Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-02-08
General 1HtsceIIanp.

THE CHILDREN OF THE WEALTHY.
It is proverbial almost, that the children
Of the rich almost always fall below modiocri-
ty, and become the poor and useless Of their
generation. A very little reflection will show
the reason for this. The boy whose parents
are INDECENT must work, and the labor he is
compelled TO perform during his minority
teaches him to be useful to himself and others.
The money which he spends be gains by his
own labors, and he thus learns to value f.
economy is a necessity with him, and industry
becomes a habit Industry and economy are
his teachers, and as he accumuates money he
finds that he must also become intelligent, as
a means Of improving and retaining his for
tune The elements Of a sound character are
thus developed and time only is required to
make him rich and influential But with the
boy whose parents are wealthy the case is df-
ferent. It is an easy thing for him to extort
money from the governor, and he sets his
mind against any useful occupation. Sur
rounded by the luxuries of life, his every wish
gratifed, and spending hls time in pleasure,
he soon looks upon labor of any sort as de-
grading and beneath his dignity. His physi-
cal and mental faculties are suffered to fall in
to decay and calculating that the inheritance
he is to receive will last forever. he grows up
in ignorance of any av caticn BY which, in
case of emergency, he may earn his daily
bread. We often think how f1rlorn would
be the condition of such should their antici-
pated riches take to themselves wings and fly
away. Unaccustomed to toll and incapable
Of using their talents in any useful occupation
what would they be but genteel vagabonds
| They become the hangers-on and dependents
Of their friends who are anxious to shake of
the burden. They are the attaches Of polit-
ical parties and the most clamorous Of office
seekers. Their presence is an annoyance to
every useful circle, and they are Stunned by
[ every one who has anything useful to do
/ And even when the heir comes into posses
sion of his inheritance and has sense enough
/ TO keep portion Of it. he is too often involved
with improper associates who urge him into
extravagant expenditures Of which they may
/ become the benefciares while his money
! lasts.
lie thus acquires a habit of pre- fuseness and
irregularity, which is sure to counteTact all ef
| forts for subsequent usefulness. And the
difficulty does not end in the ruin Of his own
/ powers and capabilities. The example, which
/ he sets To others, in the humber walks Of life
/ Is injurious in the extreme. BY his wealth
he attains an influence over the weak minds
with which he comes in contact, and others
without the means, which he possesses, en-
deavor to initiate his example. The extrava-
/ gance thus engendered leads to peculation and
theft. They are dishonorably discharged
from their situations, and henceforth become
the outcasts of society The rich may at
tempt to justify themselves, 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 to demonstrate
against the example which these children ex-
hibit. The man who suffers his children to
grow up without a useful occupation, commits
an outrage, not only upon them, but the COM
munity Of which be is member. He is ac-
cessory to the guilt of hundreds, whom his
sons example has led astray from the paths OF
industry and sobriety He is the indirect
cause of the idleness, destitution and crime OF
those who are vitated by practices which,
without his money. could not have been pul
sued. The only remedy for this state Of things
is for our rich men to return to a sense Of du-
/ ty, and insist upon usefulness in their sons.
( This should always be made condition of ad-
vancing money to them And when that
money is missed or squandered, they should
recolect that, thereby they are not only ruin
ing their own children, but communicating the
whole Of society. No amount Of wealth, no
rank, no position on their part, can atone for
such an injury, and we would counsel them
no less for the welfare OF their own families
than for the good of the community. to insist
that their children be brought up in some
useful occupation.