The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-07-25
TOO RICH.


But, as a man dying OF consumption may
feel some pity for one who is in The ,
agonies OF an attack of govt, 80 may
poor man look with a certain compassion
upon Il neghbor who is too rich. From
whatever quarter our troubles may come,
it is a consolation TO remember that 9th
ers suffer as well as ourselves, and that,
some may he more distressed
than others, everybody in this world has
to bear some burden. The very posi-
bility Of being too rich has been called in
question, and nobody owns to being the
victim of excessive wealth; but the calm
observer, of any experience, can scarcely
conceal from himself the fact thai some
men are undoubtedly richer than is good
for them, Perhaps the calamity of eN-
IRENE wealth is most apparent at the
lower end of the scale. When, for I'M
stance, a laborlng man, receiving fifteen
shillings a week, for every farthing of
which ne does hard manual work, comes \
suddenly in for n fortune Of two or three /
hundred pounds year, he is, for his !
position in life, extremely rich. But |
where this has happened, the usual re-
suit has been that either the man took to |
drinking, or else, thinking his money |
endless, he quickly reduced himself 10
penury, having lost meanwhile the habit
of labor. Clearly this is n case of being
too rich. To 90 grade higher, a small
farmer or tradesman is often most
estimable person, respected by all his
neighbors, both rich and poor; but let
him step into a property Of one or two
thousand a year, and the man will prob
ably become odious. We will not multi
ply instances, nor do we wish to preach
Il homily on that love of riches which
wealth is so apt to generate. We merely
want to point out, without any sermoniz
ing or torturing Of the words, that many
men are, simply and literally, too rich.
The point at which a man may become
! too rich varies according to circumstances
and individuality. Some people Of few
wants, are too rich on comparatively
moderate income, while others, Of large
sympathies and energetic habits, never
can be too rich. We propose to speak
| here of some sufferers from excessive
wealth whose incomes consist of tens OF
| thousands a year. In the first place,
large incomes do not often drop in until
men are at an age when the capacity for
enjoyment is Distressing. There Is an
old saving that :" it is best to have your
cake while you have teeth with which 10
eat it," which applies with some force In
this instance. The accession to fine
property and magnificent houses entails
a great amount Of entertaining. Unless
the inheritor wishes it 10 be said that ne
fails to perform the duties Of his posi-
ton, and to be dubbed IA screw, he must
fiji his house 50 cOpiously and So FIRE.
quently with guests that he will have lit
tie time that he can call his own. When
he was only moderately rich he used oc
casionally to have a hOusetul Of guests,
and his parties were extremely pleasant
ones. lie only invited his personal
friends, and merely such Of them rs he
felt in the humor TO see. After a week
or so of agreeable social life the guests
departed, and then the repose of being
alone was a refreshing change. But now
one set Of visitors is scarcely out Of the
house before another comes ia. The man
seems TO be perpetuaIly either welcoming
or bidding adieu to his guests. And
these are not old friends or pleasant and
attractive acquaiDtances only, but people
in whom he takes little interest, many OF
, whom are incapable Of making their So
ciety amusing or agreeable 10 him, county
and political magnates, who bring with
} them heavy wives and brainless daugh
tiers. The brightest and most entertain
z ing of his visitors probable have not the
: social position emitting them to sit near
the host at dinner, and has often to sit
2 through that lengthy meal by the side of
} the dulest and stitfest OF dOwagers. IN
2 the mornings he has to show to his guest.
f his gardens, stables, and model farm
until he is sick of the very sight Of them
f If he goes for few minutes repose int
g his private suite of rooms, he Is sure t.
, be besieged with applications for inter
r views by his secretary, butler, agent, on
stud groom. How he misses the leisure
e hours which he used TO spend in his Owl
+ study, enjoying his books and periodicals
: Now he has barely time to read the daily
!, newspaper. How delightful were the
G evenings which he spent alone with biz
: wife, conversing over their plans, or read
ing while she played or sang for him
5 What contrasts to the evenings he no"
spends in a large room blazing viii
Iiohts. talking to empty-headed grandocs
or playing whist with old Peeresses wh'
are utterly ignorant Of even the cOnven
/ are the hours which he often has b spend
trying to keep the ball Of small talk roll
] ing among guests who arrive at Oclocf
o in the afternoon, and who will never set
tie down to do anything until the dress
: ing-gong has been sounded The only
thing that brings the poor man any re
+, lief is an illness. Then indeed he gam
a little priceless repose, and can ENJOY tn
+" retirement of his block Of private apart
l. ments.
r Moreover, he has not only to endure
It being bored at home, but is Obliged L
2 suffer still greater boredom at the houses
+ Of his late guests when he returns then
visits. After all, hard as it was, the fac
i of having his own belongings around hin
d gave him some interest at home, bGt
the houses of others he Losses even TIM
V consolation. He is put into chambers o.
o the most oppressive magnIhcence. ~
hanoinrs of his bed remind him OF the
g ARRANGEMENTS for state funeral. IL
would like to spend, at any rate, a cou
It ple of hours during the day IN his owl
!? room with his books, thinking himself Il
"a he safe here from the officials who moles
. him at home. But no. Entertainment
has been provided for him for every hou
of the day, and the host seems deter
s mined that he shall drink Of that bite
a Gun to the dregs. Again, not only has h,
g to endure these country visits, but b.
l. must also return numberless calls. Whei
e he was only moderately well off, caller
l. would not trouble themselves to drive
N more than six or seven miles to see him
,r but now that he has got such o grea
q, house, the enemy thinas 1t worth while
.e to attack him from distances OF ten 9r
>, dozen miles. Unless he wishes to rais'