The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-09-27
c,,aat Fortunes Whose are They?

-, q, ,;olars, The announcement, how
,,es premature and the seventy millions
,o, va, changed hands The millionaire
has the opportunity of seeing what was SAID
obituariiy and in the conceit Of q
,,o,,r New York journalist, may discount
. his funeral eulosy:
Tito ouassiug of such an immense fortune |
during a lifetime is 4 wonder Of the age we |
,;,ain 1t could not have been accumulated |
&, any other There are several other great |
t,-,i,r,s in this land nearly If not quite rs |
I,~re The rapid development of this coun- |
80. rho immense increase in the value of pro- |
.,.rtv through the rapid growth of popula. |
-;on especially in the great commercial CEN |
tres. afford the means Of pecuniary gains |
which i'll the rapidity and magnitude OF their !
accumulation, are without example in the ms |
tory OF the world. The agency OF steam-oy
rail and b. sea-has exerted wonderful IN |
Guence in promoting the general causes Oh
these sudden and ovcrgrown fortunes.
When yre contemplate the troubles and
onXictics Of the millionaire-the tendency Of
his wealth 10 occasion in his mind distrust Of
his fellow men, and 10 cut Off all sympathy
between him and society-we who are poor
or in moderate circumstances feel no small
amount of consolation in not being q million
ARE Few of them are to be envied. An
oy.rgrown fortune in q community is like
vacuum, abhorred by nature-and there is
pressure from without to break into it Look
III Mr. PEABODY, receiving his thousands OF
letters. Heannounced in this country that he
had caused four thousand letters to be commit
ted 10 the flames and since he has been in Eng
land six thousand others have come to ashes
i'll The same way, to the great disappointment
OF ten thousand industrious and hopeful cor
respondents. 1t Isl sad misfortune for the
millionaire that the strong pressure of appli-
cations for assistance blocks up the way not
only to those without but to those kind acts
Of friendship and charity it is within his
power TO perform, and which would be at
once Of so much benefit to society, and confer
upon him a satisfaction and happiness which
mere riches cannot impart: 1t is thus the
heart of the millionaire becomes indnrated;
that his generosity is suppianted by parsi-
mony; his affability by GOODNESS; his conf
ding temper by suspicion and jealousy; his
genteness by cruelty; his humanity by inhu-
mainly and greed. Such are the trials of the
millionaire And it is indeed hard for him
TO be happy in this world, let alone the
very great peril Of his prospects for Heaven,
according to Holy Writ
But, indeed, to whom do the great fortunes
belong? Those who amass them are-when
we consider their coming and their going
their fraii and brief eXistences-but con tempt
IDLE creatures They came naked into the
world, and so must they depart. They are ut
best but the brief custodans Of fortunes that
belong to the general wealth-haye passed from
other hands TO theirs, and must in turn be sur
rendered by them 10 others that follow them.
. They are, therefore, but administrators of the
fund during their lifetime, and il depends
altogether upon the wisdom, business, and
mercy with which their obligations TO
God and man are performed, whether they
be happy or miserable. They can at best
bat consume n little themselves-they want
enough to support nature, and clothing
according to the fashions of society, which
make but slight impression upon
their riches. To hoard and hoard the millions
adds not one iot to their comforts or their capa-
cities to enjoy their wealth. Accumulation
merely, while it does them no good, bestows
10 benefits on society, and they die with none
Of the sweet consultations derived from pro-
per display of humanity, and a liberal and
wise employment Of their large means for the
assistance of honest merit, and the encourage
ment and development of talent
BY 4 singular order of Providence eX-
tremest poverty is always settled down In
view OF the richest men. The extreme OF
wealth, whether the occasion of it or not, is
always attended by the extreme of wretched-
ness and pauperism. The two are always
widening the gap by increasing 1t TO further
extremes. And want and penury are always
stalking before the doors of Avarice.
Let the millionaire despise poverty and shut
the door TO the appeals of humanity, he can
not discover himself from the community.
Let him bur out the Deggar, and the gaunt and
hideous forms Of famine and misery will grin
and jabber at him through the grating and
haunt him in his dreams The denial OF his
obligations in all their phases but conjures up
devils TO haunt his days and nights, and rob
him Of all peace and happiness. His millions
rest upon the multitude which forms the basis
of society. Take away this prop and support,
and his wealth ranishes. He may discharge
his obligations and be esteemed and blessed
by all or he may fail, and, with all his wealth,
be unable to command one sincere feeling OF
respect one kind wish for his welfare. The
death of such u man inspires no grief, and the
bright eardrop of affection, more precious
than diamonds, and worth more than all his
wealth, is no part Of the homage to his me-
mory.
Yet with all the difficulties that beset the
life Of the millionaire, and are SO well calcu-
lated TO pervert his best dispositions and I'LL
his cup Of life with gall and NORWOOD,
there are many who know well their relations
: to society, and who administer their wealth
wisely and humanely Such men know how
10 be happy. They take q wise view of the
social economy and their obligations. They
not only enhance their own happiness by u
wise distribution Of charity, and the extension
OF liberal aid 10 the industrious and honest
VINO are struggling to get ahead in the world,
but they enhance their own wealth by ad-
Vancmg the general prosperity of the com
ihuhltS. Such men know something of those
pieasahI ana sweet reflections which kind acts
saIher around ones pillow, and, like angels,
wings, Ian him TO delightful and refreshino
sleep.
II 1t viii enpoble q man of wealth ~ usa ;.
all times, for the good OF his neighbors, how,
much will his satisfaction be enhanced by ex
tending that help iii a period of general dis
ress! AT that time the narrow minded and
'mid draw tighter The purse strings and
Withhold all assistance to the atYlicted-repu
aaailng all The tests of trustworthiness, such
40 virtue, honor, truth, industry and perse.
'eiahce The large hear ted man, whose sym
r~'A'es are as strong as his soul is courageous.
inherent view. He will save many
a,sasler, and assist in that way to pro-
NC welfare Of that community whose
PosPe4i'S out enhances his wealth and tb,S
tr!ngS him his REGARD ''--A ~
We have haG fev mr. ,, :, .ts.g