The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-02-22
The Joys of Poverty.

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Diogenes was once seen rushing to the thea
tire at the moment when every body else was
leaving. On being asked why he did 90, be
replied ~ have learned that the multitude b
always wrong" The experience Of the world
has long since demonstrated that the old sEiarl'
ing philosopher was correct in his judgment.
The multitude was, no doubt, wrong in his day,
and it is wrong to-day, and probably, will a.
ways be wrong about every question Of vital
Importance. The common opinion is that the
man of ease is happy, and the man who tolls
in the cold Of winter, and beneath the beating
rays of summers sun is miserable. Thsiis
| grand mistake. The man who folds his arms
in ease, and fares sumptuously every day, is the
miserable wretch whose pillow is full Of thorns
and the man whose bread is dug out of the
ground by his own brawny hands is the happy
man. In the veirsrof the former, the blood
flows weak as if the fountain was abontto fab;
in those of the latter the crimson current, gee9
rippling on like some merry stream. Notwith.
standing all its hardships, there is something
truly romantic in commencing life surrounded
by poverty. he who is the heir to a ilvastfoe-
side, too, of human existence. There is some-
thing heroic in single individual, like Daniel
Boone, settling in dense forest, surrounded by
wolves and savages, and isolated from every
genial companion: Instinctiyely, we admire
laud and e1tol the brave man who takes up bib
abode in the middle of some dense forest, and
byy Iperseyering toll reduces the brakes Of the
wilderness to fields waving with oluxufians
crops. The man who does such deeds, experi'
ences delight almost ecstatic in rehearsing 70
his children the tolls Of his early manhood.
Historians dwell with rapture upon such .
theme, and the eye of the orator .sparkles With
ioy, and the bosom of the poet swells with de-
light when the deeds of such an individual are
mentioned. Is not the case of the poor boy
who commences life with poverty for patri-
mony, but rises to eninence and distinction
similar to thato the mhnwho settles in deHse
forest which, by incessant toll, he reduces toA
cultivated field? There is joy in the one case
as well as in the other. The victories over the
wilds of the forest are not more glorious than
the victories over the huge impediments which
poverty presents. It filled the heart of the cel-
ebrated Ben. franklin with delight to think
that he once, poor and unknown, walked the
streets Of Philadelphia with gingercake I'M
der his arm The tolls and struggles Of the
days of his poverty, are those upon which he
dwelt with pleasure when he felt that he was
numbered amongst the first men of the ma
ton. a ,;..-,..
There is a pleasure in doing the whole OF
anything. Being led or helped, or pulled or
pushed, is not pleasant The reflections which
arise from such a state -of- things are mournful
to the soul. The individual; who is conscious
that what he is IS mainly due TO others, must
feel as If he were seated at q table coveredwit
the choicest viands, but with 40 appetite to en-.
Joy them, There is q romantic joy connectod
with the thought of commencing life. at the
very bottom, aud toiing until the highest ciiE
is mounted This reached, we can look down
upon the jungles and defles through which and
over which we have passed The trials OF ouS
early struggles are converted into Joys which
are congenial to noble soul, Even such .
man as Henry Ward Beecher, experiences more
ioy in rejecting upon the days when he wore
the old cast away clothes of Judge -, than
the Prince of Wales can experience when he
mounts the throne of the, Georges. Henry
Ward Beecher can look down from the proud
eminence which he has won by lmaniy effort,
and contemplate his former poverty with das
light. He has the consciousness that merithaa
elevated him to this present positioa. When
the Prince of Wales ascends to. the throne or
England he will have the mortifying conscious.
ness thst he was lifted and set upon by othee
hands The sceptre came to him as patrimo-
of gratitude are pleasant. 9h The poor boy who,
now and then; receives come trifing: :blessing
is more grateful than the sons and daughters at
the rich who, reyel In, wealth and ease The
man VITO watches the increase of q few acrea,
experiences more sreaI Joy than he who isa
stock-holdert in National .Bank, the incomeuS
which is oouatsd hy thousands, s,nA I'll r4uoia7
The poor boy has his troubles. Cares and
anxieties are i1separable from humanity. Bat
the sons of the rich are beset with troubles on
every side. Their Joys are alt adultesated, and
their triulnpbs are few and insignificant The
happiest mortal on, earth is, the toiling, strug.
Cling, poyerty-ridden youth who is by homes.
Effort making his way to the temple of fame
and to q position of usefulness. His sleepb
sweet, and his triumphs will be great and gioi
rious. 81 YorkgiAs1 Enquiry ,yibsaaeI y:aoH