The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-03-19
WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH IT,

do so and so. would give to this or that
charity; would help this or that deserving
person struggling with poverty I would
purchase the means Of sei.culture or of ed
ucating my family" The real test of char
acter would be to give such person money
and see what lie a0ouiido with it. In nine
cases out Of ten he would not do with it as
he says he would, or perhaps thinks he
would. What would he do with it? lie
would dispose of it just according to his
general character. The honest man would
take it and without loss of time would 90
straight and pay his debts, if lie had any
lie would not choose to keep from these
their lawful property any longer than he
could help it. The ostcntatious man would
consider what article Of show he could pur
chase which would add to the" respectable
ity," of his appearance. lie would buy an
e4u'page and dash up and down street with
apair of bays or dapple browns, or perhaps.
If his desire of admiration were very intense,
he would get match of milk white, and a
coal black. The man of taste would adon
his house with statuary and paintings. part
ly as matter Of aesthetic qualification and
partly of social distinction. II he had a
kind heart as well rs overflowing, means he
would find pleasure in patronizing modest
and deserving genius, and bestow his wealth
with donble purpose Of gratifying his taste
and rewarding merit. The man Of deep
and true affections would first and foremost
think of the natural ties and family obliga-
tons. lie would let the sun of his prosrer-
ity shine upon those to whom lie owed the
earliest debt of gratitude-his father and
mother, if any still survived, who had
watched over and protected him 3eforc he
was capable of approaching the obligation,
who perhaps had straitencd their slender
means to make him what he has since be-
come. lie does what he can to smootl,e
their declining years. The most precious
things about his splendid dwelling are their
aged forms, and the most gratifying fruits
of prosperity is that it gives grateful child
the means of nanifes,ing the affectionatc
care which is due to advancing age. The
man of pleasure would use his newly ac-
1uired wealth in making larger provisions
for the enjoymcnts of the Senses; he would
fill his cellars with more costly and delicious
wines and load his table with a greater pro-
fusion Of luxuries and dcIicacies. lie would
extend his acquaintance among the lovers
OF good living and learn to receive recon
dte and precious lore. The miser would
find it impossible to conceal his ruling pas.
sion. The unexpected acquisition Of wealth,
instead of opening his heart, would only
add fuel to the flame aud make him ten
times as pcnurious as before. Ills only hap
plness consists i'll boarding, or rather in re-
investing at the highest rates of interest,"
1t goes into the vaults of a bank, there to
beget more money to be re invested in the
same way, till its possessor drops at last in
to his grave, having had no more use of en-
Joy'ncnt of his enormous wealth than If lie
had daily dropped his gaas into a crcvice
in the earth. Ills relations to money had
become morbid, unnatural, distorted
Money is a-means and not an end. Its on
ly rational purposes is to supply our natural
wants or to procure the materials of inno-
cent enjoyment. These ends are in fact the
measure Of the value Of money. In itself it
i. as valueless as the sands upon the sea
shore. But when sought for its own sake
it generates insanity. 1t can no longer be
used for its Legitimate ends. Tie irrational
attachment to it is such that no pleasure it
can purchase will compensate the pain which
the parting with it occasions. IT'S possessor
is like Tantalus in the ancient mythology
up to his fps in water and perishing of
thirst. We know beforehand what the
mere sensualist would do with it. lie would
merely multiply lis. visits to the nearest
haunt of dissipation, til|:bis physical system
woHhassink Under mere reckless abuse or
his newly acquired means of self.indul-
gence woald.bs. exhausted. He would he.
come ths common spoil of the reckless and
abandoned, who would regard him and his
new possessions as -thes piratical wrecker
sees the tfesure-ship drifting on his slee
shoFe, in q storm. And what would the
wise and good man do~wjih it9 He would
employ ir rs tbingto be used. and not to
be boarded or thrown away. He will first
applg it ta meet and satisfy the claims of
justice. Short of.this he cannot be satisfied.
aid in tlie midst Of wssitEfnust feei mean
and1 bupiated. Next co,ne>the demands
of iatMal aseation.- TAsy eaanos be repu.
dated by noble soul. Next those Of
ft1endship land. the long scores of private
obIisAseas Last comes. temperate and
smodsss addhignsto haheans Of comfort
.and beaE :. y
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