The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-07-11
Money, Mind and Character.

know how much the temper of the
times suffers from the strain brought
upon our youth, especially in large cities,
| to acquire wealth before daring to marry,
in the recognition that this young coun-
try gauges success more by the amount of
"spread eagle shown, than by the actual
quiet merit and downright worth of mind
and heart. Cleverness takes the place of
character in politics and private life
After graduation at Yale among a group
of young fellows oppressed by the same
nightmare, as they entered practical life,
l went abroad to study, spending some
six years in direct contact with the
people of many countries, and noticing
with surprise how much more soundly
(and indeed more democratically, as in
France), social Difference was differen-
tiated on higher basis than mere material
prosperity. In our competition for hon.
ors, many of the highest were awarded to
aspirapts entirely on the basis of personal
capacity and attainment, and the most
responsible and honorable public oppor-
tunities were opened to them independent
of their origin or wealth. Thus we felt
Immediately the noble and only stimulus
of direct competition on actual merit or
honorable endeavor. On returning to
New York and starting in life here, find
another standard prevailing. High char
acter and real capacity are often ignored
or belittled. Sharpness, cheek, bumpti-
Gus ignorance, and, above all, monetary
standard of merit obtains to an alarming
degree, throwing places of responsibility
and trust open to those who are in no
sense properly fitted for the honorable
conducting of them. As to marrying
that which in general every young man
of 4" sound mind in sound body" ought
to contemplate, on attaining maturity,
find vice increasing, and the difficulties in
the way of honest wedlock augmenting,
owing to the departure from simple liv-
ing, such as prevails in Europe, and to
our not understanding the economies and
proportions of living. Many of my old
comrades of college or of commercial life
found hating under the oppressi6fef
social acquisitions which were either in
flated, meretricious, or absolutely wrong.
Now l want to say to any of the young
men or young women among our readers
who may glance at these lines, have
found by practical experience as married
young man, that happiness in life, whether
here or in Europe, consists not so much
in obedience to those social codes of
Draco, that dwarf or dry up our sweetest
experiences, cobweb our brains with phan-
toms, and bewilder or prevent our largest
development, as in obedience to higher
law of the Almighty. "Let every man
have his wife, and every woman her hus-
band. Let him rejoice in the
wife of his youth. Multiply and
replenish the EARTH" "Better the poor
man who walketh in his integrity" COM
mencing honestly and advancing indus
triously, contented with simple beginnings
so long as the happy hours of honest love
and labor be shared all the way up with
her who, if she truly comprehends the
noble name God gave her OF helpmeet to
him, may have to him price far above
rubies, or brown stone fronts, or gloved
ushers, or brass band, or Penard enter
tainments. My wife and l commenced
| life by taking deserted school-house at
low rent, and by loving fingers, earnest
labor, and doing in the main our own
house-work converted it into 80 SUNNY
and sweet little home, that MANY a
weary millionaire might envy us. To
her brave and loving sympathy, backed
' by willing hands, owe not only some of
/ the best impulses and priceless expert
ences of life, but even the stimulus to
later growths and achievements, and |
might even add under God, to my attain
ing the honorable post of instructor in one
of our foremost olleges.-Christian al
Work.