Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-10
THE HASTE TO BE RICH.
How It Breeds Defalcations and Demon
allies Society Generally.

From the Boston Journal.
few years ago young man connected with
an institution became defauIter. He was a
gentleman by birth and breeding. though not
wealthy. He was man of correct habits. He
had no extravagant tastes, and he was what
may be termed manly fellow. When asked
why he was tempted to prove false to his trusts
he hesitated to make reply, but finally he con-
fessed that his desire to make q large sum of
money In short time was the actuating mo-
tive which caused him to be dishonest. He
stated that the idea Of taking money without
intending to replace it never for q moment
entered his head. He wanted wealth-he stole,
and he wrecked his life.
That the haste to become wealthy ia the
primary cause of nine-tenths of the defalca-
nons, suspensions. and misery which befaIl
those who yield to this temptation is no doubt
true. If there could bse a list made of the
men In Boston who have risen to rapid wealth
by fortunate specialization legitimate wealth
acquired through trade or cautious investment
requires tme-it would be apparent that the
men who have thus fioated on the top wave by
happy hit have almost invariably passed to OBJ
security and comparative poverty even more
quickly than they rose With very few excep-
tions the kings of State street seldom hold
what they suddenly gain: Here and there may
be found man who has known when his bread
was well buttered and has been content to leave
on, but the feverish anxiety which ac-
companies this hot pursuit of wealth is
very apt to unsettle q mans mind, and the
qualifications which he possessed in a fortu-
nate venture appear to desert him. Il should
have no doubt been well enough off, said a
middie-aged gentleman only few weeks since,
II mad not made fortunate outside specu-
latlon when was young man. was doing
very Wen IN my business, making good living
and laying a little aside each year saw other
DeODle richer I and wifi aiobi
chances specialized. In less than three months
mad cleaned up more than $40, 1000. 1t was
my ruin. Ny legitimate business appeared
tame, and L imagined that had genius for
speculation. firmly believed that anything
touched would turn to gold found in less
than year that was worse of than nothing
and my speculative fancies we're so fixed that
my partner dissolved the concern-and, well,
you know the rest"
If, as it is claimed, happiness is one object of
living, is it certain that large wealth means I'M
alleged felicity? The possession of wealth is a
good thing. No one but fool derides those
who seek to make money legitimately, but
wealth. when suddenly obtained, rarely brings
contentment: Men must be educated to the
enjoyment OF wealth; they cannot acquire the
art OF even spending money judiciously in
moment, or even the knowledge how to use
wealth to their own advantage. Men who ac-
quire fortune by slow degrees ripen into
knowledge of its proper use. Rapidly acquired
fortunes bring with them aspirations which are
never satisfied. The world is apt to protest
the demands of such men. You may take the
blue book of any city of even few years ago
and there will be the names of scores of men
who foated to the surface upon gilded shingles
who have passed away, and their brief careers
OF prosperity, which many, no doubt, envied,
have terminated, perhaps, in dishonor, but
more frequently in poverty, the result Of hav-
ing obtained in year that which if it had come
by degrees would have been kept, for then
they would have attached a proper value to
their wealth.