American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-07-04

| to the torment of her base ingratitudei ~
The talked-off haste to grow rich, in
| forty nine cases out of fifty, is simply the
struggle for existence. In the metropolis
! more than elsewhere such talk is tire
| somely common, Notwithstanding that we
have Il tenement house population OF over
| half Il million. Do these unfortunates,
| deprived of fresh air, sunlight-of the
stimulus even of a future-press forward
| to wealth +? With perjury, toll and Potter s
Field alone before them, are they feverlsh
| from the pursuit of gold? Among the
| educated and less unlucky classes ii is not
| much better. 1t is computed that gener-
| ally six or eight persons rely for support
| on each ablc-bodied and able minded man.
Thus, between the competent and incom-
petent the sclfsustaining and the depend
| cnt, there is SO little chance of reaching
| the goal of wealth that thought of II sell
dom disturbs their mind. They who can
| not take care OF themselves are not likely
| to spend their force i'll running after the
| unattainable. Those that are borne down
| by burdens are not apt to start on II 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-
| couraged to economy instead OF being
lectured upon acqulsitiveness, which,
despite the opposite opinion, they have
less of than any other nation. The COM
parative few who steadily seek fortunes
here are nearly as much influenced by
love of excitement rs by love of money
After getting money they spend it freely
| recklessly often, as if they wished to be
rid of it in order to increase their lnccn
tive and Zest for obtaining more. The
unrest which is in the atmosphere of the
country impels them to exertion when
| eXcrtion is not necessary. Their passion
for doing, for achieving results, holds in
allowance the mercenary feeling. They
think less of the profit than of the pleas
ure of the pursuit. Nevertheless, upon
these NAV be charged the haste to grow
rich upon the great mass, in consequence
of circumstance and disability, it never
can be charged with any show of Justice
BY continual carping and harping OF
the disposition to accumulate property
as if it were sordid and degrading, mucl
harm may be done. The national ten
dency is in the opposite direction. Thi:
is republic of spendthriits, common
wealth of prodigals. We have so abun
dant resources that we are improviden
| from over. confidence not less than humor
We imagine we can repair tomorrow thu
extravaganza of today; we waste silve
in the vain hope of replacing it will
gold, unmindful that the habit of spend
ing defeats the prospect OF restoration
Homilies on the haste To grow rich hav,
the effect of exciting contempt 10
money too great already in this country
In the endeavor to avoid precipitation
toward wealth we fall into precipitation
toward poverty; and poverty is lar easie
to reach than wealth. The former lies a
the bottom of hill, the latter on tn
summit of a steep and craggy mountain
Having no other standard of distinction
than money, and Conforming that stand
ard, we think, in our wild repuf
/, licanism, To show our superiorit
to princes by outdoing them il
pccuniary profusion. Every America
, breads to be considered mean in IA finaT
ciaf sense; consequently he affects Indi
ference to dollars, and adYertises his il
difference by ostentation.
There is no nistaking the nationalit
, of the stranger in London, who, seeing til
first strawberries of the season in II trui
erer's window, entered the shop and askc
for saucer of them. Several Englisl
men inside waited to see the ankee's
amazon. ent and hear his protest when h
should learn the price of the dish he ha
ordered. Having eaten them, he Wa
told they were a guinea. Instead of show
ing the surprise he felt, he asked for al
other saucer.
This foolish extravaganza of our peopl
tnlS ulSDOSltloH 10 IlbHcy, II
quires checking. For the next few veal
we might with advantage substitute iC
the old and well-worn subject, 9Th
Haste to Grow Poor" which PARTICULAR
marks our national character. Woul
that we had little more haste to gro'
, rich; for the haste would insure the di
2 position and beget an adequate economy
2 Few persons carry out their ends;
r thousand things prevent; to plan and eA
, ecute are essentially different If man
of us should try to get rich-no larg
, number are likely to embark with an
. show of success in an enterprise so fol
, eign to their constitution-more of Il
would become independent. And indt
, pendence of circumstance rates next il
!, value to independence of spirit. Tn
conditions are correlati-e; they are in
ward and outward. One is dcpenden
on the other. No man can be entirel,
Independent spiritually unless he be in
dependent materially. We need not fea
to become hardened by wealth, which
| always contrives not to be held by to,
many. We need not fear either that w
are growing sordid and mercenary be
cause we live within our means and labo
to add something to our store. Ameri
cans have struggled long enough to max
everybody rich but themselves. If the,
turn their efforts homeward both thei
circumstances and character will be i'm
proved.-Juiius Henri Bronne, in Appte
toms Journal.
Paris Green.