Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1861-02-14
The Children Of the Wealthy.

Cli Vi t4lO wealthy
1t is proyerbial almost that the children o
the rich almost always fall below nediocrty
and become the poor and useless Of their gener
alton. A very little reflection will show the
reason for this. The boy whose parents are in
digent must work, and the labor he is compe lee
TO perform during bis minority teaches him to
be useful to himself and others. The money
which he spends he gains by bis own labors,
and he thus learns to value. Economy is a
necessity with him, land industry becomes habit
Industry and economy are his teachers, and as
he accumulates money he finds that he must al
so become intelligent, as means of improving
and retaining his fortune. The elements ola
sound character are thus developed, and time
only is required to make him rich and inauen-
tia But with the boy whose parents are veal
thy the case Is different 1t il an easy thing
Tor him to extort money from the governor, "
and he sets his mind against any useful occapa-
tion. Surrounded by the luxuries Of life, his
every wish gratiGed, and spending his time in
pleasure he soon looks upon labor Of any sort
as degrading and beneath his dignity. His
physical and mental faculties arc suffered TO fall
into decay, and calculating that the inheritance
he is to receive will last forever, he grows an
IN ignorance Of any avocation by which, il case
OF emergency, he may earn his daily bread ~
We often think how forlorn would be the con
diion of such, should their anticipated riches
take TO themselves wings & fly away Unaccusto
med to toll and incapable Of using their talents
In any useful occupation, what would they be
but genteel vasabonds? They become the hang
ers-on and DEFENDANTS of their friends who are
anxious to shake off the burden. They are the
attaches Of political parties and the most clam
orons OF office seekers. Their presence is an
annoyance 10 every useful circle, and they arc
Stunned by every ono who has anything useful
to do. And even when tho heir comes into
possession Of his inheritance and has sense
enough to keep portion Of it, no is too often
involved with Improper associates who urge in
to extravagant expenditures, of which they may
become the benefciares while bis money lasts.
tic thus acquires habit of proiuseness and
irreguarity, which 10 sure to countsract all cf.
forts for subsequent usefulness. And the diff
Guilty does not end in the ruin of his own pow.
srs and capabilities. Tho example, which he
lets to others, in tho humber walks Of life, is
injurious in the extreme. By his wealth no
attains an influence over tho weak minds with
which no comes in contact, and Others without
The means, viicn he possesses, cndeavor to im
tate his example, The oxtravagance thus en-
yenderod leads to POPULATION and theft. They
IRE dishonorably discharged from their situa-
hons, and thenceforth become tho outcasts of
society. The rich may attempt to Justify them
elves, in ALLOWING their sons to grow up in
idleness, on the ground that they have money
enough TO take care of them, but society has
the right 10 remonstrats against the example
which these children exhibit. The man who
buffers his children to grow up without useful
commits an outrage, not only upon
hem, but the community of which he is a mem
Der. lie is accessory to the guilt of hundreds.
whom his sons example has led astray from the
paths OF industry and sobriely. lie is the indi.
rect cause of the idleness deslitu ton and crime
Of those who arc yitiacd by practices, which.
without his money, could not have been pursll.
ID. The only remedy for this state Of things is
'or our rich men to return to sense OF duty.
md insist upon usefulness in their sons This
hould always lie made condition OF advancing
money to item. And when that money is mis-
ed or squandered, they should recollect, that,
hereby they are not only running their own chill.
ren, but contaminating the whole of society.
No amount of wealth, no rank, no position on
heir part, can atone for such an injury, and we
'ouid counsel them no less for the welfare of
heir own families than for the good OF the com.
,unity, to insist that their children be brought
p in some useful occupation.