Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-07-10


|
Astory, good enough to be true
10 told Of q young Englishman. who
had been giving voice 10 the time.
worn complaint of snobbish peonIa
about American society: ut il
quite impossible, you know, to have
q heightened society where there il
no aristooracy."
"What do you mean by aristocra.
"" the lady asked. aWhy.aw-
you know; I mean ten thousand
people who live anywhere and have
nothing to do"
"As for thst," replied the lady,
Eve have such q class too, bat we
call them tramps."
The answer was something more
than polite chatting. There il a
world of difference on the SCORE of
comfort and cleanliness, living any.
where with nothing to do, backed
by fortune sufficient to make life
9 pastime and doing the same with
o beggar's wallet; still ir spite of
the superficial contrast the moral
difference 10 not very great. The
man whose only claim to considsra-
ton rests upon the circumstances
that the chance Of Inheritance has
made him able to crafty his selfish
desires without personally making
any return TO the world for what
he enjoys. is not intrinsically nobler
nor does he really play Q much no.
bier part in lie than he who lazily
sponges . precarious existence
from those who have enough to do
TO provide for themselves. The
world owes neither living; and the
fortune Of the richer only adds to
bis moral obligation to do some
thing useful with the superior means
al his command.
The idea that a mans merits is in
proportion to the cost of his keep
ing and the appropriateness of
life has noyer thriven in this coun-
try; and it has always been COM
mon for. young men of inherited
wealth to take an active part In tho
worlds real work. In the indus
trial as we'll a. the professional
world honorable success has been
won through manly exertion by
many young imam who might
have squandered his time and his
fortune in idleness or worse. And
if the tendency of flush times had
been to cultivate o different spirit
among tho sons of the suddenly
rich, the financial overturnings of
the past five years have shown far
too plainly the risk ate nding a
youth OF dainty idleness to give tho
vicious tendency much encourage
ment. Indeed the popular current
seems rather to be strongly setting
IN the opposite direction, and il is
quite the fashion now for young
men OF wealth to strike out for
themselves, particularly in new and
non-professional fields.
From Maine to Oregon, from
Michigan to Texas, young men of
wealth aHd culture who might DO
idlers--mere society men and noth-
Ing more--ars apt to DO found
among the ranks ct the doors, using
their fortunes only to help them to
larger and more productive labors
than the empty.handed could nn-
dertake. AlNewport correspondent
names number Of the sons Of the
wealthy residents and summer vlsi-
tors of that fashionable watering
place who are thus employed. Ag-
ricultural pursuits are attracting
the most of them Several are
managing farms. Two have gone
into the market gardening and
milk business rnd are making IL pay.
Two are devoting their time to the
raising of poultry on large scale.
Such undertaking In the vicinity Of
conters of population wealth and
culture, are more likely to result
satisfactorily and profitably than
sheep and cattle breeding in tho
South and West, hitherto more
popular occupations of adventurous
and active young mon OF wealth,
since they do not necessitate tho
abandonment and enjoyment of tho
advantages Of society and friends.
The Fast is full Of opportunities for
men of energy and means TO mako
money by outdoor operations, aud,
OF the Same time, to improve i'm
mensely the conditions and the
character of country life. The drift
Of young mon Of spirit and educa.
tion has long been toward the ci-
tics. It lies IN the power OF the
leaders of the new fashion to set
the current in the opposite direction
vastly to the benefit of both city
and country. Scientific american.