West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-07-16
TWO KINDS OF VICE.
The AvarIce OF the Rich and tho E1trav-
aganCe OF the Poor

agance OF the Poor
One of the most remarkable features
of human nature. which is so strange
as TO seem almost paradoNicnl is the
parsimony of the rich and the cxtrava-
gance of the poor. Some rich men
bend all their energies TO saving to-
day. as if they feared starving to-mor.
row; and those really destitute Of prop.
erty seem eager to spend all that they
acquire, Look at most of the exam
pies of very rich men in our own coun-
try, or any other, and their names arc
associated with meanness and parsi-
mony stephen Girard starved his
clerks and himself, and was so shabbi-
~ dressed as to be frequently mistaken
for one OF his own porters. The jew.
ish millionaire Rothschild, who con
trolled the money market OF London
and carried the eXchcquers OF half the
Kingdoms OF Europe in his pocket, oft.
en- employed him self i'm calculating tho
smallest possible sum on which clerk
could exist, and reducing the result TO
practice in his own business. John
Jacob Astor, at the end of "A long
life spent in cautious enterprises and
long savings, left just one per cent. of
his prodigious fortune TO found a Ii.
brary.
We can not discover any ADEQUATE
cause for covetousness. and NAV as
well set it down at once TO the account
of the folly of man, What possible
benefit can this passion he TO its pos
SCISSOR? 1t renders him an object of
pity or contempt to his fellows, for
which his own pleasure in satisfying
the greed of accumulation is but a poor
exchange. Avarice, when carried to
the pitch il rises TO i'm many men. is a
disagreeablc and rcpulsive disease.
Many man has actually starved him
self, and, so far as he could, his fami-
~, TO satisfy more fully the accurscd
lust of boarding. The monstrous alb
surdity of this fasting is seen in the
fact that the miser does not really pos
scss his money, but his money possess
es him.
This boarding avarice is one form Of
the disease; but squandering avarice is
another. The poor squanderer is a
stranger phenomenon, f., than tho rich
miscr. IT is hard TO understand why
any man should watch over treasure
which he never designs TO use, but
much more difficult TO comprehend
how man should, i'm the face of GER
tain fore-knowledge of his poverty. the
contempt Of the world and other mis-
fortunes, still squandcr all he gets, and
never think Of curbing his extrava-
Rance When this vice comes to it's
height, it proves destructive TO society.
for the spendthrift, like a banker who
breaks, not only hurts himself but en-
barrasses or ruins all who depend upon
him.
PrOfusencSs, indeed, sometimes wins
the appellation Of generosity; and the
extraVagant, so long as he retains pos
session of his estate, is highly esteemed
and carcsse by parasites and fattercrs
IT is too customary TO Judge a mans
liberality by his cellar, equipage and
kitchen; so that, if his table is pro-
fusely supplied, and his horses and car
riages cut a dash in the eyes of the
world, he acquires the reputation Of a
generous man, when he deserves only
that OF a spendthrift On the other
hand, the man Of truly liberal and gen
erou5 tastes. who purchases books.
pictures, statues, and devotes a liberal
share Of his income TO private and un-
'''i "Ti'' H"iitl'Nf may Dt tdileu COW
etOus by the herd, while ho who con-
tributes TO the support chiefly Of tav-
crns is accounted amodel Of generosity.
There is no rational motive for either
extravaganza or cOvetOusncss The
hoarder heaps mp for others, and the
prodigal soon scatters what Others have
heapcd. The hoardcr thinks 50 much
Of the time 20 come as to- forget the
present; tho squandercr has his thoughts
so taken up with the present as to
neglect the future. The first acts As If
he was never 10 die, and the last as If
he bad but day 10 enjoy - Boston
BUdgCL