Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-07-01
NZiSs.s.IlanV.
why Poor People Are Poor.

What makes poor people poor? Such
a question would naturally be first an
swered by decisive laugh. How alb
surd one class exclaims BY following
the scriptural precept. and taking no
thought for the morrow, boldly asserts
the sceptic. Because tn re are too
many too conscientious to disavow the
claims of others connected with them
by family or friendly ties, puts forth
the self-righteous. Idleness and crime,
declare the industrious and prosperous.
Now, each or all of these reasons may.
no doubt claim some consideration as
means productive of poverty, but the
simple and primary cause is, after all,
more plainly and better stated in the
latter part of the maxim which Micaw-
ber gives to his young friend David
Copperfield, on the occasion of the
farmers engagement in the service of
Uriah Heep. Said that philosophlc
worthy, ANIMAL income twenty pounds,
annual expenditure nineteen, six; re-
suit, happiness. Annual income twenty
pounds, annual expenditures, twenty
pounds, ought and six; result, misery.
This is the root of the whole matter
poor people are always a little be-
hind-hand; otherwise they would soon
cease to be poor, for prosperity begins
with one penny laid by. Emerson says
it originates in tin roof, that keeps
the wind and rain out; In good pump
that yields you plenty of sweet water;
in two suits of clothes; in dry sticks to
burn; in double-wick lamp; and three
meals, &c.
Now, the question arises, why do
people live beyond their means? Is 1t
dishonesty or carelessness, or ignor-
ance? We should say almost entirely
from the latter cause. They do not
think. They will not set themselves
about solving the problem of living.
For the question rapidly resolves itself
into an arithmetical one, which involves
the elementary principles of addition,
substraction, multiplication and dlvl-
sion simply. How many for insta nee,
at the beginning of the year, calculate
their receipts for the ensuing twelve
months. and then limit their necessary
expenses to a sum below it, leaving a
margin for the contingencies of illness,
accident or death ? Few indeed. The
reckoning more frequently occurs at
the end of the year, when the expendl-
lures are found To represent the larger
figures. But oftener yet this casting
ND of accounts does not occur at al, and
a knowledge of the debt side OF the
ledger is obtained rather from the fire.
auently pressed claims than from any
inclination on the part of their contrac-
tors to discharge their obligations.
This latter invulnerability to Just de-
nands is but the moral effect of invari-
ably being in arrears. Constant anxiety
about the ways and means ere long
sinks to Indifference, which in time,
gives place to a determination to shirk,
as far as possible, all financial response
bility, Again, we affirm that the chiei
means of keeping poor people, does no
lie in the fact that they receive smal
wages, but they do not know how to lay
out these small wages judiciously. Dc
they not always buy in small quanti
ties, paying thereby several profits Do
they not, too, buy poor or adulterateo
qualities, the former OF which is deal
at any price, and the latter capable o
being accomplished by themselves a
less cost? Do they not purchase Goa
by the quarter ton, and pay as much
and often more for its carting than TO
a greater supply? Do they not have t.
nav their rent in advance because the.
have no property to SHOW as securit,
that they will not vanish in the nigh
without settling these lawful dues
And do they not make one suit o
clothes and one pair of boots do onl.
one-half their rightful service, becaus'
when mending time comes there ar.
no others to take their places, an6
hence they are doomed to premature
decay.
1t is surely Just such management il
all outlays of money as these that ten'
to keep down the impecunious. If the.
would emerge from their poverty, the,
must turn over q new leaf and stud,
the elements Of economic success. 1t
secret will not be found to exist in th'
amount of possession, but. as previousi.
stated sin the relation of income Il
utgo."-Erchange.