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Literary
July 22, 1789
Gazette Of The United States
New York, New York County, New York
What is this article about?
A prose essay on the virtues of frugality, emphasizing teaching children moderation to handle future uncertainties like debts, diseases, taxes, lawsuits, and to enable generosity and benevolence without descending into avarice.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
FRUGALITY.
[A continuation of the EXTRACTS begun in No. XXV.]
"IT is of importance to teach children Frugality, and to guard them when they set out in life against needless expense. The future circumstances of children, especially of daughters, may not be so affluent as those of their parents: At any rate moderation in all things is a virtuous habit.
The rules of moderation and frugality cannot be very precisely determined: If the object be to pay debts, one can scarcely be too minutely and severely frugal: "If a man would keep an even hand, (says Lord Bacon,) his ordinary expenses should be but half his income." There are many extraordinary expenses.
Parents should look forward to the expense of Education. We are subject to diseases, and should have something in reserve for a time of need.
We may be involved in a law suit: Additional taxes may be imposed and the price of provisions raised. Those who are indebted to us may be in straits, and by living frugally we can afford to have patience with them. Dependants may be unfortunate, and the landlord who lives within his income can feel for his tenants' misfortunes, and abate his demands in a bad season.
Our friends may come to want, and it is a desirable thing to be able to assist them. There are works of benevolence and public utility, to some of which every good man would wish to contribute. By providing for extraordinary expenses we are seldom obliged to borrow, which is a humiliating and expensive course to pursue. One may have no friends; or those we esteem such may deceive us; or those we have obliged may prove ungrateful: These suppositions are unpleasant, but not impossible. We may meet with losses, and it is prudent to expect them.
But lest frugality should tend to avarice, let it be practised rather with a view to keep, than from a desire to accumulate. Let us use with cheerfulness what we can fairly call our own, and cultivate habits of generosity—for there is a time to keep, and a time to give away. In a just discernment of these times, consists the difference between frugality and avarice."
[A continuation of the EXTRACTS begun in No. XXV.]
"IT is of importance to teach children Frugality, and to guard them when they set out in life against needless expense. The future circumstances of children, especially of daughters, may not be so affluent as those of their parents: At any rate moderation in all things is a virtuous habit.
The rules of moderation and frugality cannot be very precisely determined: If the object be to pay debts, one can scarcely be too minutely and severely frugal: "If a man would keep an even hand, (says Lord Bacon,) his ordinary expenses should be but half his income." There are many extraordinary expenses.
Parents should look forward to the expense of Education. We are subject to diseases, and should have something in reserve for a time of need.
We may be involved in a law suit: Additional taxes may be imposed and the price of provisions raised. Those who are indebted to us may be in straits, and by living frugally we can afford to have patience with them. Dependants may be unfortunate, and the landlord who lives within his income can feel for his tenants' misfortunes, and abate his demands in a bad season.
Our friends may come to want, and it is a desirable thing to be able to assist them. There are works of benevolence and public utility, to some of which every good man would wish to contribute. By providing for extraordinary expenses we are seldom obliged to borrow, which is a humiliating and expensive course to pursue. One may have no friends; or those we esteem such may deceive us; or those we have obliged may prove ungrateful: These suppositions are unpleasant, but not impossible. We may meet with losses, and it is prudent to expect them.
But lest frugality should tend to avarice, let it be practised rather with a view to keep, than from a desire to accumulate. Let us use with cheerfulness what we can fairly call our own, and cultivate habits of generosity—for there is a time to keep, and a time to give away. In a just discernment of these times, consists the difference between frugality and avarice."
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Temperance
What keywords are associated?
Frugality
Moderation
Avarice
Generosity
Financial Prudence
Benevolence
Literary Details
Title
Frugality.
Key Lines
"If A Man Would Keep An Even Hand, (Says Lord Bacon,) His Ordinary Expenses Should Be But Half His Income."
But Lest Frugality Should Tend To Avarice, Let It Be Practised Rather With A View To Keep, Than From A Desire To Accumulate.
In A Just Discernment Of These Times, Consists The Difference Between Frugality And Avarice.