The Nevada Democrat., 1859-09-14
Brains and Money In America.

| The New York Times says "A great TRAN
gular battle has been going on during the last
century between money, birth. and brains
Birth went into the field with the prestige
of many preceding victories. 1t claimed
all the thrones manned all the cOnstruc-
ted forts aud had things its own way at
the start Money early worsted it at certain
points, however; but brains has latterly been
putting both to rout. Over a very considera-
BILE part of American territory brains rule. In
the Slave States birth has power enough 10
make bondsmen of 100000 or 10000 peo-
pie, and money is compelled to support them
in return for their lazy service aud scanty trib-
ute. But elsewhere in our Republic. except in
some prigish villages, and in city or two
where they worship the dollar brains rules it
over labor, guides the pen, directs enterprise
and dispenses the charities. While its sway is
still disputed in this metropolis, it has power to
recast society What was formerly the middle
class is now the irst and the old first is no.
where. The big-brained men go ahead in all
things. They lead in art. science, literature,
and government. If they have the faculty to
convert some of their surplus brains into mon
ey, they are kings and priests. But if unskill.
ed in that most precious modern alchemy, they
still have world springing with oil riches at
their feet. canopy Of azure or OF ebony al
ways overhead, and an air of freedom perpetu-
ally arOunQ tnem. lne mOneyeu men consul
tute the middle class. If they rightly use their
advantage, they can make life quite cOmforta-
BILE, aud, indeed enjoy many o! the prerogatves
of their superiors. BY minglng with men of
taste, literature and science, they really ao
quire some taste themselves, aud may pass, if
modest, for literary and scientific people. The
caprice of the ballot-box has often reward
ed their aspirations with power. If they take
counsel of brains and keep their months shut,
they make good Senators If they mind their
cue they 60 down to posterty as respectable
rulers. Like the middle class in other coun-
tries, their position is really very desirable
one if they only know how to enjoy it. Some
grievous burdens they have to bear. however,
which philanthropy ought to turn its eye to.
They are rather hard up about homes. Some
of them congregate into hotels. where the more
prudent of them find ample employment in be-
ing polite to other mems wives and watching
lest their own come to harm Some vigorously
set out to keep their own houses, but if they do
have to take a noisy set of colOred or other
bOarders who overrun every part Of the estab-
lshment, and if once rebuked, leave in high
dudgeon, supplying their vacant places with
Others still more impudent and clownish They
are shackled by customs Of the most ridiculous
nature, and are slaves to the absurdest fashions.
The women have feet too small for them, and
some unexplained necessity requires them to
go hooped into society. They are not at liber-
ty to live in any one house more than nine
months in year, and are often compelled to
be at charges for two or three separate house.
hold establishments to keep up appearances of
single family"