Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-07-03
EMPLOYMENT OF PATERNAL
WEALTH.


The mischievous. and truly American notion
that, to enjoy a respectable position every man
must traffic, or preach, or practise. or hold an
office, brings to beggary and infdmy many who
might have lived, under luster estimate OF
things useiuly and happily and cuts US of
from a needtu us well as ornamental portion
OF society. The necessity of lnboring for sus.
tenance is, indeed, the great safeguard of the
word-the baii9St, without which the wild pas
sions OF men would bring communities 30 speedy
wreck. But man will not labor without a mo
tire; and successful accumulation. on the part
of the parent depriyes the son of this impulse.
Instead, then, of yainly contcnding against laws
aN insurmountable as those of physics. and at
tempting to d,rce their children into lucrative
industry, why do not men, who have made them
selves opulent, open their ewes. at once, to the
giarng fact, that the cdUSe-the cause itself
which braCed their own nerves to the struggle
Tor fortune. does not eriSt for their offspring
Ihe .fdtcr has toIcn tram lis son his notire
"A motive coniessedly important to happiness
and virtue, i'll the present state of things. He
is bound. therefore. bv every consideration of
prudence and humanity, neither to attempt to
drag him forward without cheering. anmating
principle of action-nor eckleSsy to abandon
him TO his own guidance-nor TO poison him
with the love of lucre for ITSELF but under new
circumstances, with new prospects, at a totally
different starting place from his own, to supply
oiheT mOtircs--drawn from our sensbility to
reputation, from our natural desire to know,
from an enlarged view of our capacities and en-
iioymcnts, and more high and liberal estimate
OF our relations to society. Fearful, indeed, is
the responsibility otleaying youth, without men
tai resources, to the temptations ofsplendid idle
ness. Men Who have not considered this sub
jcc, while the obicots of their affection yet siIr-
round their table, drop no seeds of generous
sentiments, animate them with no discourse on
the beauty Of disinterestcdness, the paramount
value OF the mind, and the dignity OF that re-
nown which is the echo of illustrious actions.
Absorbed in one pursuit, their morning precept,
their midday example, and their evening NOR
al, too often consprc to teach single maxim,
and that in direct contradiction of the inculca-
ton, so often and so variouslv repeated " 1t is
better 20 get wisdom than gold" Right views,
n careful choice of agents, and the delegation,
bdtncs. of strict authority, would insure the OBJ
ject. Only let the parent feel, and the son he
early taught, that, with the command of money
and leisure, to enter on manhood without hav-
ing mastered every attainablc accomplishment,
is more diSgracetul than threadhare garments,
and we might have the happiness to see in the
inheritors of paternal wealth, less frequently,
idle, ignorant prodigals and heart-breakers, and
more frequently, high-minded, highly educated
young men, embelishing, if not called to public
trusts, a private station.
With such a class ornamenting the circles of
our chief cities, we should soon see a modifica-
ton of claims. The arrogance of simple wealth
would stand rebuked before the double title of
those who superaddcd intellectual distinction.
Accomplished minds, finding the air of fashion
able assemblies more reSpirable, would more
frequently venture into them. Society might
be lively, various and intoligent-an alliance of
wit, learning, genius and fortune, on terms OF
Just appreciation. Meanwhile, the higher stand
ard of public sentiment in relation to intellec-
tual pursuits would thrill along the nerves of
literature and the arts, to thousands, who now
act in the belief that money is the true and only
Kalon. With the juster recognition of mental
claims, and the Increasing honors paid TO letters
by the fe,c would follow an increase of respect
in the many. Thence would ensue rectihed per-
ceptions as to mems true aims; calmcr and
RICHTER mind and a less blind subserviency to
, our too-besetting passions.-HWhouse.