The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1918-01-10
WHAT Dos IT c0sT 30 LIYEl
BY Rev. Thomas B. Greg0ry

This question, which is just now
making no little trouble for a ceF-I
tain well known young man in New
York, depends for its answer upon
ones definition of Giving"
If by Giving" we mean idleness,
luxury, pleasure-seeking, and the ex-
travagnt qualification Of innumerable
foolish whims, the cost is practically
limitless; but if by living" we mean
work, simplicity of habits and the
Joy that is born of the consciousness
of duty nobly done, then the cost
is comparatively trifling.
For the sensible honest, right-heart-
ed man or woman who is free from
decisions, and who simply desires
while on earth, to act the port OF
rational, moral being, the cost Of
living is but little.
1t is only when we come to the
foolish things, the unnecessary things,
the hurtful things, that the cost be-
gins to run up
In other words, it is not the liv-
ing, but the miserable burlesque and
caricature on the living. that drains
ones purse.
For instance, the young man al
ready referred to says that it costs
himself and wife $4,000 a year to
live.
1t costs them for three servants and
man, S1,5O0; for rent, $500; for
carriages, $4,000; for travelling ex-
penses, $4,000; for the table, $4,000;
for clothing, $4,000, and so on.
Now, common sense would ask this
young man the following questions:
Why should it take four people to
wait on you especially when the two
are young and strong and active?
What sense or reason is there in
spending $4,000 a year for carriages
Wouldn't a little walk now and then
help to redden your blood, and would
an occasional ride on the street car
do you any harm?
How can two people get away with
$4,000 worth of food in twelve months
unless, instead of eating to live, they
turn the thing round and simply live
to eat?
And how can two humna beings
contlive to wear out in one year
$4,000 worth of clothing?
1t is foolishness that makes life
so costly to many; a little common
sense would instantly cut down its ex-
penses, and at the same time immeas-
urably increase its usefulness and joy
We need to learn that our business
here is not to pamper ourselves and
to cater to our ideas Of vanity and
foolishness, but to work. to do some
thing for the advancement of the
worlds welfare.
Living? Why, the only persons
who are living are those who are
working with their hands or brains,
or both, to make the human race
happier or better; to extend the from
tiers of science; to Danish the rule
of ignorance; to bring in the reign of
knowledge, of justice, and of love.
Those who are living for these high
ends are not thinking about the gew
gaws and tinsel of life. They are
able to exclaim with the "wisest Of
the Creeks as with friend, he was
passing the Athenian bazaar, "Thank
God, there are so many things that
Socrates doesn't wantl.'
Health, strength, self respect,
clear conscience and the opportunity
to take a hand in the great worlds
work-this is what right-minded men
and women want, and all that they
want.
AS a matter of course, they must
have food and clothing and shelter,
but these things will not be costly
to the person who has the sense to
know that they are the means, rather
than the ends of life; that we live
not in order that we may eat and
wear clothes and pay rent, but that
We eat and wear clothes and pay rent
in order that we may live-that is,
in order that we may do our honest
work in the world.