The Western advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1872-1874, 1874-07-04

from the pursuit of gold1 Among the
educated and less unlucky classes it is not
much better. 1t is computed that gener-
ally six or eight persons rely for support
on each ab]e-bOdied and able-minded man.
Thus, between the competent and incom-
petent, the selfsustaining and the depend
ent, there is so little chance of reaching
the goal Of wealth that thought of it sell.
dom disturbs their mind. They who can
not take care Of themselves are not likely
to spend their force in running after the
unattainable. Those that are borne down
by burdens are not apt to start on q con-
test for speed.
The fault of Americans, instead of
being in haste to grow rich, is improvi-
dence, the adoption of habits that render
riches impossible: They need to be en-
lectured upon acquisitiveness. which.
despite the opposite opinion, they have
parative few who steadily seek fortunes
here are nearly as much Influenced by
love Of excitement Us by love Of money.
After getting money they spend it freely,
recklessly often, as if they ished to be
rid of it in order to increase their incen.
tive and zest for obtaining more. The
unrest which is in the atmosphere of the
country impels them to exertion when
exertion is not necessary. Their passion
for doing, for achieving results, holds in
allegiance the mercenary feeling. They
think less of the profit than of the pleas
these may be charged the haste to grow
rich nnnn tho GO inn
of circumstance and disability, it never
can be charged with any show of Justice.
by continual carping and harping on
the disposition to accumulate property,
as if it were sordid and degrading, much
harm may be done. The national ten.
dency is in the opposite direction. This
is republic of spendthrifts, a common
wealth of prodigals. We have so album
dant resources that we are improvident
from over. confidence not less than humor.
We imagine we can repair to morrow the
extravaganza Of today; we waste silver
in the vain hope of replacing it with
gold, unmindtul that the habit of spend
ing defeats the prospect of restoration.
Homilies on the haste to grow rich have
the effect of exciting a contempt for
money too great already in this country.
In the endeavor to avoid precipitation
toward wealth we fall into precipitation
toward poverty; and poverty is far easier
to reach than wealth. The former lies at
the bottom of hill, the latter on the
summit of steep and craggy mountain
Having no other standard OF distinction
than money, and Conforming that stand
ard. we think, in our wild repub.
Ilcanism, to show our superiority
to princes by eutdoing them in
pecnniary profasion. Every American
breads to be considered mean in finan-
cial sense; consequently he affects indif:
terence to dollars, and advertises his in
difference by ostentation.
There is no nlistaking the nationality
OF the stranger in London, who, seeing the
first strawberries OF the St ason in a fruit
erer's window, entered the shop and asked
for saucer of them. Several English.
men inside waited to see the "Yankee's''
amaztn-ent and hear his protest when be
should learn the price Of the dish hc had
ordered. Having eaten them, he was
told they were guinea. Instead of show.
ing the surprise he felt, he asked for an
other saucer.
ms foolish extravaganza of our people
this disposition to underrate money, re-
quires checking. For the next few wears
we might with advantage substitute to1
the old. and we'll W. I'm subject, "The
Haste to Grow Poor," which particularly
| marks our national character Would
| that we had little more haste to grow
rich; for the haste would insure the dis
position and beget an adequate economy
Few persons carry out their ends; q
thousand things prevent; to plan and ex,
| ecute are essentially different. If many
OF us should try to get rich-no large
number are likely to embark with any
| show of success in an enterprise so for
| eign to their constitution-more of US
! would become independent. And indie
| pendence of circumstance rates next in
| value to independence of spirit. The
conditions are correlati;e; they are in
| ward and outward. One is dependen,
on the other. No man can be entirely
independent spiritually unless he be in
| dependent materially. We need not fear
to become hardened by wealth, which
| always contrives not to be held by too
| many. We need not fear either that we
are growing sordid and mercenary be.
cause we live within our means and labor
to add something to our store. Ameri.
cans have struggled long enough to max
everybody rich but themselves. If they
turn their efforts homeward both Their
circumstances and character will be i'm.
proved.-Junius Henri Bronze, IN Appke.
toms Journal.