The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-08
WEALTH and POVERTY.
The Prayer of Aeur az Applicable rs on the
bay IL Was Uttered


losophy Of material life was presented in
way that no Que since has been able TO
improve upon or to dispose Of Give me
neither poverty nor riches. feed me with food
convenient To me- lest I've full and deny Thee
and say who is the Lord? or lest | he poor
and stealn Endless are the writings upon
the subject Of wealth or the want OF II. and
literature is filled with beauties OF thought
fashioned into eulogy Of poverty. We have
Senecs's wonderful theory Of happy ltepIe-
pared eaboratelv in praise OF the estate oi The
poor when he himself luxuriated in the opu-
lence ot imperial favor; and the legend OF the
King who was to cure all of bis ills by don
ming the shirt Of the happy man, though me
happy man. when found. possessed no shIi-
But the SUN OF modern science and ethics ap-
piled e. community life IS the same a. the
wise reflection Of the sCriptural Agur
In the Christian Union the Rev. q. L.
Bowling discusses entertaningly the quee
non, How Much Richer is Rich Man
Than Poor One" excluding from con-
sideration the oxtlemely rich and the ~
rreinelv poor. both Of whom are miserable, he
believes, the one having little advantage of
the other in the matter OF happiness. He
deals with the bulk of society, composed OK
those who are neither immediately wealthy
nor immediately poor. and he reaches The
conclusion that the most desirable condition
OF life is that in which man has little more
than enough. That is TO say, one who ~ IN
dustrious and VINO avoids eItravagance - -
near an ideal state as he can hope To approach
If he is able % live comfortably. dress respect
ably. afford certain pleasures, set "A wholesome
table, and keep his family suitable TO then
| right station without mourning debt or LIVING
| quite up 10 his income.
The trouble is the majority of people mis-
| take the one Just Immediately beyond them
! for their right station, and SOW the seed OF
4 in. uff nat -
| emulate the example of their more fortunate
| neighbOrs. This disease OF the moral nature,
fol it il nothing less IS so prevalent that there
/ Is no class of society free from II. No one Is
satisfied with that little more than enough
| which Is within the reach OF almost every
one. aud which Is sufficient 10 happiness
| did we but live inwardly 20 ourselves
and not outwardly to the view OF oul neigh
| bors Life Is what We make IL. and whoever
| gets the most out Of it does It not because OF
| liza circumstances, however fortunate those
| circumstances be. but in spite of them" We
do not think enough upon the fact that every
thing in this life Is relative. and we are apt 10
Overestmate the apparent differences, I'M
mindful that the things We covet bear with
them increased responsibility and Obligation.
We do not pay attention 10 the laT OF com
| pensatiOn that runs through society. But the
| great diocy Of this age is the notion that
| money Is the soundest foundation and chief
|
| have all things. The healthy. hearty, sound
sleeping, clear-thinking, regularly employed
| man who eats well and digp~ts his food thor
! oughly rs a result Of his enforced methOdc
| habits and the brisk walk lac takes to and
| from business. heaves sigh of envy as his
club-dined. champagned and elegantly
| groomed speaking acquaintance rolls by HIN
in carriage or in trap. and straightway long
for fortune that will let him overhead his lvel
and muddle his brain and drive fast race tC
cid age and decrepitude.
The happy man is be who takes n clear con
science to bed with him. who sleeps soundh
through his eight hours, and rises in TIN
morning refreshed and clear-headed for The
days duties. Not many men are 80, perhaps
but most men owe 1t 70 their own folly II THEY
are otherwise Let any man resolve 10 i've
safely within his income indifferent, tc
| the habits pursuits, Orincome OF his neighhor
taking what needed exercise he may. interest
ing himself Loyalty IN his vocation, and oelne
Jealous to perform his duties as the head OF
family. bearing in mind also that cultivated
intellect IS "A thousand lines better than sli
perfluous bank account and very soon I'M
fact will take possession Of heart and soul an'
brain that this is beautiful and joyous work
in which there IS more God chan devil.
Make the best Of your lot aud quit compar
ing the inside of your own life with TN
outside Of another mans would you lean
| WHAT HdpplncSs, anu pctCc uAu SDHNSH.
and sense Of spiritual power are. II ycoi
can not drive in carriage walk mantull
along the way, filing your lungs deep-ful
with free air unenyiously. If you canno
feast at the banquet table, take good appett
to your own wholesome home fare, and con
slider how much better blood and healthie
blood you are making. If you cannot ente
the social gatherings you think you woul'
like 10. take down from the shelf your favor
lite author and read aloud to your wife, anC
reflect afterwards on the superior ideas ,yo
have encountered. Pray with Agur and b
content and you will lie on asphodel an
drink nectar The man is an ass who signs Z
live his neighbours life. That neighbor ha
his signs of envy, too.-Chcago lnter-Ocean