Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-02-05
For the SPECTATOR
Speculative ManEas.

A rage for getting rich without labor or per-
servering industry, seems to have taken pos
session of our people Blooms" are the order
of the day. Many people appear ready to aban
don their ordinary avocations and embark in
any wild scheme that may be proposed With
out denouncing all. or any of the schemes now
on foot as fraudulent. must regard some of
them as visionary and likely to involve in
| losses those who participate in them. few
persons may make money! but like the
common gambler, they will not usually prof t
In the long run by riches SO acquired while
| the great majority will be irreparably injured
The history of the famous Southern Express
Company" might have taught our people a
| useful lesson. 1t is an old saying that burnt
children dread the fire;' but still one and an
other child falls into the flames; and so 1t is
likely to be to the end of the chapter Still at
| the risk of being called an "old fogy' by the
"live mem of the present day, I venture to
raise warning voice, hoping that some lndi-
vidua Is will be influenced thereby
1 find in Chambers Miscellany a ira ct on
this subjec t which might be generally read
and with profit. Says the writer: "In the an
cient saying, The hand ofthe diligent maketh
rich,' is found one of the truest principles of So
cial economy" Riches are visible testimony of
diligen tlndustry--.he tangible results of pains
taking and consistent labor. Houses clothing
articles OF elegance and utility public works of
all kinds, private wealth, are all products of
skillfui and persevering industry. Some one
has worked for them. The humblest individ-
ual laborng for his bread occupies an honora-
BILE position. Obscure as are his efforts he
forms part of the great system of industry-he
helps to carry on the national machine I'm
fortunately. there are "short cuts'' to fortune,
w raj izir1 araIi Y,it,r
always dishonest. They are little less harmful
than out and out gambling.
The writer gives an account of various spec.
ulative manias which have become famous
Some of these had fair commercial basis. but
yet were disastrous in their results, He tells
about the 'Darien Scheme" the mississippi
Scheme" the South Sea Scheme" the 'Tuli-
pomania,'' and others. By one and another of
these schemes, whole families were ruined
children deprived of their fortunes, and maid
ems made penniless. although a few persons for
time rolled in wealth.
There appears to be no limit to human Gre
dulity where the promise is held out of gain
ing wealth without work. The widest project
has found dupes. At one time in England one
scheme after another was offered to the public.
L name the following as specimens: For set
| thing the island of Blanco and Sal Tortugas, to
CAiSouioSo JHo UT6eu OI horses, IOr Importing
| walnut trees from Virginia, for purchasing and
| improving the fenS OF Lincolnshire, for trading
In hair. Every one had a large capital noIni-
nally. and every one took. One protector, how
ever. outdid all the rest by a stroke of genius.
He proposed "a company tor carrying on an
undertaking OF great advantage, but nobody to
know what 1t is''-capital f5OOOO0, divided into
600 shares Of fl00 each, deposit only e. per
share. An office was opened in London and in
five hours nearly a thousand people deposited
| each his f2. 1t is unnecessary to say that the
protector crossed the Channel next day with
some f2 0OO in his pocket. [Evidenty DR. San
grade stole one of his features" from this ras-
| cal
| Better give heed to The wisdom OF Solomon,
or rather the inspired words of the Bible:
"a faithful man shall abound with blessings
but he that maketn haste to be rich shall not
be innocent" And again:
"He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye.
and considereth not that poverty shall come
| upon him." @.