The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-11-05
STRUGGLE FOR WEALTH.
The Aspiration, Ambitious md
Habits or the wealthy Ola SEES |
OFEurope and America COntrasted.

Habits of the wealthy Ga SEES
OTEurOpe and America COntrasted.
From Scribner's Magazine.
No one can settle down IN a European
city or village Tor II month, end observe
the laborlng classes, without noticing n
treat Indifference between their splra.
lions, ambitions and habits, and those of
corresponding classes in this country
h may sec great poverty IN cont.
mental town, and men ana women labor
NO severely and iarng meanly and u
hopeless gap existing between classes; be
may see the poor virtually the slaves OF
thu rich; but he will witness n measure OF
coutpuJment and a daily participation IN
uumhIe pleasure to which his eyes have
been strangers at nome. There Is a SAD
rie to his pleasant picture. Much OF
ais apparent conLentment and enjoy
ment undoubtedly comes IRON the hope
.e,sncss OF the struggle Of anything
better. An impossible gulf exists be.
tween them and educated and aristOcra-
TIC classes-a gul which they have re-
cognized from their birth; and having
RECON zed this. they have recognized
their own limitations, and adapted them
elves to them. Seeing just what they
raa do and cannot do they very ration
aily undertake TO get out Of life what
heir condition renders attansble. There
Is no far.off. browning good for them TO
aim NJ, 50 they try 10 get what they can
on the way. They make much OF iete
days, and social gatherings, and music,
and do what they can do sweetea their
dalIy toll, which they know must be
continued while the power to labor lasts.
In America 1t Is quite different. A
aumble bACk-wOodsman sits IN the Presl
dential chair, or did sit there but recently;
y tailor takes the highest hOnors of the
nation; u canal,dTiver becomes n power
ful millionaire; au humble clerk crows
INTO n merchant prince, ab-"r, the
labor and supplying tn "aris q. -o-s OF
thousands. In city, Str.r AID national
unii,lcs hundreds and Thousands may be
counted OF those who by enterprise and
sci culture, ind self assertion, have
raised themselves from the humblest po-
sltions TO influence and place. There is
no impossible gulf between the low and
the high. Every man holds the ballot,
and, therefore, eve'y man IS II person OF
political power and Importance. The
ways of business enterprise are many.
| and the rewards of success are munlh
cent. Not year, nor, indeed month,
passes by, that does not illustrate
the comparative ease with which
! poor men win wealth and acquire power.
The consequence is that all but the
wholly brutal are after some great good
| that lies beyond their years OF toll The
/ European expects always 10 be tenant;
/ the : merican intends before he dies to
| own the house he lives In. If city prices
| fortids this he goes to the suburbs for
| his home. The European knows that
/ his hle and labor are cheap, and that he
/ cannot hope To- win by them the wealth
/ that Will realize Tor blm the dream OF
! ;u.ure ease; the American finds his labor
! dear: and its rewards )mparslively
| bountiiul, TO that his dream OF wealth Is
| n rational one He therefore. denies
/ himself. work, early and late, and bends
/ his energies and directs those of his
( family INTO profitable channels, all for
. the great good that b,ckOns him on from
the far oh golden future.
The typical American never lives in
the present. If he Indulges in a reCres-
ton It is purely for healths sake and al
. long intervals, in great emergencies.
He does not waste money on pleasure,
and docs not approve OF hose who do so.
/ He lives IN constant fever of hope and
expectation, or grows sour with hope de-
ferred or blank disappointment. Out Of
It grows the worship OF wealth and that
demoraIzsuon which results IN unscruT-
ulorsness concerning the method OF its
requirement. So America presents the
anomaly of lsboring class with UMPIRE
cedented prosperity and privileges
and une1smpled discomfort and dlscom.
/ fort
There is surely something better than
this. There is something better thsn 4
/ lifelong sacrifice OF content and enjoy
ment for n possible wealth, which, how
ever may never be acquired, and which
has not the power, when won to yield
It's holder the boon which be expects to
purchase. To withhold from the
frugal wife the gown she desires, to
ceny her the Journey which would do 80
much to bresS up the moDotCny o her
home lite, TO rear children in mean ways,
10 shut away rom the family lie y thuus
and social pleasures, 10 relrQu!sh all
ADJUSTMENTS that have cost attsshed 10
them, Ter wealth which may or may not