The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-23
GETTING ON In THE WORLD.

vidual or by the many, is morbid desire to
be happy" Many man would be happy
indeed were it not that he misses true happi-
ness in the feverish search for it. Happiness
such as forever seek it instead of enjoying it.
The poor man is not happy because he wishes
to be rich, imagining that riches would bring
peace. The rich man is not happy for even
more reasons than the poor man is not. He
Is unhappy because he is not richer, because he
fears that his riches will take wings and get
away from him, because his neighbor has
more than he has, because he failed to make
as much as he expected in his last specula-
ton, or because he lost instead Of making.
All these and innumerable other reasons con-
spire to trouble the man of wealth. But the
poor man says: "Give me his possessions and
/ will take care of happiness" There is
delusion in this, and if there were not, the
plan of this world would be a very imperfect
one. It cannot be that its Architect should
lay it out on the narrow plan that none
should be happy unless rich. The fate of
humanity under such cruel conditions would
be deplorable. Only very few of the vast
number of mankind would then stand any
chance of an existence that would be toler-
able. That this is mistake needs
no argument. The law of common sense,
the law of God, as revealed in the Bible, the
law of compensation, all law is against such
monstrous condition to happiness. 1t is not
saying too much to say that the poor may be
as happy as the rich. There are troubles and
temptations that come to the rich that the
poor know nothing of. There are sleepless
nights in the mansion that are unknown in
the cottage, and often when least expected
The banker whom many poor man envies,
may in turn envy the man who attends to his
horses, for the very peace of mind that he en-
living in mansions have often lived for years
with the. shadow of bankruptcy hanging over
them, from which they would only too gladly
escape and welcome honest poverty. It were
foolish to argue against the comforts that
wealth can provide, but wealth alone cannot
even buy peace to say nothing Of happiness.
Wealth is often a curse to the man who, re-
lieved of its responsibility, would be happy.
But if any man would be rich, and feels
that he cannot be happy until he is possessed
of more goods than his fellows there is way
to become so. One way is to be mean, stingy,
grasping, intent ever on gaining more and
spending less He can stint himself and fam
lily. deny his wife and children the privileges
that are cheerfully accorded the little ones of
poorer men, and in every way make himself
and family bend to the severe conditions that
he has devised. This is one of the ways to
wealth, and way that is not likely to COM
mend itself to honest men. Then there are
other roads to the accumulation Of wealth. A
man may become rich by theft, by fraud by
speculation, and various other ways more or
less questionable. But it is not this kind of
wealth that the poor man envies, for he could
not accept it under the conditions it was ac-
quired. Besides, as rule, with very few ex-
ceptions, the wealth acquired in a dishonor
able way cannot be retained, and slips away
almost as quickly as it came.
But it will not do for the poor man to con-
clude that all wealth is acquired in way that
cannot be thoroughly honorable. Many a
man is wealthy and really happy in its pos
session, because he got it in a way that no
man can question. There are thousands of
men who have great possessions and who
have come up from poverty by their own ex-
ertions. Their example, too, may be fol-
lowed by such as would become rich. They
got a start by practicing decent economies,
and by saving where others wasted. With
the money thus saved they got that 'start"
that so many long for. And from the "start"
it became easier and still easier to get more,
until at list the goal of riches was reached
before it was realized. The great majority of
try started as poor men, just as the young me-
chanic of to-day is starting in life. They are
men who "'know how 1t is themselves" and
with few exceptions, are glad to encourage
and assist others who show disposition to
follow their example. In truth, the world of
business and traffic is ever on the watch for
just such men. There is steady demand
for them to fill the gaps made by
death. There is every incentive for
a young man to be frugal and persevering,
for the reward, though slow in coming, is
sure. He is working for man who only a