Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-06
INCOME AND LIVING.
CASH AND COMFORT ARE THE PRES
EMIT EVERYDAY FAoS.
These Are Things Which No Miiisnuium
Can DO without-How tn Live the
Problem to Solve.
pon.r, Grant IN scribner)

There IL a beauty Of living which the
man with q small income IL not apt TO
compass under present social conditions.
the Declaration OF Independence 10 the
contrary notwithstanding. The doctrine
10 widely and vehemently promulgated In
America that a Spartan ine!egancs or
life Is the duty of leading citizen seems
TO be dying from hamilton. and the
descendants of favorite sons who once
trlumphed by preaching and practising
1t are now outlying those whom they
were taught to stigmatIze as the enete
civilizations Of Europe In their devotion
to creature comforts.
THE POOR RICH MAN.
There are SO many things which one mas
10 have nowadays In order 10 be comfort
able that II seems almost improvident 10
inouIre how much ono ought TO save
before facing the question OF what one can
possibly DO without. Here the people
who are said to have too much for their
own good have an advantage over the
rest of us. The future OF their childreh
Is secure IL they dread death IL IS not
because they fear to leave their wives
and children unprovided for. Many or
them 20 on saving just the same, and
talk door IL a railroad lowers a dividend.
or there is not n ready market for their
real estate ut an exalted profit. Are there
more irritating men or women In the
world than the over conservative persons
OF large means who are perpetually harp
ing on saving. and worrying lest they
may not be able to put by for rainy
day. as they call IL. % per cent. or more
of their annual income? The capitalist
careworn by solcitude OF this sort Is the
one fool In creation VIA Is not entitled
TO some morse OF pity.
EXISTING INEQUALITIES.
The most Interesting and serious prob
lem which confronts human society to-
day Is TIE annihila;ion or lessening OF
terrible existing inequalities I'm estate and
welfare. This problem, absorbing as 1t
IL, can scarcely bs solved in our time.
But, whatever the solution, whether by
socialism. government control, or broth
orly love, IS Il not safe TO assn re that
when every one shares alike, society IS
rot going to be satisfied with humble,
paltry. or ugly conditions as tie mi
vsrsal veal? II the new dispensation
dces not provide a style and manner OF
wing at least equal In comfort, luxury.
among the well-to-do to-day, 1t will be a
failure. Humanity will never consent to
be shut off from the best in order 10 be
exempt from the worst. The millennium
must supply not merely bread and but
ter, house. a pig. q cow, and sewing
machine for every one, but attractive
home. gardens and galleries. literature,
and music, and all the aesthetic social
adjuncts which tend to promote healthy
bodies, delightful manners, fine scnsibili-
ties. AM noble purposes. or it VIII be
no millennium.
INCOMES IN COUNTRY AND CITY.
Five thousand dollars in a country town
Is ahluence, If the beneficiary Is content
10 stay there; tut in city the family
man with only that income. provided he
is ambitious, can only just live. and
might fairly be described "a the cousin
german to a mendicant. And yet there
are some worthy citizens still, who
doubtless would be aghast at these state
ments. and would wish 10 know how
one Is 70 spend 5000 a year without ex-
travagarce.
\ CARDINAL PRINCIPLE.
II seems to me true that in our day and
generation the desire to live wisely here
has eclipscd the desire to live safely here
dLAtT. NlOftDNtT, 10 ENJOY the tii III anu
the fulncss thereof. II IT be legltimately
within ones reach. has come TO be recOg-
nized all the world over. with a special
point of view for each nationality. as a
cardinal principle Of living wisely. We
have been the last to recognize IL here
for the reason that a contrary theory OF
life was for several generations regarded
"a one Of the bulwarks Of our Constltu-
ton. Never was the sympathy for the
poor man greater than IL is al present
Never was there warmer interest in his
condition. The social atmosphere is rife
with theories and schemes for his emanci-
patton, and the best brains Of civilization
are at work in his behalf. But no one
wishes 70 be Ike him. Canting church.
men still gain some credence by the as
scrtion that Indulgence here will prove a
saving grace IN the world TO come: but
the American people. quick when 1t re-
cognizes that 1t has been fooled, TO dis
card even a once-sacred conviction, smiles
to-day al the assumption that the owner
OF a log-cabin is more inherently virtuous
than the owner OF steam-yacht. In
deed, the present signal vice OF demo-
cracy seems to be the fury TO grow rich.
in the mad struggle TO accomplish which
character and happiness are too often
sacrificed fact tho pr0 seiOnr probtern