The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-11-13
THE EVILS OF WEALTH.


When Samuel johnson, the literar,
autocrat of London in the last centuc.
had been shown over handsom
mansion, he remarked, 'All this ex
cludes one evil--poverty.' Trouble
sorrow, af1iiction, death, are not KEEP
off by wealth. But DIR. Johnson's re
mark contained only half the truth
Wealth brings also troubles from
which the poor are free. 1t has it,
own annoyances and Inconvenience
which are not seen in the eager pur
suit. The contemplation of these ma.
nourish contentment in those who ART
not wealthy.
Wealth means care. Riches have
wings, and they need to be constantly
watched. This care takes time anG
thought which might be better used
OF other subjects. 1t grows as wealth
increases. 1t is apt to encroach upon
the Sabbath and invade the sanctuary
1t interferes with the social and intel
lectual pleasures which might other.
wise be enjoyed.
The necessary care of wealth pro.
duces anxiety. The wealth is neces-
sarily distributed. 1t cannot be hoard.
ed in one place. If hidden in the earth
it is useless to its owner. In order to
be usful it has to be entrusted to 9TH
ers. The greater the wealth the more
persons have to be trusted. The rich
man has no positive assurance OF the
capacity and the fidelity of his agents
and his debtors. They may not be
able to take care of his property, or
they may divert it to their own uses
and possessions. Through their neg
ligence or their dishonesty the prop.
erty may be lost. Fire may burn
houses and storms may wreck ships.
Insurance companies may and do fail.
There are ten thousand ways in which
property may be lost. Thus, in addi-
ton to the labor imposed upon the
| wealthy man, he is subject to perpet-
ual anxiety, unrest end apprehension.
Wealth is barrier to free social in :
tercourse, not on the part of the rich
man, but on the part of those who are
not wealthy. Those who are not rich
are not apt 10 be unreservedly friend
ly with the rich. 1t may be their
fault. They ought not to let wealth
stand between them and friend, but
they do. The barrier exists, and the
rich man cannot remove it. The great
or the wealth the more difficult is the
barrier to be passed. Some who would
be at their ease with the owner of a
hundred thousand dollars, will be re-
served with millionaire. This is an
other evil inclden to great wealth
the loss of friends.
Wealth is a peril to the sons and to
the daughters of the wealthy. The
school of application and industry is
the best school for both boys and girls
and wealth removes the incentive to
industry and application. The heirs
of q wealthy man feel that it is unnec-
essary for them to make their own way
in life, and they are tempted neither to
study or work ss diligently as others.
The heads of the young men of wealth
in England (where fortunes are larger
and better secured than in any other
country are the emptiest to be found
on earth. And the evil evidence of
wealth on the young is positive as
we'll as negative. The possession of
money leads the sons into dissipation
and the daughters into frivolity.
But the greatest danger of wealth
remains to be told. 1t is foe to re-
ligion. The rich mans riches are his
strong tower, just as the destitution of
the poor is their poverty. 1t is easy
and natural for the wealthy to trust
to their riches. Bat Christ says:
How hard it is for them that trust in
riches to enter the kingdom of God"
The rich need as much preaching as
the poor, and they get far less. The
application of this article to them is SO
plain that it is unnecessary formally
to apply it. Let them thank God for
the good things of this life, which they
haye received. But do not let them
pride or value themselves upon the
possession of wealth. Let them not
trust in their riches but in their God.
Let them remember that they are
stewards of God--keepers of their
property for the time being-not its
absolute owners.