Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1871-08-10
EATON, O., THURSDAY, AUGUST
The Uncertainties of Wealth.

The Uncertainties of Wealth.
An cold Subscriber wishes to know
what proportion of those who succeed
in acquiring competency in business
pursuits ultimately retain it. This prob
lem has been worked at by many statis-
ticians with about the same results. OF
those who engage in business on their
| own account only three out of a hundred
escape failure, and only five out of a
hundred succeed in avoiding an entire
collapse OF their first effort. Of those
who at some time or other have in hand
| a reasonable competence, and may be
said to have succeeded in business, ninety
per cent. are still the subjects Of after re-
verses of some sort, so that only ten per
cent. of the successful ones keep their
fortune unshaken. Two things ought to
be strongly impressed upon the young
people of our country: The Insecurity of
riches even when acquired, and their
unsatisfying character. There is no fall
lacy so universally cherished as the no
ton that wealth is certainly means of
happiness. The care of a large property
is one of the most burdensome of earth S
trusts. The only material good which
comes of any estate is to be made out of
a moderate income far more easily than
from large one, and with fewer attend
ant disadvantages. Few thoughtful men
of 4 large estate on positive bargain
that they should receive no more for tax
ing care of it than ordinarily falls into
the cup of its owner. The scramble af-
ter wealth is due to a wrong estimate of
the good to be acquired from it when it
is gained We speak not now of the i'm
mense sacrifices made in the pursuit, such
as the waste of health, character, peace
of mind, and even life itself, but of the
little to come from it, in the way of re-
ward, even should the pursuer be sue
cessful. And the corroding care which
ach large addition brings can not be es-
capped by the wisest use of it. The more
conscientious the possessor may be, the
more is he likely to feel the burden of the
stewardship. The sweetest enjoyment
in the use of money is in the dispensation
of bounty, but this is sadly marred by
the judicious care re quired in the selection
of recipients. The man who is earning
good living with something to spare
annually for the sweet uses of charity is
far less tried in this respect. Herelieves
as far as he can the cases of distress that
appeal most strongly to him, or touch his
heart most deeply, and is not overpressed
in this direction. But when once he has
the repute of wealth, the applications
come in like Hood. There is not a
wealthy man in this city, if he gave ju-
diciously in answer to every honest ap-
peal to his beneVolence, who would not
soon divide his entire estate among the
benefciaries. There is a common misap-
prehension on this point among those
whose sympathies are not thus tested.
They believe that a rich man ought to an
swer every legitimate call on his bounty,
and if they know of any genuine case OF
suffering brought to his notice which he
has failed to relieve, they lay up the re-
fI1cal To hic Tho trI1th iS how
ever, that the widest possible channel OF
benevolence can not irrigate all of earth S
barren wastes over which it might be
made to flow. Each steward of a large
property, however charitably disposed,
can select but few of the objects pre-
tsented to his pity, and if his large re-
sources are publicly known, must reject
him. The selection of those to be helped
by. him.. and the rejection of SO many
that oughtto be helped by somebody, is
| a great draw back on the luxry of doing
good. Most thoughtful men of large in
come appropriate certain sum to cover
such disbursements. They often dis
criminate unwisely, and sometimes are
governed by mere whim or caprice in the
distribution, for it is human to err even
with the best intentions but there is no
possible way in which the largest sum
they can set apart for charity could be
made to- cover all the cases of real suffer
ing that come before Them Every one
knows something of the anxiety and
vexation attendant on the care of prop
erty where it is to be held securely in
trust; we have only just limited at the
burden which even wise distribution in
charity imposes, to show that on its most
favored side the trusteeship is not po-
sition to be so eagerly coVeted.-N. Y.
Journal of Commerce..