Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-07-31

thought and effort on money getting
and keeping, and usually the physical
ability to endure severe strain con-
tinuously for many hours = day. Those
who can get rich doubtless enjoy doing
so because they are laen whose highest
pleasure is in large accomplishment
and the joy of excelling, out If there
were psychological gauges by which we
could measure and record the agreeable
sensations Of men it Is very unlikely
that the records of rich men would be
any higher than those of many others.
That, however. is rank philosophy
But everybody wants to get on" and
ought 10 get on. Whateva~ doubt there
may be as to the superior happiness Of
the rich, there is no doubt whatever Of
the urthappiness of those who must
work in order to cat after they become
unable to work. In the decline of life
men and women ought to be able to
work or not, as they please. They cam
not do this except wnen supported by
others, unless they have got on and
they cannot get on except by refraining
in their youth from many pleasures en-
joyed by their comrades. The stand
ard of life of a multitude oc families
is the consumption day by oay Of Ill
that can be got with the family income.
The enormous deposits by POOR people
in savings banks, however, and the
multitude of small homes owned Or
partly owned, and enjoyed by their
occupants are conclusive proof of the
existence of thrift some where and Of
the rewards which thrift brings; blu.
there are too many VINO do not practise
the thrift or obtain the rewards OF
the families in California 4G.3 per cent
own the homes which they occupy. but
of the families other than farmers bus
$50 per cent own their homes. 1t will
probably surprise mos PEOPLE, how
ever, to learn that OF the homes owned
by their occupants more than two
thirds arc free from mortgage.
When the country was younger there
was great deal said about thrift. The
gospel of saving seemed to be in every
body's mouth. Current literature was
full of it, and its hOmely naximS were
thickly interspersed amid the useful in
formation in the family almanacs and
the copybooks of the children. "Wilful
waste makes woful want was written
in school hundreds OF tines by all
pupils in the old fashioned schools.
The prudent maXims of Poor
Richard" were household sayings, con-
tinually repeated in every family. We
hear very little of them VOW il families
whose breadwinners are engaged in
"Senteel' occupations. There are some
alleged philosophers who maintain that
if class lines were more strictly drawn
in America there would De greater hap
piness. If there were 4 fixed standard
of life, say for clerks, and If those en-
gagged in that occupation mingled less
With richer persons. !hey would be less
tempted to buy what they cannot
afford. Some insist that iE conse-
qucnce they would be happier. One
can probably be as happy in one sta
ton of life as in another, IL he Is will
ing to let his appearances and environ
ment indicate his station, and who is
not burning with desire 10 get out Of it.
while not possessed Of the ability to do
so.
Probably, however, The love of dis
play for the sake of display is no
greater promoter of poverty than the
inability to resist temptation to present
enjoyment. The city is full! of bait for
ones dollars and many of Us greedily
lake IT, ollc may i've very HdpIlly
without ever hearing ali opera. Mil
lions have done so, but the opera gets
the money of thousands CT youths who
by that and similar expenditures will
be deprived of ordinary comforts i'm Old
age. They will not like it. Those who
have got rich did not so to the opera
until they could do so ana not miss the
money. There is doubtless more salts
faction to poor man in q growing
savings account than in all the operas
that were ever sung or written 1t is
not necessary or desirable to go with
out amusements. but the thrifty man
will devise amusements. which cost
nothing, and with those nc will be, con-
tent. at any rate. the only way to
get on is to save money to get on
with, and at. the beginning the only
way for most of us to do that is to re-
frain from pleasures which our ac-
with. and at the beginning the only
those who will do that while still poor
who can expect to ever get on."--San
Francisco Chronicle.