Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-07-27
Hnvying q Rich Man.

Perhaps the meanness which envy ex-
cites was never more yiyidly illustrated
than by the remark of whisky-loving
Irishman. He and comrade came
across drunken man lyingon his face
by the roadside, "He's deadr' said the
comrade. .sDeadr' answered the other,
who had turned the man over and smslt
his breath, II wish I had Just half his
diseaser' ,g.i $50.
4 Rogers, the poet and banker, once ex-
hibited the fault-fnding tendency 90
common when envy is aroused. He was
at party when young duke was an
nounced, who had just attained his ma
jority. A chorus Of compliments was
heard-"How handsome!'' s.He's q
man of talentr' "He has hundred
thousand pounds year!" Rogers. who
had been eyeing the young man with
manner which showed that he didn't rel
ish the general admiration bestowed up
on him, at last exclaimed, "Thank God,
he has bad teethr'
Some years ago there lived o man in
Philadelphia who was envied by hun
dreds. Jacob Ridgeway was worth five
or six millions of dollars, fortune
which was then exceeded only by Gil
rard's and Astor's. Now the most self
ish sort of envy is that makes a
man unhappy in, view Of the wealth OF
another, and scores of men thus made
themselves unhappy whenever they
came In contact with Mr., Ridgeway.
The following story shows how he re-
proved one who openly expressed this
feeling: B4
'.Mr. Ridgeway," said a young man
with whom the millionaire was con-
versing, '.you are more to be envied than
any gentleman ] know" as
"Why sop' responded Mr.. Ridgeway,
II am not aware Of any cause for which
I should be particularly envied."
What, sir'' exclaimed the young
man in astonishment. why, you are
q millionaire! Think of the thousands
your income brings every month"; M
..Well, what Of thatp'' replied Mr..
Ridgeway. "All l get out of it is my.
victuals and clothes, and I can't eat
more than one mans allowance and
wear more than a suit at a time. Pray,
can't you do as muchp'' tt,
"Ah, but" said the youth, ..think of
the hundreds Of fine houses you own, and
the rentals they bring you"
..What better off am I for thatpi' re-
piled the rich man. Il can only live in
one house at q time; as for the money
! receive for rents, why can't eat it or
wear it; / can only use it to buy other
houses for people to live in; they are the
benefciaries, not l."
shut you can buy splendid furniture,
and costly pictures, and fine carriages
and horses--in fact, anything you de-
sire"
"And after have bought thenl,'' re-
sponded Mr.. Ridgeway, sswhat thenp I
can look at the furniture and pictures,
and the poorest man, who Is not blind,
can do the same.
Il can ride no easier in . fine carriage
than you can in an omnibus for five
cents, without the trouble of attending
to drivers, footmen and hostlers; and as
to anything I desire I can tell you,
young man, that the less we desire in
this world. the happier we shall be.
"All my wealth can't buy single day
more of life cannot buy back my youth |
cannot procure me power to keep afar
off the hour of death, and then, what
will all avail, when in few short years |
at most, l lie down in the grave and |
leave it all foreverp Young man, YOU |
have no cause to envy me.