Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-07-10
EMPLOYMENT OF PATERNAL
WEALTH.

The m schievous, and truly American no.
ton, that, to enjoy respectable position, every
man must traffic or preach, or practice or hold
an office, brings TO beggary and infamy many
who might have lived, under juster estimate
of things, usefully and happily and cuts us off
from a ncedful, as well as ornamental portion
of society. The necessity of laboring for sus-
tenance is, indeed, the great safeguard of the
world-the ballast, without which the wild
passions of men would bring communities to
speedy wreck. But man will not labor without
a mOtire and successful accumulation, on the
part of the parent deprives the son OF this i'm
pulse. Inatead, then, of vainly contending
against laws as insurmountable as those of
physics, and attempting to driUe their children
into lucrative industry, why do not men, who
have made themselves opulent, open their eyes
at once TO the glaring fact that the cause.-The
cause itself-which braccd their own nerves to
the struggle for fortune does not erist for lheil
offspring Tile father has taken from tie son
his motire?-a motive confessedly important to
happiness and virtue, in the present state of
things. He is bound, therefore, BY every con-
sideration of prudence and humanity, neither
to attempt to drag him forward without
cheering. animating principle of action-nor
rccklessly TO abandon him to his own guidance
nor to poison him with the love OF lucre for
itself but, under rev circumstances with new
prospects, at a totally different starting place
from his own, to supply other motiUeS--drawn
from our sensblity to reputation. from our
natural desire to know, from an enlarged view
of our capacities and enjoyments, and more
high and liberal estimate of our relations TO
society. Fearful, indeed, is the responsibility
,,fl al
the temptations of splendid ideness
Men who have not considered this subject,
while the objects of their affection yet surround
their table, drop no seeds of generous senti-
ments, animate them with no discourse on the
beauty of disinterestedness the paramount
value of the mind, and the dignity Of that re-
nown with is the echo of illustrous actions.
Absorbed in one pursuit, their morning pre-
cept, their midday example, and their evening
moral, too often conspire to teach single
maxim, and that in direct contradiction of the
incuca,ion So often and so variously repeated
1T is better to get wisdom than gold"
Right views, careful choice of agents, and the
delegation, detimes, of strict authority, would
insure the object. Only let the parent feel,
and the son be early taught, that with the
command of money and leisure, to enter on
manhood without having mastered every at
tainable accomplishment, is more disgraceful
than thread-bar garments, and We might have
the happiness to see in the inheritance of pater-
nal wealth, less frequently idle, ignorant pro-
dgals and hear-breakers, and more frequently,
hgh-minded, highly. educated young men, EN-
belShing, if not called to public trusts, pri-
vate station.
With such class TO ornament the circles of
our chief Cities we should soon see a modif-
cation of claims. The arrogance of simple
wealth would stand rebuked before the double
title of those who superadded intellectual dis
tinction. Accomplished minds, finding the air
| of fashionable assemblies more respirabe
would more frequently venture into them. So
ciety might be lively, various and intelligent
an alliance of wit, learning, genius aud fortune
on terms of just appreciation. Meanwhile, the
higher standard OF public sentiment in relation
10 intellectual pursuits would thrill aong the
nerves of literature and the arts to thousands
who now act in the belief that money is the
true and only Kalon. With the juSter recog,
milton of mental claims, and the increasing
honors paid to letters by the fetc, would follow
an increase Of respect in the many. Thence
would ensue rectified perceptions as to man:
true aims calmer and Fighter mind and
less blind subscryiency TO our too-besettini
PASSIONS HIhouSe.