BLESSINGS OF POVERTY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 20 June 1907, Page 4

BLESSINGS OF POVERTY.

| In may oases—indeed, in moat cases—l ) wealth to a young- man is a, hiiidmnco when starting out in life. Men who have acqujr&d their own fortunes tiro almosi unaiiirnouft in this opinion. To have noth ing to begin with means, they say, il liniitai)lu opportunity, and opportunity is the great developing fa-ctcr •, poverty means the stimulus w jy;<l need, which impels men to take advantage 01 opportunity.

The best thing that can happen to a young man is to be poor, tixtmno poverty may sometimes •Ua...,peT a youth's piligress, but lie is far mere likely ic make his way in the world if he starts with the piovv-rbial dime in his pocket, tlsan v/.tli a fortune.

Rich-»s carry tIKC/r own penalty. dent Eliot, in a recent address before the student body at Harvard, s:v ; d :

"The very rich are by no means th< healthiest members of tlicommunity, and to escape the perils of luxurious living requires unusual will-power end prudence.

capital at the disposal of a s individual confers on its possessor great power over the course of industrial development. over his fellow men. and sometimes over the course of great public events, like peace or war between rations. It a man to do good or harm, to give joy or pain, and plaojs him ir. a position to be feared or locked up to. "There is a pleasure in the satisfaction of directing such a power, and the greater tho character the greater may be the satisfaction. In giving this direction the great capitalist may find a-u enjoyable strenuous occupation. Bor a conscientious, dutiful man a great sense of responsibility accompanies this power. It may become 90 powerful as to wipe out the enjoyment itself.

"The moat serious disadvantage under which the very iioh have lalxsrod is tli? bringing up of children. It is v'ell-nigh impossible for a very vieh man to develop his children from habits oi indifference and laziness. Theiß children we so situated that they have no opportunity of doing productive labor, and do nothing for thelflselvos, parent?, brothers or sistrrs no on<- acquiring the. habit of work, til striking contrast are the farmer'schildron who Co operato at' tender years in the work of the household." Among President Eliot's hearers were many young men to whom tba blessing*' -rf poverty wemj unknown.