The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-06-05
The Art OF LiYiDg.

tistics is proved by the condition of
the working classes at present. Sta
tistics tell us that the cost of living
| in this country has been greatly re.
duced within the past ten years, and
also that wage-earners are receiving
higher pay for their labor than ever
before. This would seem to argue
that the condition Of the working peo-
pie is more prosperous than it ever
has been but facts show US that they
have seldom been in greater financial
straits than they now are.
The explanation Of this state OF
affairs is very simple, and is found in
the fact that we are nation Of spend
thrifts. As the price of the neces-
saries of life declines the demand for
luxuries increases, and 30 the end of
the year finds us no better of than
did the beginning. Americans, as a
! rule, have not the instinct for saving
that characterizes some other nations,
notably the Germans, and which makes
them so prosperous. 1t is not that
they do not enjoy life as much az We
but they are content with simpler and
less expensive pleasures, and are not
desirous of emulating the style OF liv-
ing of their wealthier neighbors.
Neither have we the thrift Of the
French, which enables them to live
| comfortably upon an income which
would mean starvation to an American.
"a penny saved is penny gained
has never been a favorite maxim with
| our people, they much prefer that
which bids them take no thought for
the morrow. Among the great for
tunes which America boasts very few
have had their origin in habits Of
economy it is nearly always to some
fortunate investment or Speculation
that our millionaires are indebted for
the foundations Of their immense
wealth.
Perhaps the habit of hopefulness
which so characterizes US may be the
fault of our climate, which gives us.
$50 few gloomy seasons that we do not
learn to anticipate those fgurative
"rainy days" which so haunt the i'm
agination of our English cousins.
We believe that any man with ordi-
nary energy and perseverance can take
care of himself, and that "the morrow
will be even as to-day, The natural
consequence is to induce everyone to
live up to his income or oven beyond
it, and to adopt with each increase OF
revenue a more extrayagant style OF
living: r
The Democratic idea that money is
the only patent Of. nobility may also
have something to do with the habit.
It is only the really wealthy that dare
to economize those who desire to be
thought so, when they have not solid
foundation for their pretences, feel
they must assume, mode of life that
will lead others to suppose them rich.
In this way tits difficult for observers
to know whether, a man is really
wealthy or merely living up to the
last cent. ola large salary.
This feeling perYades all classes.
The majority Of our people live from
day to day, or "from hand to mouth,
as the vulgar saying has it, and when,
through sickness or some other mis-
fortune, the wage-earner is. incapaci-
tated, from making money, there is no
\ reserve fund to tide him and his fami-
| ly over until better times, and they
are at once thrown upon the charity
of friends or Of the public. This is
no fanciful statement; we see it ex-
emplifed around us every day of our
lives. ~
| It is a mistake to suppose there is
| no art in living. That art consists in
part in learning to look beyond the
present in everything, as well as in
the matter Of expenditure. One of
the commonest mistakes made by
| parents of the present time is in the
oyer-indulgence of their children.
A good many look back to the period
Of their own youth when other Gus
toms were in vogue. They recall the
strict discipline Of home, and how the
word of their father and mother was
law to the household, not to be set
aside with impunity by any Of the
family. Perhaps they remember some
youthful disappointments occasioned
by these restrictions. and they fall
| into the mistake of determining not to
Impose any such rules on their chill
dren.
The consequence is there is very
little family discipline now, or what
there is consists in the parents doing
az the children think right. A moth
er declares her child's will must not
be crossed for fear of running his dis
position. One can but wonder what
world she expects him to inhabit
when he is grown. Certainly it can
not be that in which We live and move
and have our being; for in it the life
is exceptional that has not its daily
and hourly crosses. What is her
child more than another's that every
will should bend to his, and all the
rough places of the world be made
smooth before, his footsteps Does
she not know she can teach him no
kinder lesson than that of self-re-
straint and obedience ?
| There is an art in the matters Of
the household, It is not enough for
Us to live by the day, and to do what
ever comes to hand to the best of our
ability. It is we'll for US also to con.
slider to what all our work tends. #
it is to the supplying Of the ordinary
physical wants of those dependent
f,upon us, then we might as well be
beasts of the field, with no thoughts
OF instincts above those which are
necessary to secure their daily food:
| We are not advocating neglect OF
ordinary domestic comfort, for the
sake of exterior objects, after the
fashion of Mrs. Jellaby, for upon that
comfort the happiness of family lite
largely depends, and that is naturally
the first aim Of every true woman:
But the accomplishment Of that should
not bound her desires. "God, has
lent us powers and capacities to Guilt
vate and develop. He gathers US into
| families and gives US opportunities to
influence and help one another" and
only so far. as we realize this and en-
deavor to use these opportunities have
we learned the true art of living
/ C,.J.., H1,.,.