THE PLEASURES OF POVERIY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2523, 23 July 1902, Page 71

THE PLEASURES OF POVERIY.

(Extract from the Gentleman's Magazine.) All men prefer riches to poverty, though they often dull the edge of enjoyment. Not infrequently we hear a man expressing himself with generous fervour, "If 'l had more money, what an amount of good I could do!"*' Unquestionably, and the desire is laudable ; but the pleasuie to be derived from it would be somewhat illusory — it would not be nearly so keen as the imagination promised Such a man would not have half tlie satisfaction in. writing a cheque for £1000 iv convert some painted savige that he foimuly had, when his income was nurr.nv, in giving a penny to a pitiful creatur.' at a street corner. Want of money creates the \alue of it, and the pleasure >f /iving is in proportion. "But tins i.s selfish." says some gentious leader. Doubtless, bat it is human nature .•.!.-o. Mo-c thanty is selfish. Men enjoy the pleasure of giving, and the smaller the means the more exquisite the sensation : and, shameless though it be, many men enjoy the publicity of giving. At a. public charity dinner more £50 cheques will be se-n ' than £50 notes. But, after all, the hard-earned penny honestly given has nioie r.-al virtue than the golden coin wiui.g fiom the purse of afiluence because j übhcity demands it. A 'loaf of bread will always be better than a careless cheque. But there is no one witl> slender meani who gets more pleasure out of his position than the man of taste. Perhaps he loves rare books, old china, antique bronzes, pictuies. and quaint furniture. If so, evei'y treasure must be purchased at the expense of som- pei"onal sacrifice. He slaughters the idol of self to gratify the pleasures of. a refined nature. For d-iys, perhaps weeks, he will keep an anxious watch upon some de&u-sd object of virtu displayed for sale in. a dealer's window. He is afraid some more fortunate collector may snatch it from hi' waiting hands, and he passes the shop daily to assure himself that the coveted article is still ther^. But when, aftei.' much mature deliberation, he decides upon the purchase, h-j iu e hes off to the shoo

with the enthusiasm of a lad. and, having obtained the wUhed-for prize, returns home with the pride of an emperor ; and at once his purchass becomes a lovable thing and a household god

The hou : e of such n man is above all cUe a home. It is a pla?e to nestle in.

The fi/e is warm, the arm-chair tempting, and everything hone-t and comfortable. There is no cold uniformity of style, eithor in furniture or decoration Not one ro-jm all blue and another all amber. Because the chimney ornament'; are old Japan, the cabinets will not be failed wrh basm'. and plates to correspond. Iheic will be l.othmg thit could ba broken without giving pain,, or i nle-s urgent necessity demanded a calamity. Everything will be loved— 'ome with a feeling of i.-vtrence — and ,>ll will show the gentle hand of affection in arrangement and vanety. A pictuie will he pnzed for «oine l.appy ;,' -o -lation. but it will have no fellow. An etching may hang on the line with a fmall portiait of Shakespeare, or an en:>i;iTin,; afti-i Hogaith. but the etching may be the gift of a lo\ing narent long since hidden behind the mystery of death. A Spode plate nay lnvo a prominent position because picked up >n the King of Oude's palace during the Indian Mutiny by a very dear fne-'d. A piece of Coalport may stand in front of it for some reason equally piecious ; nr. may be. a Worcester vase, v=cuivd ?.s a bngam vhe.i the price wanted much consirii lat.on On a bracket may stand a beautiful Italian figure, a monument of ariecti i.i. because the legacy of tome old frum- with similar tastes. In one corner may be a fetish idol, and in another a couple of assegai*, brought home by a brothei who had known the power of both. Turn to the bookcase. Tieasures will ctnnd there which represent many shabby suit* 13p t they au- all companions and friends, and not one .ould go astray vjthou* « si^-h ijeih.'iis teaia. Thcs-e things are lovcl indeed, and transfoim four vails into ,i paiadise which i» as homely as it i" beautiful. I