Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-12-17
The Evils Of Wealth.

When Samuel johnson, the literary au-
tocrat of London in the last century, had
been shown over handsome mansion, he
remarked, "All this excludes only one evil
poverty" Trouble, sorrow, affection,
death are not kept off by wealth. But DR..
Johnson's remark contained only half the
truth. Wealth brings also troubles from
which the poor are free. 1t has its own an
noyances and inconveniences which are not
seen in the eager pursuit. The contempla-
tion of these may nourish contentment in
those who are not wealthy. Wealth means
care. Riches have wings, and they need
to be constantly watched. This care takes
time and thought which might be better
used on other subjects. 1t grows as wealth
increases. IL is apt to encroach upon the
Sabbath, and invade the sanctuary. It in
terferes with the social and intellectual
pleasures which might otherwise be en-
joyed. The necessary care of wealth pro.
duces anxiety. The wealth is necessarily
distributed. 1t cannot be boarded in one
place. If hidden in the earth, it is useless
TO its owner. In order TO be useful, it has
to be entrusted to others. The greater the
wealth, the more persons have to be trusted.
The rich man has no positive assurance of
the capacity and 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 negligence, or their dishonesty, the
property may be lost. Fire may burn houses,
aud storms may wreck ships. Insurance
companies may and do fail. There are ten
thousand ways in which property may be
lost. Thus, in addition to the labor imposed
upon the wealthy man, he is subject to per-
petual anxiety, unrest aud apprehension.
Wealth is a barrier to free social intercourse
NOT on the part of the rich man, but on
those who are not wealthy. Those who are
not rich are not apt to be unreservedly
| friendly 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 greater the wealth the
more difficult is the barrier to be passed.
| Some who would be at their ease with the
owner of hundred thousand dollars, will
be reserved with millionaire. This is
another evil incident to great wealth-the
| loss of friends. Wealth is 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 indus.
try and application. The heirs of wealthy
man feel that it is unnecessary for them to
make their own way in life aud they are
tempted neither to study nor work as dill.
gently 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 places to be
found on earth. And the evil influence OF
wealth on the young is positive as well 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 a foe to religion
The rich mans riches are his strong tower
| just as the destruction of the poor is theil
poverty. 1t is easy and natural for the
wealthy to trust to their riches. But Christ
says: "How hard it is for them that trust in
riches to enter into the kingdom of God II
is easier for camel to go through the eye
of a needle than for rich man to enter into
the kingdom of God" The rich need a:
much preaching as the poor, aud they gel
far less. The application of this article tc
them is so plain that it is not necessary
formally to apply it. Let them thank God
for the good things of this life which they
have received. But do not let them pride
or value themselves upon the possession OF
wealth. Let them not trust in riches, but in
their God. Let them remember that they
are the stewards of God-keepers of theil
property for the time being-not its abso
lutte owners. Their property belonged to
others before their birth and will belong to
Others after their death. They are merely
life tenants-tenants at the will of God
Let them so use the property loaned to them
as the real Owner would desire. Let them
use this world as means of grace. The
contemplation of the evils of wealth should
induce contentment in those not wealthy
1t should, moreover, make them choose fol
their ambition neither wealth nor poverty
but the middle state, which is safer aud
happier than either,--Christian Observer ana
| Commonwealth.