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Experimental investigation of the spirit manifestations, [electronic ...

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178 INFLUENCE OF MUNDANE WEALTH, ETC.913. To tlie consequence <strong>of</strong> hereditary uoblenien Ijcredltary wealth isessential, having vastly more influence than titles. In those countrieswhere titlesexist without associated wealth, <strong>the</strong>y have scarcely any weight.However incompetent money may be to give importance to an uneducatedcommoner, a cotton-spinner, by educatinghis son and giving him his fortune,may prepare him to sway an empire; when, had his fa<strong>the</strong>r been apauper, <strong>the</strong> premier might have lived among those so eloquently describedby Shakspeare's Henry <strong>the</strong> Fourth, as upon " uneasy pallets stretching<strong>the</strong>m." How different from those perfumed chambers and canopies <strong>of</strong>costly state, to which this spinner's boy was actually enabled to climbthrough <strong>the</strong> education and position resulting from paternal affluence914. Civilization elevates those who have <strong>the</strong> advantages <strong>of</strong> education,and who are ei<strong>the</strong>r pr<strong>of</strong>essionally employed in intellectual pursuits, or haveleisure to cultivate science and literature from taste. But <strong>the</strong> same division<strong>of</strong> human labour and enterprise which gives intellectual pursuits to afew as a pr<strong>of</strong>ession, gives to <strong>the</strong> mass occupations inconsistent with <strong>the</strong>cultivation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir intellectual powers. Those who are engaged in <strong>the</strong>humblest species <strong>of</strong> industry, living from hand to mouth, have littleor notime to spare from that which <strong>the</strong>ir necessities imperatively require; and<strong>the</strong> bodily fatigue incurred during working hours, makes repose from allexertion <strong>the</strong> primary object.915. But <strong>the</strong> situation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> poor, ignorant, and uneducated labourerin civilized society, is rendered worse than that <strong>of</strong> an equally ignorant anduneducated barbarian, by contrast with liia educated neighbours.The lowestsavage has as mucli scholastic education as his chief, while <strong>the</strong> civilizedlabourer may be in <strong>the</strong> rear <strong>of</strong> an educated child <strong>of</strong> five years <strong>of</strong> age.Thus <strong>the</strong> ahsolutc evil is made rclathchj still greater. When any manreflects on <strong>the</strong>se facts, can he be o<strong>the</strong>rwise than anxious for those meanswhich are necessary to put his <strong>of</strong>fspring<strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs in <strong>the</strong> same community ?upon a par in learning with those916. Early in life, it is manifest to every one wbo does not enjoy pecuniaryaffluence, that any species <strong>of</strong> indulgence which he may desire requiresmoney for its attainment. Even <strong>the</strong> command <strong>of</strong> leisure for anyenjoyment requires money, since, if obliged to work to earn his bread, aman may not have leisure for any o<strong>the</strong>r object.917. Among <strong>the</strong> most rational motives for <strong>the</strong> pursuit <strong>of</strong> wealth is <strong>the</strong>love <strong>of</strong> independence. " Thy <strong>spirit</strong>, Independence, let me share—lord <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> lion heart and eagle eye !" In this sentiment every noble soul mustparticipate. How many have had, like <strong>the</strong> apo<strong>the</strong>cary in Shakspeare'stragedy, to allow <strong>the</strong>ir poverty to rule, instead <strong>of</strong> honest will ! How manyhave been induced to ^^ earn <strong>the</strong>ir dailij bread hi/ <strong>the</strong>ir dailt/ shame T'918. Prudent, thoughtful, honest men, who do not choose to live houseless,without clo<strong>the</strong>s, nor upon <strong>the</strong> sweat <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r men's brows, turn from<strong>the</strong> paths <strong>of</strong> amusement, <strong>of</strong> sensual enjoyment, from <strong>the</strong> love <strong>of</strong> literature

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