The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1899-01-11
THE THIRST FOR MONEY.
AMERICANS KNOWN AS A NATION
OF DOLLAR CHASERS.
Extremely Small Number Enjoy Riches
When They Have Them. Vanderbilt
Found No Pleasure in His
Wealth.

We Americans are known to Foreigners
asa nation of dollAr-chasers and it is
possible that the Characterization is not
far from correct. But do the chasing OF
the dollar and the possession of the dol
lar after we have it give the best enjoy
ment that there is in l;fe? On any day
and at any hour one may hear the ex~
clamaton: ooh, if | were only richr'
Does the possession of riches bring hap>
piness, or even contentment? What is
the limit of earthly possessions which
one may have with comfort of minds
These are questions which are seldom
considered by those who are chasing
dollars Young men begin life of De-
nuriouSDess ana grinding for the purpose
Of accommodating money. At middle age
they have accumulated sum, but their
habits of earlier years have become fixed 4:
they 60 on grinding and accommodating.
they do not enjoy their earnings and
savings in the sense Of spending them
for the pleasure of themselves and their
friends, Do they they find more pleas
ure in watching their hordes grow than
they would in indulgiug themselves and
others in the comforts and Injuries that
money will buy?
The greed for gold is as old as the
hills, and ID as inexplicablA as nature it.
SELF All men, probably, wish them>
selves rich; a few make themselves rich
aud an extremely small number enjoy
riches when they have them. At one
time when William Fl. Vanderbilt was
considered to be the richest man in the
world an acquaintance approached him
aud said ''You should be very happy"
But am not" said the multi-miliop>
are; my health is shattered and all the
money nave cannot restore it. l cam
NOT even drive one of nay fine horses, as
JUS painful for me to sit down. Nv
only possible exercise is for me to walk
down the avenue. am kept conslan sly
ii dread OF my life from tn threatening
letters receive; my nerves are always
unStrung Tor fear some assassin will
"sylay me. am overrun with people
WHO want to get my money, Lam a
mGSt Wretcha1 man. tell you that af.
'er person has accumulated enough to
eeuTe him against poverty and to graf.
sly his reasonable wants Every dollar i
addition is burden and weighs him
down"
This was 'As testimony of tie man
VINO was Supposed to be The richest man
IN the world. He had not the first boon
VI nature, health, and all of his millions
'od'u not secure it for him. He bad the
A0auS 10 procure the finest conveyances
Tue word, yet his Only means of
Pe"'uraole exercise was open to the
-D0"nesC tramp or the poorest beggar-
W walk. He was in constant dread of
"'' I'e and importunate persons were
CONSTANTLY making existence miserable
WIN their opportunities, considerations
"nlcn never enter into the daily life of
"'e worker at 81 day.
Alter person has accumulated
ououga TO secure him against poverty
SS'a Mr.. Vanderbilt. How much does
'"Se 10 secure one against poverty?
'l'Hly Ward Beecher some years ag,
1'"''eu warm discussion by saying that
0u0 could live on dollar day. Thou
'1uuS OF persons live on half that sum
many on less, per day. And in
I'oy places those who have dollar =
" spend on personal needs live very
WI 'uoeed. La many cities the or.
o'u'Eed charities haYe provided many
o'"'orts and Iuxuries that are dispensed
~ 0 VI charge, such as free baths, free
'ai'eS' free reading rooms, free hos
p''aIS' tree lectures, free art galleries
o. INC IKE. The cost of Lying has been
Sys'ematized that meals and a bed
~" Oe mad for a few cents each. These
h. course, do not embody the idea OF
aot'o, '''e and comfort; but they embody
'@' necessities of life az being oo.
OIL - poverty. A New York banker
Won income was probably 800, COO a
was asked what size income il was
in ,I""y Tor man to have TO live we'll
bo,a "V CITY He replied that his house.
va.s Apenses amounted to So, 900 a
iivo "nu ne did not see how he could
- va any less. "Still," said he, with
tima respective smile, 'the happiesl