The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-01-04
From Biskaeas Reporter. I
7ae rich In the United StAtcE
fREIR SONS.

! ThEIR soNa -.,e
Mr. Chambers Of the Edinburg Jodrnab
who recently paid visit to the United States,
has written a series Of articles Descriptive or
the scenes ana incidents of his journey.
From one OF tho latest we copy the follow.
ing passages:
"The persons ia America who seem ID
me to merit compassion most, were not the
poor, for of these there are not many, excspt
in a few large cities, those who are 10 be
pitied, are the rich. Obtaining wealth by
course oil successful industry /; il would ao-
pear as II there was no other means Of spen.'
ding it than rearing splendid mansions, and
furnishing them in style of Oriental luxury,
aud thereafter living in gorgeous magnfi-
cence, like the p,ince-mechan of Genoa id
the past time of Italian glory. So far az
the actual founders Of fortunes are concern.
ed, there is, perhaps, little 10 discommend
in all this but il was disagrceably pressed
on my notice that the sons of these million.
aires, born 10 do nothing but 10 live on their
fathers earnings, wers much 10 be piled
lE New York, there we're seen loungiuz a.
bout idly in the paflofs and bar rooms Of tho
hotels, worn out with dissipation, and tho
nightly victims Of gambling houses, Of which
there are number in Broadway on scale
OF maichless splendour. Among tho viCeS
they have lately thought I'll to Introduce, is
The picture, now obsolete in England, for
encouraging professional pusiIism, the exsr.
else of which OCCASIONALLY leads to serious
affrays.
"ln GfsnI Britain, as we all knor, COM
slderabls part of the fortunes reali zed in trade
is expended In the purchase Of land, and e!-
feeling rural Improvements of various kinds,
the country, by such means, becoming a
useful engine of depletion 10 The town. but
in America, land conveys no honor, and Is
not bought excep, as temporary invest.
nieni, or source of livelihood. Wealthy
men, therefore, would have nothing 10 look
Tor in the rural life beyond the pleasure of
a villa 80 far as could learn, they do not
even so thatienglh, but consume their means
for The most part, in the more seductive but
not very refining enjoyment of the city.
With few exceptions, therefore, families of
any note, do not continue in afiluence mors
than one or two generations. An sold family
| in America, must ever be a kind Of miracle.
The principle which seems 10 be laid down
! is, that family distinction is adverse TO dem.
ocralic institutions; and that, consequently;
each generation ought 10 be felt TO shift for
itself : philosophic rule, no doubt but
which, like many other maxims, il not with.
ou. particular difficulties.
There is much truth in the foregoing. Tho
sons Of The rich are seldom long lived in the
United States. Some sad illustrations could
be pointed out in Philadelphia, There are,
ii is true, exceptions, but in general sense.
the remarks of the Scottish traveller are
founded on truth. "The fathers toll, and the
sons waste" Some Of the former dis6gured
by narrowness, niggardliness and msanness,
while too often the latter squander their pat.
rimony in idleness, proaigacy and extrava-
gance. They are untitled by their course OF
life, for .ths possession of wealth. They
cannot appreciate It's value, and win not en-.
ploy itjudciously, But experience teaches
|
we shall become wiser. Gambling appears
10 be the vice of every new and prosper.
Gus country. The favors of fortune tempt
to indulgence. Witness California. We are
assured that even those who toll the hardest
in the gold mines, are often among The ear.
lies, and most daring at The gambling table,
But, while sdverting 10 the structures OF
Mr.. Chambers, we may notice another CT.
roron the part Of the rich men in this coun-
try. They postpone the distribution ot theft
fortunes until after their decease, aud mean'
| while they keep their chiidrn in a condi.
tion of utter dependence, and when wealth
does como, they arc maddsned by the sad!
den prosperity, and rush into every excess.
A large fortune under such circumstances.
is apt to prove curse, The nature that
has been restrained so long, burst forth into
unwon,ed fury, expenditures are made id
the mos, lavish spirit, and with consequen.
ces truly deplorable. Why should not tho
abundanily rich distribute some OF their sur.
plus means while they yet live! They
would thus have an opportunity OF discover
| iEg the tastes aud habits of their offspring,
and of asceriainng their ability to resist
temptation. Il indeed may be well quess
toned, whether a large fortune left TO tho
young, and without any restraint whatever,
will prove blessing or advantage. The
! difficulty is that of self control and self re-
st;sint. When a young man Is thrown up.
on The world with idle or irregular habits,
with abundant means, and hence without
the necessity Of pursuing any occupation,
the chances are ten 10 one that he will falief
and fail. He at once becomes ID object Of
pursuit for the mercenary sharper, and IL Is
indeed rare that he is able 10 Withstand the
fasciuations of the gambling table, the race
courss, the wine cup and many kindred dis
i sipaiicnc