Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-08-21
A FORTUNATE MAN.
Like Thousands Of Others lie Com
plains Without Cause.
---- lN..M York Sun ------

-. SAsN NJ IN "a ~
great Il nUlhbe: Of both men and NO
men. and expresses he inevitable dis
content which prevails in 50 large n
part of society, nay. is inseparable from
human nature itself. hat it dese,y YES
serious consideration:
r the Editor OF the Sun-Sir: I am
q young married man. age SO, and am
The father Of six children. Have been
Employed in my present place for the
PAST thirteen years without one step of
adNanc"ineHt. either financially or cler-
icaily. This. at times. causes me to be
somewhat !o"uhearted at my lot in
life. and ] r,vive only in the realization
of a loving wife and my brood of ar
fcctionate children. 1t is true my en-
~plpynefft permits me to procure them
f@od ana clothes. not of the best, but
substantial, and to keep a shelter over
their heads. But what of the future?
My love for them causes me to look for
ward with apprehension at ~the-inevita-
bic end. "
when l ask my employers to raise
my Wages they only shake their hea,ts
and reply: You must try TO live myre
cconclnirallT.' Don't l try in every way
to save a penny? l forego all pleasure,
neither do ! gamble or drink. ! GER
tsiiiliH cannot do more. . .". .H" ..
Now. l am not Il strong believer In
srcialistic ideas. nor do believe in ut
ting an end to life because of tn. ut-
eN.une!;s Of things III this world: Vet I
c:lrEot bring myself to condemn those
that find this the easiest road out of it.
IT is my earnest endcavor to rise tn
t"l!ertrally. l am Il great reader and a
wurs::!uneI Of books. | lorX to own Il
small Library. Now and then l find it
possible To pick up 4 very good book at
!: cheap lrtce. and | stint myself and
family the small TO d anut:,-
cl 20 my litnited collection. Is this
wrong? iinG leisure. too. at times, TO
jot down Il few passing ~fancics. and a
few Times | have had the pleasure Of
seeing my name in print. This is my
one ambition in life. but the returns
financially are 50 slow it does not war
rant my throwing up my present posi-
tioi. no matter how unsatisfactory it is
To me-: We: it binders me from work of
which | feel | would be capable other
wise. ... n.
What is your advice? Nine-tenths OF
the successful writers. who have reach
ed both fame ana fortune always adj
wise enc so discouraSingly that l can
not look FOR help to them. further than
taking their w successful lives as
clitc,iGs. ""u.0. ....
"Nrw York. Aug. H." e.. --.
Is this tht story of an unsuccessful
life. as lives go? Does it afford reason
for compassion in the reader! Not at
ali. our friend is really a fortunate
man. liz fas a happy home; he has
health and strength: he seems TO be
Without :r:: Of losing tile employment
which enables him to support his FAM
lily in substantial comfort, and his long
service in his place indicates tina lie
deserves AID has Won the respect aud
~oniiaei!tc IF his employers. He has
got I" Gle. as 4 matter of course, and
no man can tell that day of his ending;
but at thi:ty-thrce his expectation Of
lie, rs computed by the life assurance
statistics. Is long. He is doing the bet
he can. anG as lie can do TO more. he
must leave the future 10 take care OF
Itself, as he:ii. beyond his power to de-
teilnii!c. With the Inheritance OF in
4uSiry. pr"hity. good health. and sound
moral and physical constitution which
his children have received from him, he
has e""iy reason I" expect tina they
Wiii &et along at least as we'll as he has
done, ANA chat. rs We have said. is
very well. n" ... d..
I'hey viii Graw To manhood and wo-
mEuilhnol in the next century when the
Expansion nf ,hei; country Will bring TO
them multiplied opportunities for pro-
iit:.b!c activity. and the advancement OF
society in everything cnntributory to
comfortable existence will bring to
them advantages far beyond those en-
ioycd by tho generation which is now
about t. PASS Oft the stage. He himself.
at 1hity-th..e. is likely to live to see
this progress during many years to
come ana to participate In the benefits
it ~co!lfcrs IN all mankind. He is lucky
in the very circumstance he is living at
all at such 4 time as this. and only a
fool. with :'n strong 4 hold on life as he
his;. would think for a moment of de
IrivinE himself of the privilege. Why
should he be discnntentcd With his III. k
SIMPLY t,v.;lus" some other people nave
muie richly upholstered seats from
which To watch the matcllless process
sion of rre;ts 10Y before the eyes Ut
ii! his generation: Il"
TN" uncr"nn.SS of things in this
world ilf.w wretched, how staenant
would b Ills world if there were no
'~uh"venness!" Except for this UNI
c~v'nnsSS there would be no provoca-
t;"n 1" ell o no ambition. no progress.
II" leaders. and none of the exhilarat;ng
strife OF competition. Existence wout6
be without he salt thai savors it. The
"hiy '~uncNrnness" of which complaint
miSht be "X"uSabl. is the inequality in
Vie distribution Of physical health and
strength b% which those Of Il feeble
'oaliN inheritance are deprived OF the
einirin,nt most requisite for the bat
Tie Of life: but in that ]neuuality our
friend happens to have the advantage
tie is among the Well and strong. You
are rich. complaining friend. fortunate,
ehElahic: Yet You are not happy. But
You would not be happy under any cir
ell!2s;a@c"s if You are unhappy now.
IN II" condition Of life is there perfect
c"nt"niment and satisfaction for the
troubled soul. >.
You want a library. You have a IL
hrarF already, the best in New York.
and in its supply of literature suitable
Ia the demands of your tastes without a
superior in the world. All the great
public libraries of the town are at your
service. Moreover. since the recent and
"Ntraord!n:iE decrease in the pric. of
printing PAPER and Of the whole cost CT
manufacturing books the best literature
OF the best periods of English literature
is at the command Of the highest purse.
you can buy the most splendid EXAM
pies Of it FOR & few cents each. Where
once II WAS for the few only, and OBJ
tainable by men in your relative cir
cumstlices-only at the cost of loEg and
u self-sacritice. it is now within the
free reach Of everybody. or. as we have
sold ~ !. " 1~- Nt. x-1 L 81 o