarcely
hope of ever rcdeeming them, they pawn any
thing they possess The square OF the public
pawning establishment is daily SO tbrOnged
with these poor wretches, that policemen are
stationed there to clear the avenues. 1t is
most painful sight to see these poor people,
young and old of both sexes, most of whom
have seen far better days. pale and emaciated,
with eyes speaking a world of woe and suffer-
ing. and with small bundles under their arms
containing the last few articles of apparel left
and now the only hope of their forlorn condi-
ton, wait patiently, often whole day. looking
wistful at the door of that establishment, in
which all their hopes for momentary relief
are centred. 1t is distressing to see those who
have been unable to gain admission during the
day, towards evening stagger homeward in an
exhausted state. to spend another night in ago.
ny. a prey to gnawing hunger. And how ag-
gravated the suffering of the despairng mother
| who returns home after day of unfrutful
search. to hear, through the dismal night the
shrieks of her starving offspring, without the
power of relieving their pangs.
The other day l followed couple of women
the one old, and the other young girl, who
had been successful in gaining admission to
| that desirable institution, and pawning their
| little bundle. They fastened to the nearest
bakery seized a loaf of bread, split it in two
| and swallowed it in an instant. could scarce
| ly withhold tears at the sight. | approached
them and added something to their small pit
lance. the last l thought they might probably
have this side the grave. / left the poor crea-
lures with upiiftcd hands, thanking God for the
uncxpecte ted relief thus afforded them.
The extensive building of the charitable
broking establishment is full with bundles of
sheets, cOmtorters, wearing apparel, nay, the
very shoes from the feet Of the needy, are here
| pawned to procure one morscl of bread. The
ladies of this city and in Ccphalonia are indus
triOusly engaged preparing articles to be sent
abroad and sold for the relief OF the INDECENT
The coming winter. it is expected, will he one
of uncommon suffering to all classes
NEVER DEsPIsE Your BUSINESS" No man of
sense" it has been observed, "despises his
| bread and butter; 1t is only those who are
ashamed laboring for II livelihood, or who at
| feet to scorn the branch of business which they
especially pursue. The first duty which every
man owes to himself, to his family, and to his
| fcllow-citzens, is not to become Il burden pecu-
uiarily to society. That commonwealth also is
the most flourishing in which the proportion of
droncs is the fcwcst; indeed the idea of Il per-
feet State involves the necessity of every mem
Der OF it being producer. Hence it is that
| work is always honorable. The most ordinary
| handicraft employment is as worthy, if cXcrcis-
| ed honestly. as the professions of law or medi-
cine. Each citizen should follow that avoca-
ton for which he is best suited, and when he
does this he fullls the law of his existence but
never otherwise. n bad lawyer is less truly
respectable than good mechanic, and an able
doctor is no more meritorious than an honest
labor,r. To do ones duty, in the walk where
one can be most efficient, is to be honorable; to
neglect it, or to seek some other walk, is to be-
come really dsgraced. by this standard. and
this only, should we judge of men S responsible
ity. 1t is time that we republicans banishcd
the arbitrary lines of caste, as applied to the
pursuit OF lif., which are derived from teudal
Europe.
Yet there are thousands of men who are at
heart ashamed of their business. Are they re-
tail vendors? They scorn continuing to make
llOil III thNii oii anu w NAh'"Ah III
the wholesale line Are they jobbers: They
think if they could only be shippers that their
glory would eliminate. Are they mechanics:
They regret that they are not lawyers. Are
they farmers? They think to be in business in
town. Such persons, in their hearts. worship
absurd distinctions, inherited from the social
life of England, and regard the ply stefan, the
politician. or the banker, as really greater men
than common human clay. These are what
Thackeray calls "snobs' men of pretence and
weak folly; men who despisc their own bread
aud butter. The wise man, on the contrary.
seeks independence by steadily attending TO
his business. well aware that an independence.
honestly acquired, is his best claim TO esteem.
1t is young men, or rather lads that are often
est victims to this weakness. Tens of thou
| sands have been shipwrecked in life from hav-
ing chosen pursuit unsuitable to them, tempt
ed thereto by false notions OF the vulgarity of
4 trade, and the superior dignity Of commerce
or profession.