The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1878-02-01
For The ZEgis Dc Intelhglncer.
"Fifty Years Ago and NOw-RailrOad or
no RaiIrOad,,, 90 '.t. M"

An article with the above title, which
appeared in The -Agis of the 18th of Jan.
uary, abounded in good stirring truths
and was but little exaggerative, we think
US regards the enterprising character of the
Hartford people. More than quarter of a
century has passed, nearly generation,
since the people awakened to the need
there was of quicker and less laborious
transit for the products of the country to
market. The community was aroused; vi
gorous exertions were made and subsidized:
other waves of railroad excitement passed
over US, leaving no result.
or our beautiful county and its mani
fold resources, so justly spoken of in the
article alluded to, we might truly be
proud, did not our want of enterprise cause
US to SHRINK from comparison with many
other States and some OF our sister counties.
There are many among US now, with limit
ed means, who have public spirit, who
make sacrifices, and sensible of the great
advantage the railroad will be to the coun
ty, will borrow money to aid it. But until
more generous, noble, high-minded spirit
shall prevail towards all classes, among
some OF those who are not thus trammeled.
we cannot expect to find the public spirit
which is ready to promote whatever is for
general good. They do not see quick re-
turn, and it would be more remunerative
to invest their surplus income for added
interest. The picture Of the Hartford
man" who says, Il hear there's good
many poor fellows who want to borrow a
few dollars-you Can lend it to them; bur
mind, Tor every twenty you lend they've
got to pay me thirty for obigin' of em y
is not perhaps overdrawn, but may have its
counterpart now, in some Of the same class.
But has 1t not its counterpart also, some
times, In those who have been better in
structed, and who may have smiled when
reading of the greed of the Hartford
man z" Are there not wealthy men, do
not our readers know of any such, who
live luxuriously, who have the best that
butchers, workmen, bakers, tailors can do
Tor them, Omen who perhaps have to pay
cash for materials to furnish supples) who
yet cause many Of them to wait six months
or twelve months for their pay, because,
honorable men that they are, want their sur
plus income to bring in more INTEREST,"
Appropriate as the conclusion of the
story of the Hartford man" was, is it not
more so to the intelligent church going,
charity giving, honorable man, who thus
uses his money "When his final settling
up comes, when he is out of reach of hui
man law or help, it may be he will wish he
had given his surplus" to those to whom it
was due.
All, the writer of this, has heard dis
couraged ones lament sadly their inability
to carry on business properly, for want of
that which was properly their due, from
persons more than able to pay and in one
case was told that business had to be given
up in consequence. If this habit Of APP
rropriating what belongs to others, but
which has been considered as their own,
II it proceeds from thoughtlessness-and
may it not, as applications for charity are
disregarded, then this feeble hand may
have held up "a faint light, that may show
a pit-fall into which the rich may stumble
It.