The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-07-05
A SENSIBLE FASHION.

\ story. good enough to be true, is told of
young Englishman, who had been giving
voice to the time worn complaint of snob-
bish people about American society: at
is quite impossible, you know, to have a
heightened society where there is no ariStoc-
racy.'
"What do you mean by aristocracyo"
lady asked. Why-aw-you-know; mean
ten thousand people who live any where
and have nothing to do"
Gas for that, replied the lady, eve have
such a class too; but we call them tramps."
The answer was something more than
polite chatting. There is a world Of differ
ence, on the score of comfort and cleanli-
ness, between living any where with moth
ing to do, backed by fortune sufficient to
make life a pastime, and doing the same
with a beggar's wallet still, in spite of the
superficial contrast, the moral difference is
not so very great. The man whose only
claim to consideration rests upon the cir
-.ssAsfS.s that the chance of inheritance
Rsiis -d;.o"s''@h'.e 10 gratify his selfish de-
sires without Personally making sfy 1atrrSp
to the world for what he enjoys, is not in
trinsically nobler, nor does he really play
much nobler part i'll life, than he who lazily
sponges = precariouS existence from those
who have enough to do to provide for them
selves. The world owes neither a living:
and the fortune of the richer only adds to
his moral obligation to do something useful
with the superior means at his command.
The idea that a mans merit is in proper
ton to the cost of his keeping and the I'M
productiveness of his life has never thriven
in this country: and it has always been com
mon for Young men of inherited wealth to
take an active part in the worlds real work.
In the industrial, As well rs in the profess
Sional world, honorable success has been
won through manly exertion by many
young man who might have squandered
his time and fortune in idleness or worse.
And if the tendency of flush time had been
to cultivate different spirit among the sons
of the suddenly rich the financial over
turnings of the past five years have shown
far too plainly the risk attending youth of
dainty idleness TO give the vicious tendency
much encouragement. Indeed the popular
current seems rather to he strongly setting
| in the opposite direction, and it is quite the
fashion now for young men of wealth to
strike ont for themselves particularly in
new and non professional fields.
| From Maine to Oregon, from Michigan to
Texas, young men of wealth and culture,
men who might be itllers-are TO be found
among the ranks Of the doors, using their
fortunes only to help them to larger and
| more productive labors than the empty
handed could undertake. Newport cor
| RESPONDENT names n number of the sons of
the wealth residents and summer visitors of
that fashionable watering place, who are
thus employed. Agricultural pursuits at
tract the most of them. Several are man.
aging farms Two have gone into the market
gardening and milk business, and are max
ing it pay. Two are dcvoting their time to
the raising of poultry on large scale
Such undertakings in the vicinity of CEN
tiers of population, wealth and culture, are
more likely to result protitably and satisfac-
| torily than sheep or cattle breeding in the
south or West, hitherto the more popular
occupations of adventurous and active young
men of wealth, since they do not necessi-
tate the abandonment of the enioymentS
and advantages of society and friends. The
East is full of opportunities for men of ell
ergy and means to make money by outdoor
operations, and, at the same time, to i'm
prove immensely the conditions and charac-
ter of country life. The drift of young men
of spirit and education has long been toward
the cities. 1t lies in the power of the lead
ers of the new fashion to set the current in
the opposite direction, vastly TO the benefit
of both city and country.