St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-07-21
THE IDEAL INCOME.


8tN0t00 - 1000u6o0OWeSs
Independence. from IN entirely
American standpoint, is always more
or less hard to gain. though not cx-
ceeding hard, not almost impossible.
as it is across the sea. 1t requires CON
tinuous resolution. unAinching perse-
verance. steady self-abstinence, clear
Judgment. with = dash of what is
reckoned as luck. especially In youth.
when such qualities are least devel-
oped. Above all, it requires resolution
and perseverance. An earnest attempt
at independence can never really be
made too late. desirable rs it is to
make the attempt early. Independ.
ence should be aimed at, kept
firmly in mind, whether one be
twenty-five or sixty. whether
one have many responsibilities or
none. For it is very rarely reached
without ceaseless solicitude and striv-
ing. and not. as must be granted.
reached generally even with these.
After good repute and good health, 1t
is the most valuable of possessions II
is apprehensible salvation. Neverthe-
less. the first stages are most arduOus.
the most discouraging. Beyond them
the road is smoother, and success
dawns in the distance. Cling to the
prospect while life lasts. though ex-
pectation swoon by the way. The rec.
ompense is worth the stoutest labor,
the severest sacrifice; it richly stones,
in the end. for whatever may have been
endured for the precious cause.
What constitutes an independence?
Does il not vary with the place and
the individual? Is not the indepen-
dence of one man totally inadequate
to that of another? Obviously yes
Your idea Of an independence may be
so superior to mine rs to seem like
wealth, which. in any reasonable
sense, may not be hoped for. and is
not. in truth, by any number of men.
though to the manner born. Still
sensible, sober opinions on the subject
are not so different rs may appear at
first Each man should determine for
himself, according to his surroundings
and relations, what amount he and his,
If all sources fail. can live ON in . very
simple way-in y way bearable and
decent, II not quite pleasant or desira-
BILE.
1t seems to be generally agreed that
in New York . native citizen. man of
small family wife and two chill
dren, for example-can not get on re-
specially with less than about IS. 900 q
year. II q bachelor. 81 200 to 81, 500
will answer. In other cities 5000 to
a, 900 may sustain him domestically;
in the village or the country, material
" less. If he must descend to marked
plainness, rigid economy, prosaic facts,
he can find places where, without 9TH
er income, q, 900 to q 500 will keep him
and his household together, mot with
c,,t material comfort That amount,
therefore, may be taken as an approx
nation to an independence, rs enough h
certainly 70 keep the wolf and the cred
itor from the door. Confession may be
frankly made, however. that NO such
sum is regarded by the city folk a.
sufficient for the purpose. They might
pat it at fully $4,000. and speak of
minor figures rs penury, or prolonged
starvation. Strict independence may,
Notwithstanding, be computed in gen.
eral at q, 900 to q. 500; and he who has
secured it indubitably has no cause to
fear compassion. or to seek for SYM
pathy. lie may esteem it q. genuine
misfortune to be so reduced. especially y
after having had five or ten times rs
much. Still. it is independencernot
handsome. welcome, or in any manner
satisfactory; and it is within reach Of
nearly anyone who diligently and
earnestly works for it-Junius Henri
Browne. in Harper's Magazine.