Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1874-07-03

from the pursuit of gold? 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 able-bodied and able-minded man.
Thus, between the competent and incom-
petent, the self-sustaining 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 a 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 CON-
parative few who steadily seek fortunes
here are nearly as much influenced by
love of excitement as 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 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
ure of the pursuit. Nevertheless, upon
these may 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 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 a republic of spendthrifts, 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 tomorrow the
| in the vain hope of replacing it with
| gold, unmindful 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 contemning that stand
ard, we think, in our wild repub-
licanism, to show our superiority
to princes by outdoing them in
pecuniary profusion. Every American
breads to be considered mean in finan-
cial sense; consequently he affects indif-
ference to dollars, and advertises his in
difference by ostentation.
There is no installing the nationality
of the stranger in London, who, seeing the
first strawberries of the season in fruit
erer's window, entered the shop and asked
for a saucer of them. Several English
men inside waited to see the Yankees
amazon. ent and hear his protest when he
should learn the price of the dish he 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.
| This foolish extravaganza of our people
this disposition to underrate money, re.
| quiTes checking. For the next few years
we might with advantage substitute for
the old and we'll worn 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; a
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 correlati7e; they are in.
ward and outward. One is dependent
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 make
every body rich but themselves. If they
turn their efforts homeward both their
circumstances and character will be i'm
proved.-Juaa6us Henri Broao1ae, in Apple
toms Journal