Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-02-18


POVERTY A PRODUCER.
Wealth too often resembles the ap.
pies of Sodom,--a gorgeous beauty
hiding a mass of smothering dust
A fitting type Of Poverty are those
miners who, shut out from the light
of day, spend their lives in darkness
and gloom, but bring up to the surface
gold and gems that glitter on the brow
Of beauty or I'LL the overhowing Golfers
of luxury.
Wealth is cheat; and all the more
a cheat, because the sufferers must
maintain their hypocricy. Poverty is
a reality; it follows man like shsd-
ow, growing darker and better defined
by contrast, as he energies into a
stronger light, but becoming fainter
and fainter as he descends into the
gloom, till at last the shadow grasps
the reality. The aim of Wealth is to
display itself. The aim of Poverty is
to elevate itself. This is the secret
why Wealth enervates, and Poverty
clcvates man. We mean not by pov-
erty abiect destitution, but state
wherein all mans powers are called
into exercise by the stern necessities
of nature, in opposition to that nabob-
ical wealth which suffers its possessor
to float chancedirccted, pleasure
seeking. sun-gilded bubble on the
stream of Time.
\ fine sight is the rcsistless rush OF
a long train of ears. its glittcring win
dows affording glimpseS Of beauty and
fashion, its seats crowded with wealth
and station; but what imparts the mo-
mcntuin9 All, away in there is Pow
crty, with sincws of steel and lungs OF
iron, sootv. begrimed, and discordant
voiced, but the soul of the train OF
wealth and fashion. and without which
all their glitter and gaud would be
powerless. The philosophy of the
Greeks was woven into their religion;
and we find the same idea expressed
in their fable of the marriage of Venus.
the celestial beauty. and Vulcan. the
Olympian smith. Beautv-that is a
type of the non-producing classes
wcds not tho high in station. not the
renowned in war. not the perfect III
person. but the strong arm OF Poverty
the producer. 1t is curious to notice
how Providence has linked together
| the different classes and conditions OF
men. to show that none are indcpcn-
dent of the others OF what use is that
fragile beauty. that dcicacv of form
and slightncss of figure in woman.
were it not for the uncoutl strength
of man, his rough joints and his knot
ted muscles?
Poverty IL the great producer. Its
labors, like the pulsations of the heart.
can not intcrmit without death ut once
ensuing. All over the earth. from
sunrise till twilight. and through the
long. still hours of the night, while
the shadows crouch in the corners OF
the room. INCREASINGLY plying the nee
die. or busily at its handicrait. to drive
the wolf from the door. is Poverty. the
great producer. at work Poverty, the
Producer! 1t works like the giant
forces OF nature. invisible till its effects
compel our attention.
Poverty is the great producer OF
Thought. Nearly all the greatest liz
crary productions that now adorn our
shelves rs classics, in whose pages lie
the great thoughts of their generation,
are the liic-blood Of Poverty They
were written with bailiils at the desk
and constables at the door The era
dles of the great are rocked in cot
tages, and Genius tends her foSterlings
amidst the routine of daily toll. And
il is because of this-becausc our lit
eraturc ncstlcs in no gorgeous palaces,
but comes from the hearts of those
who live real lives, and who know
lifc's trials-that it, more than any
other. includes the wide range of hu-
man emotions and sentiments, and
speaks to the heart with force that
no other language and no other litcra-
turc ever possessed.
Poor, blind, but glorious OIL HON
or, the worlds poet. begged his bread
from door to door. but left the legacy
of the world in the memories of his
hearers Milton. too. wore no crown
Of carth's honors and wealth Poor,
blind. alive only because his poverty
and Affections shielded him from royal
malcvolcncc. he made his life, 10 us,
his own words. "a true poem--a com
position of the best and nobles'
things" and he now stands almost hy
the side Of those inspired prophets o.
1 old whose lips had been touched hy .
live coal from the altar of Jehovah
The world knows nothing Of il.
greatest men" Shakspcar. the Prime,
of Poets. was cradled in butcher,
shop: bpt his fame lives. when thos,
who, clad in purple, sat near the
throne, are forgotten. Newton. tn,
great philosopher. begged his colleg,
to remit him the small charge OF q
paltry shilling. And our great mer
have always arisen from the middle
ranks of life. Webster was rocked il
cradle made from a pine log by hi
energetic father, aided only by an au
CUR and axe. Clay was born in I
hovel, and his early life was contin
uous struggle for bread. franklin
the philosopher and statesman, begar
li:s as journeyman printer. Irving
our best-known author, was driver
into publishing by poverty. Mors'
pursued his profession to gain money
to experiment on the electric telegraph
The lives of our artists and sculptorl
all began in humble places, and Ma