Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-03-10
ENTERpRISlNG MiN.

\ Young man Just liberated from the appren-
ticcshlp of Il common clerk, conccives the idea
of becoming Immensely rich in a few years. and
resolves to open 4 wholesale dry goods store, or
perhaps large banking house. From his late
employers he receives flattcrins letters of re-
commcn:lation, just as qlack medicines receive
putfs from newspapers; and from his mercantile
acquaintance he begs testimonials, just as bad
actors beg applause from the galleries Of theatres.
Armed thus with both the sword and shield
of commercial impostor, he obtains credit; Tor
rows money; ;sopeHs~a,splendd establishment;
employs dozen dashing clerks; marlics belle
who must be attended by train Of lvercd me-
mails; rents first class house on the most fash
ionabc avcnue; receives on deposit the earnings
of laborcrs and scamstresscs; drives splendid
span Of bloudcI horses; gives dinners, evening
parties, and birth day balls; buys box tickets at
the theatre heads the list whenever colnpli-
mcntary benefit is rendered to l.voritc actress;
occupies front pew at church; never oilers
less than a hundred dollars at donation party;
spends the summer at Newport ~ Saiatost;
announces his intention TO visit Paris and l.ol-
don the ensuing spring; borrows, and borrowS
and burrows, till he can borrow no more-and
then. there is startling rlrnur that failure has
occurred, involving in ruin hundreds OF indus
trious and economical people. Tie telegraph
sends the astounding intelligence all over the
country, editors consult their dictionaries for
words to utter their regret and aStoniSlmcnt,
commercial mcn tender their sympathy and en-
press renewed confidence in the integrity of
their unfortunate brother, and the c!catc, poor
again commence their weary Journey at the
bottom of their steep and rugged path Of life.
The author of all this waStcInl extravaganza
I.t ~
pouS libcrally. and all this s,iobbisL admiration,
and this undcscrved sympathy. and all this ld'e-
ously abused confidence, abSentS himself from
public assemblies till the nine days tempest has
blown over, and then comes forth to seek some
new field Of operation, and play the same game
overaSan.
The shycring bcggar who steals 4 web of llan-
mel is promptly arrested and punished. NoSym-
pathysng crowd follows him to tue grim ell
! trance Of the solitary and dreaded abode OF
countcrteiters, thieves, and assa>siiiS. No sor-
rowlul paragraph reluctantly. tells how, in an
evil hour, he committed the unfortunate deed.
And vet how small his poor oiitnSc seems along
side Of the enormous crimes OF the wicked and
reckless vagabond who steals the value OF many
thousands webs of flannel; who, though he neV-
CT earned the daily food of 4 sarvelng dog, yet
often squandercd in Il single nights licentiouS
riot, more than whole years wages of an i'll
llstrous man; who begggared hundreds OF fam
lilies whose humble dwellings he WAS not worthy
to enter; and whoa bankrupt debtor. yet
wasting the substance of Others with the most
shame extravagnce, and covered all over with
the recent stains Of treachery, fnlSchood, iraud
and eXtortion-goeS off the stage lie diSgraced,
not only unpllnished, but with the sympathy OF
most whom he did not rob ?-P,airie Farmer.