Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-12-05
What Keeps Men Poor.

Fate ls against me. HeNel oouio
succeed in anything. am doomed to
poverty. Here I am near the meridian
of life, large family upon my hands,
sons and daughters just at that age when
they become particularly expensive,
and need much money spent upon
them to fit them for the positions
I wish them to occupy but ] have not
got it to spend unless I involve myself
deeper in difficulties which have always
encompassed me. What is the reason l
am poor ?"
Such are the complaints of hundreds
of men in our midst who are struggling
as they struggled all their lives to main
tain style of living they fancy neces-
sary for the happiness OF themselves and
families. The main points is to make
others believe they are possessed OF
greater wealth than they really are-as
to be thought poor would destroy all
the comforts of real wealth, did they
possess them. Hence they labor and
plan to deceive their neighbors even as
they are deceiving themselves. This is
an infatuation which leads such men
down a life oi poverty as well OF
| intense misery.
With but limited or small incomes
they will spend money lavishly before
the public in the dress and ornaments OF
their families and in, their houses,
followed by an equal parsimoniousness
towards themselves and their business
conveniences in private. Spending
more than they receive, they are con-
stantly in debt, and to maintain their
credit among their friends and debtors,
occupies much of their time, and
monopolizes the best energies of theil
minds, and their capacity for making
money is correspondingly weakened,
and what is clearly the road to fortune
is overlooked in the search for q path
out of the entanglements of their vloun
tary position.
The habit of spending money twice
over, viz. once in anticipation Of it,
receipt and again when it is received, IL
the cause of most of the poverty IN the
world among the intelligent classes =
as no one can practice it without becom
ing involved pecrniarily, and if persisted
in it will entail lifelong poverty.
But let such q man stop where he is
forget the Mrs. Grundys and their gos
sip, strike out for himself new path
never use a dime unless it is in nj
pocket, and only nine cents OF it then
saving the other and putting it on in
terest. Let him learn that his children
can enjoy themselves fully as well and Il
themselves for life much better Wlthou
the many fashionable pleasures, so com
mon, so expensive, and SO useless le
him, in fact, live independently and fire
from debt, and my word for it, his com
plants of Fate will cease. Accumula
ton, though slow at first, will soon as
sert itself and the feeling of embarrass
ment and constant anxiety, sitting like
weight upon the mind, destroying it
elasticity and power, will give way
and time will be given to the brai
which will enable q man to see clearl
before him, and ten to one forum
dlwns upon him before he isaware OF il
If many wives would seek the cause
the sober looks they see upon thel
husbands faces, and would know wh
his locks bleach out so rapidly, let thel
inquire into his pecuniary matters, an
if possible draw aside the vail, benin
which he shelters his pride even frol
his wife =; and if she finds that he is Ii
ing beyond his income, let her see to II
, as she values her happiness and that
: her children, that she support his arm
and his heart in the carrying out OF an
resolution he can be prevailed upon
adopt, to turn the current conveyln
s him on to destruction and misery. {
2 this means much misfortune may