Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-03-12
From the PhilaGelphia American.
Refinement and FrugalitY.


The question is often asked how clergymen
and teachers, and families reduced from af-
huence TO poverty, maintain a respectable
position or limited incomes. The latter class,
particu larls Including people ofreined tastes
and dellicacy both Of body & mind are a mar
We to the uninitiated There is not read
er of this article, but may recall to mind
some widow living in oPulence till the ex-
animation of her deceased husbands es:aIe
reveals that he was insolvent who is then
compelled to retrench TO the EXTREMIST lin
it; or some family of daughters, who wake
from the first grief of orphanage % find
themselves destitute Yet tdey preserve
the quiet elegance ofmanner ,and respecta-
Dility of appearance, which enforces re-
spect and ensures kind attention. the
taoughtiesS and the vulgar call them poo r
aod pfonas bit { asJs yhey are rich in the
clemens Of true in iFpead nee; and wiiss.
seems pride, IS homes. col SC dush ess OF their
wealth. They are not dependent, but SELF
sustaining, It's great mistike to sup
pose that such persons live on presents
from their more fortunate relatives. No
doubt they often receive assistance; bu' il is
the cheerful offering of affection, tentered
as a grace'ui compliment, aud accepted with
out any hurni!iating servIliIy of gratitude.
The main reliance, both ofclergyman and
other educated people of limited means, is
in a frugality in expenditure. Ladies re-
duced to poverty, remain ladies still; and,
their retirement, End the means Of thrifty
occupation and of inexpensive pleasure, in
:he accomplishments which once but swell
ed their expenses. They live the past and
if that past has been well occupieq. its men,
ories are not the themes of repining, but of
mental support and employment. All hon
or, we say, to the graceful, refined and ell
egant poor, cast down, but not destroyed
Those who sneer at them, if there are any
such, must be the nerest vulgarians, inca
Pabie of understanding any thing but mon
ey value, or Of enjoying any pleasure but
the grossest kind of purchased glitter, hug
feeding or drinking, or bar baric dressing
Those are true ladies and gentlemen VINO
have within them treasures Of mind and
spirit, which no wealth can confer, and
of which no reverse can deprive them.
And as to the clergy, they have, or should
have the first constituent of wealth--the
lesson which an apostle was thankful he
had learned, and which any man or woman
of sense may well be grateful for. They
have been taught having food and raiment,
Herewith to be content. Ii is not the abso-
Lutte cost of substance which consumes
large incomes; cut superfuties, luxuries,
fashionable prodigality, and imitative ex-
travagance. Let any family which has free
use otmoney and unlimited credit, compare
outlay, aud they will be astonshed at The
pauciiy o. the one, cnntrasted with the eX-
travagence OF the ether. 1t is pennyworth
OF bread to an into cradle deal OF sack.
Here then is found the secret. The en-
Joyments and luxuries Of tn classes to which
we have referred are free of charge. Edu
Gated people are not driven to expensive iol-
lies for amusement and employment OF their
time, ii they have large income, it saves
them the trouble of devising ways and
means to crafty their tastes. They have
only TO desire, and the wish is gratiied.--
But deprive them OF the means of gratifying
costly inclina'iOns, and they shape their de
sires to their position. They have resour-.
ces which place th-m above slavish de-
psndenca upon money. The ma Z ar WON
en- o. good taste, lorfied by correct princi
2les, can iind intel ectual pleasures almost
withpuJ money and withou! price.
q So is it with siudenLs. whether fer ne
clerical or any o,aer TO sun. So is it
wi these MN o. napPy mihd. ho pursut
handicraft or Commerce as business, ami
find their pleasure in art or literature. Ur
science. They are never at loss for amuse-
ment. Education is wealth to them. l.
places them above The need OF .he costly
foilies which attract unfinished minds,
and gives them in their intellectual resour-
ces never failing supply OF the means Of
enlightened pleasure.
And in his We take it may be placed The
great economic value OF education--educa
ton for the masses. A reading mechanic
laborer, or manufacturer, seldom becomes a
charge to ihe public; never, We may say, ex-
cept by sickness or calamity. The simple
and noble tastes which he Gu tivates save
for him tae money which others squander in
the qualification Of baser appetites. Such
men live happily on incomes which would
siarve people without their mental riches
We are fully persuaded that every enlarge
ment of the opportunity OF the whole people
70 laa to-
ken to improve the popular taste, is pre-
ventive of pauperism, by the influence edu-
cation exerts in enforcing frugality. the
honest pride which leads to true indepen-
dence protects these who possess it from
poverty. Chambers Journal to which We
are indebted for the hint of these sugges-
tions, (though the Journal pursues tram
of thought somewhat different from ours)
does no more than justice TO the "poor and
"proud" in the following remarks:
The genteel poor! name of pity and ridi-
cule to many. iavorite theme % sarcasm
among novelists and dtamatsts ever since
modern faction arose. And yet we do Sc.
riously believe that the genteel spirit is Of
ten not merely a softener o. poverty. but
means OF redemption from it. When the
educated person of the middle classes is re.
duced to peniessn ass, as often happens il
this variable world, what is it that keeps
him from sinking into and being lost in the
obscure multitude but this spirit! what bu
this gives him the desire to struggle a gail
up the slippery slope OF fortune!"
Loves SrKATAGEM THE Shippens
burg (Pa) Democrat relates pretty it'll,
romance oi real life. the parties in whicI
are Young Germans in humble life. Tw,
yousg men formed an attachment for tw,
maldens in their fatherland, and desired L
r marry. The young women reciprocated tn
) tender regard, and were willing to marry tn
: sSains. But the parents we're not satisfie
. with the stgndiap nf thnir A ,,,h,,r-, I,,,,,-.