The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-09-19

Now tina. the refaru of prosperity IS
practically assured. it is worth while 20
consider what we have gained by the
experiences OF the past four years. as
well as what we have lest.
Against the financial losses that SO
many have sustained may be balanced
the lessons OF prudence and restraint
that have been taught. II Is reasonably
certain that most of Is have learned 10
practice economies that we never before
dreamed of, In many cases. IL not in
most. the practice of these economies
and restraints has really made US better.
morally and physically. Doubtless there
Is a plane below which economies serve
mainly TO degrade; bu. there is also a
plaae above which lavish expenditure
produces tins same effect. To drop from
the pstrician cigar to the plebeian pipe
may not very much edify the dropper.
Bu; TO decline, even with much waiting
ard bitterness Of heart. from alcohol al
eight dollars a gallon to buttermilk az
ten cents is decided uplifting toward
the infinite
Ii may well be questioned whether most
OF az, If possessed Of large means. would
not cast our lives on a scale too elaborate
for cur actual well-being. There Is a
quite prevalent belief among the poorer
classes that a man who has performed
hard physical labor during early life and
middle age will contract disease and die.
II suddenly relieved from the necessity of
labor al an advanced age in life. Physi-
clans would probably decide in such cases
that cver-indulgence in luxuries TO which
the system was not Injured, would account
for the death more certainly than the
cessation from labor.
The moral results of too much pros
perity may not be altogether the best.
Some of the fortunate Klondikers are
already accused of having lost that native
simplicity of character that formerly
made them altogether lovable. This may
be merely the wagging of jealous tongues.
but most of US ought to be conscious that
a great and sudden swelling of our pocket
books would not effect any material
shrinkage of our heads
Apart from all this however, it may
be hoped that We have learned lessons
OF business prudence tor the future that
will not soon be forgotten. To use the
street expression. we should be less prone
Ito bite off more than We can chew; to
keep our affairs nearer 10 a cash basis:
and TO know. before We borrow that ade-
quate means OF payment Will almost GER
tainly be available when the debt be-
comes due.
Another lesson has been well taught by
the hard times. whether people heed il or
not. 1t has been shown that individual
ability avails but little as safeguard
against adversely. when the general con-
ditfons in the country are bad. Adverse
conditions can defeat success, however
great the effort. however well trained the
faculties. Success that men attribute 10
their personal abilities has been shown
20 be impossible in the absence of favor
Ing. or. at least, permitting circum-
stances. The best of us are not masters
of fate.
III these lessons have been we'll learned
the hard times may have been. in some
respects, blessing in disguise. And al
though these reflections may be homiletic
in their character and homely in their
expression, they may not be without good
service in places where a more preten-
tious presentation would be inefhcaclous.