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Show A RICH MAN ON RICHES. The following story is told of Jacob Ridgway, a wealthy citizen of Philadelphia who died many years ago, leaving a fortune of five or six million dollars: "Mr. Ridgway," said a young man with whom the millionaire was conversing, "you are more to be envied than any gentleman I know." "Why so?" responded Mr. Ridgway. "I am not aware of any cause for which I should be particularly envied." "What, sir!" exclaimed the man in astonishment. "Why, aren't you a millionaire? Think of the thousands your income brings you in every month!" "Well, what of that?" replied Mr. Ridgway. "All I get out of it is my victuals and clothes; and I can't eat more than one man's allowance, or wear more than one suit at a time. Pray, can't you do that much?" "Ah, but think of the fine houses you own, and the rentals they bring you!" "What better am I off for that! I can only live in one house at a time; as for the money I receive for rents, I cannot eat it or wear it; I can only use it to buy other houses for other people to live in; they are the beneficiaries, not I." "But you can buy splendid furniture, and costly pictures, and fine carriages and horses-in fact, anything you desire you can have." "And after I have bought them," responded Mr. Ridgway, "what then? I can only look at the furniture and pictures, and the poorest man who is not blind can do that. I can ride no easier in a fine carriage than you can in an omnibus for five cents, without the trouble of attending to drivers, footmen and hustlers; and as to anything I desire, I can tell you, young man, that the less we desire in this world, the happier we shall be. All my wealth cannot buy me back my youth, cannot purchase exemption from sickness and pain, cannot procure me power to keep afar off the hour of death; and then, what will it avail when, in a few short years at most, I lie down in the grave and leave it all forever? Young man, you have no cause to envy me. |