Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-09-22
MISCELLANEOUS READING.
GENTEEL POVERTY.

1t has been philosophically remarked that
on half the world do not know how the other
half live. This truth arises less from want
| OF curiosity on the one side than studied de-
ception on the other. Poverty, for instance,
is neither legally nor morally crime, and
yet, aside from its convenience, there is
discredit, in every sense of the word, attach
ed t, it, which renders its possessor very
Jealous of its discovery. In worldly judg
ments we too often find that the sin is in the
detection, not the commission Of the offence.
\ man may live in a garrett, and dine on
stale bread and mouldy cheese, and yet, with
the externals of independence, his company
will often be solicited at the social meal or
festive board But let his domicil and his
means be detected; let his coat lose its fresh
ness, his hat the smoothness, and his boots
their polish, and the felon's brand would not
more certainly excommunicate him than the
poor mans garb. Men often prefer the
suspicion of crime to the suspicion Of penu-
ry.
Poverty and beggary are very distant rela-
tions. The beggar never knows poverty, he
only feels want To him the mere daily ne
cessities ofliie are sufficient. He begs with
out disguise, owns to the world his destitu-
ton, eats the rich mans crumbs, and snores
upon the flint. How different is the condi-
tion of the other. In him, the cravings OF
hunger reflect the blandest of smiles, he talks
OF dinners he never saw; and fancies suppers
he never knew. lie believes himself suspec
ted of meanness because he declines some
picnic or other pleasure party, where the ex-
penses are So much per head. lie never
trSf
secretly searching his pockets, and deducting
the cost from the sum total. lfunder sud-
den windfall he asks his companion to take 4
oyster, he trembles lest his whole fortune
may with the oyster, disappear down the
throat of his quoudum friend Thus the poor
bachelor lives spending one half of his time
in some mysterious occupation, whereby he
receives the means of keeping up ap-
pearances the other half. lie dies, and is
forgotten by all save some intimate friend,
who wonders he is not appointed executor.
But it is the married man, the man Of
family who most deeply feels the miseries
of genteel poverty. HIS personal suterings
are merged in the thoughts of home. lie
would gladly throw off the disguise gladly
resign his fashionable acquaintance, ana
seek his happiness when the days lahors
are over in the bosom of his family. But
the inexorable world decides otherwise. lie
never escape the grindstone to which he is
tied. Country cousins must be entertained,
family reunions given, summer jaunts un-
dertaken. lie knows we'll that as the main
spring Of the whole machinery, if he once
give out, discord and destruction are the in
eyitable result. and he works on, hopeless
and desperate Finally, the anticipated
crash comes. lie loses nothing-he mad
nothing to lose But now he may gain all
for which he SO long sighed. The play is
over, the lights are ell out, and the gaudy
trappngs Of assumed wealth may be replaced
by honest homespun. But it is too late
the Intoxicating bowl of worldly vanity has
become 100 necessary to the depraved taste
to be now resigned. Once it might have been,
but not now. Again he starts upon the fat
al race, again lie for moment hovers above
the horizon, and then forever disappears
from sight, and it is heavens mercy IT his
memory is untanted with gult.-PhH. In
GatTCr.