The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1885-12-16
(FoI THE MANNING TINES.
POVERTY.

There is a Spanish proverb which
says, 'stoo much prosperity makes
most men fools, ls,''-another, ''have
money and you will have kindred
enoug gh"-and another, poverty is no
disgrace, it is better living on a little,
than outliving great deal" in these
brief sayings much wisdom may be
discovered. There IS no circumstance
in life considered SO humiliating as
penury and yet it is no degradation
to be poor; a poor man is not less
worthy than rich, neither should he
be less respected, and yet he is so.
Why? Tie power Of the world IS
either embodied in wealth or wisdom,
and without some moderate portion
of wealth the powers of wisdom are
seldom made apparent Poverty has
been the companion OF the wise, from
time immemorial and although the
most intellectual among mankind, are
those best calculated to devise meals
for accommodating riches, they are uni
versally the most letharsic IN the en-
ployment of the means. Goldsmith
in his Vicar Of Wakefield, has most
admirably and naturally described the
effects of generous spirit, and care
less habits regarding money matters,
and vet who took less forethought TOR
the morrow, than Oliver Goldsmith.
One of the seven sages Of Greece OBJ
served that no condition in life is SO
felicitous as state OF mediocrity, and
another philosopher remarks that a
state of afhuence is equally productive
of disquiet with that of Indulgence.
But all the authority we might quote
would contribute but tririally IN max
ing the poor believe their condition
equally felicisous with that OF the rich.
The daily laborer at mechanical pur-
suits, unless possessed OF a peculiarly
benignant and contented disposition
performs the orders of his employer
with unwillingness and envy.
Poverty is rendered intolerable for
many reasons, the poor are deprived
of a thousand advantages of liberty
which the rich enjoy; education which
is perhaps the greatest blessing that
can be bestowed, is denied them, if
their minds are naturally capable, their
scintillations are checked for want OF
this proper channsl to bring them IN
to a favorable requisition. Among
some of the ancients system of gov
ernment was adopted which rendered
individuals eminent only for virtue,
but every member OF the community
had an equal chance with his fellow,
all the seminaries were public, and all
the honors conferred according to the
merits of the competitors at public ez-
hibitions. Orators and poets compos-
ed, and recited their productions IN
public-artists, painters ana sculptors,
exhibited their workmanship before
committee of unbiased and just
judges. He that exceled in any par
ticular branch was awarded honors
according to his deserts ana lEne-
diately received the station in public
estimation, which his abilities assign
ed him. In modern times it is not SO,
merit is superseded, either BY wealth
or intrigue, the man who is most ac-
quainted with fraud aud gifted largely
with impudence, is the one most apt
to succeed, the consequence IS, self-in-
terest actuates the larger portion OF
mankind; wealth is power and all seek
to become powerful through its iniu-
ence. Principlein most cases is talk
ed of only as well to conceal frandu-
lent motives. Needless of the cries of
their less fortunate brothers, they stop
not to help; him up one round OF the
ladder, but rather give him shove
down, and struggle on to see who shall
be uppermost, the means used are not
always the most honorable, but ':no
matter" cries the contestant, 'the end
aspired to is obtained"
MEs CHAs. LINING,
Charleston, S. G..