Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-04-29
George Peabody.

It is rather uncommon this day for persons
to render invoices of their taxable property.
The assessors advertise for them, but since it
is understood that they will not doom any
body, no notice is taken thereof; and proba-
bly not half dozen year are rendered In
Newburyport. Formerly it was not 30; and
looking back to l84l we find the following
from George Peabody, the celebrated London
banker, whose wealth and generosity, are
known the world over.
Invoice of all taxable property Of the SUBJ
scriber on the first of May, lS4l-
One poll
Personal property, 5000.
GEORGE Peabody.
Newburyport, Oct. 26, lS4l.
Sworn to before So MI Cutler, Oct. 26, 184l.
It appears from the above that George
Peabody, in 1s41. arrived at manhood, took
his ath that he was possessed of but two
hundred dollars taxable property, which was
Just enough to cake him voter; and If he
had lost one dollar of it the day before he
would not have been voter that year. Two
hundred dollars If George Peabody, start
ing from that point, has reached his present
wealth, where is the cause for any young man
to despair? There are hundred chances
now for an energetic, capable young man,
where there was one in 1841. That was the
time of the last war with Great Britain, when
little business was doing-so little that not q
store on State Street was opened for trade
after dark. Wages were very low and men
plenty. George Peabody was glad to get
less than any man can earn digging CLANS
now, and what the merest boys now would
turn away from. Nor did it cost less to live
then than now. Flour, corn, molasses, and
many other articles were nearly twice as high
as today. But there were some things IN
George Peabody's favor. that are not common
now. The original copy of this invoice
shows that he was good penman, which is
rather q rare accomplishment in our day. We
Peabody was ecUnUmirar. s-fAau N af
mean qualities. He was tall, we'll formea'
GOOD looking, and dressed with great proprc, pr
etv: but he saved his money. That SZVO
would purchase watch, lingering, ana
couple of shirt studs; or it Tspld last few
davs for cigars, liquors, and oysters: Does
ANYBODY believe that George Peabody put \
70 such uses? How many young men Woule
think two hundred dollars a sufficient sun
10 serve as foundation Of fortune OF many
millions? How many would waste it tool
ishly, and compliant afterwards of their ill
luck in the world, and that there was NJ !!
chance for young man 10 do anything i
these days? Geo. Peabody knew how to read
write. and keep accounts-qualifications Il to-
his place as a clerk-thought something OF i
those days, and great deal neglected nov
wbeu infants want to jump into manhooe
and Young men lack the patience for slow az
cumulation. He was gentlemanly, SAVING II
dustrious, enterprising self-reliant, and I. 10 -
telligent and such young man seldom fall'
He did not scorn to work ; he was no te
hour man if duty demanded en- extension
time he didn't lean on any body else; bl
he had in him that very day what has pee
developing ever since. We ask all the boy
who may read this paragraph, to LOOK
George Peabody thirty years ago and Geore
Peabody now, and ask themselves what OF
advantage he had that they have not.