New-York tribune., 1878-09-30

tastes and faculties begin to develop among
them. Gray old limbs of the law go camping
out and geologizing from Canada to Carolina
and even on Change you hear mysterious talk
of "hackles and "gamey ten-pounders."
In fact Americans are only learning now that
there is space in life for simple enjoyments.
1t is a curious fact that with all our wealth
and the efforts which we make to lead luxu-
rious, fashionable lives, The number among
us is exceedingly small to whom the making
of money is not the leading object Of life.
In England there is large class, ranking
below the nobility, whose incomes in many
cases are small, but who make no attempt
whatever to add to them. They live usually
in the country or in quiet towns. They read,
travel, hunt, take care of their poorer neigh
bors. The men probably occupy themselves with
county or general politics; the women with the
affairs Of theparish church or society. They have
money enough to live comfortably while they
do this why should they wear out brain and
body in making more A man of moderate
means in America who should reason in this
way would be rated as a drOne in the hive,
and regarded with mingled amazement and
disgust. We are quite capable of appreciate
ing his action if he accepts poverty and
gives up his life to science, to books, to phi
lanthropy or religion. Half of our homage to
Agassiz was won by his refusal to accept
position with a large salary, because he chad
"nO time to make money" But in the
American code of morals a man must do
something and as money as yet gives power
soonest he must make money. To calmly sit
down, poorly fed and plainly clothed, for the
rest of our lives, satisfied to enjoy Nature
and society-to be nothing but a good
citizen, kind friend and devout Chris
tian-is, in popular opinion, to be TO
a degree both immoral and idiotic. Even
when men have made their millions
they occupy their time with the care
of them. How many take time to look into
the world about themi They usually do not
inquire into the earth under their feet or the
stars overhead, into the wonders of science or
needs OF humanity, any more than they do
about themseves-as to what manner of men
they are, or whether they have grown bigger
in nature or purer in soul since they came
here OF smaller and ,neaner. All this range
of thought is IN their creed blank, ht only
for preachers and sentimentalist3 to scubble
their theories upon. The chief end of man is
to make money, and to manage il when made.
In spite of all this. we are no meaner people,
or fonder of the dollar, than our neighbOrs.
We give it away much more readily than any
of them. But we overrate its Importance
simply because, in the beginning of our
National life, it has been the one necessary
material thing TO us. Now, we are adult
enough to understand the importance of other
things: of art, nature, beauty leisure,
amusement. They begin, though but slowly.
To take place in the lives OF our
cultured classes. This habit, or fashion,
which drives townspeople to the country once
n year is doing much TO open our eyes to the
great world which lies outside of commercial
matters. 1t is not only going 10 fulfil its
first purpose, to raise the level Of health in
this country but it will educate us in knowl-
edge not taught in the colleges. For the man
who has learned that there is really a weight
or value in any pursuit (though it be fly
fishIng), which has nothing to do with money,
has given his soul useful lesson, and helped
il 10 pass To n higher class in the great school
90 which we all belong.