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Show IMPROVIDENCE It is a law of physics that th ' intensity of light lessons in d: rect proportion to the squan of the distance from the sourct of the light. An analogous lav - - ' seems to apply to human desire Things of the future, howeve; desirable they may be, exert ar influence over our present con duct that lessens enormously with their increased distance ii time. Since the dawn of history civilized man has heard sermon; on thrift. That there is now some difference between tht civilized man and the savage with respect to the degree c1 the present inconvenience eacl is willing to suffer in order tf provide for the morrow, show. that a primal instinct has been somewhat subdued Yet the cold fact remains that the -v American people are not provi- x dent. The saws of poor Richard are not popular with the present pres-ent s-eneration. Too man o families, utterly oblivious 01 the needs of the future, liv beyond their means. Small coin: and thrifty habits are in litth favor. A false pride a desin to appear well to do regard les of the facts a shame fort'm truth impels many a family U overreach its income for tin sake of making appearance--. Much is said about honest pov erty being no disgrace and he c are many fine proverbs touching touch-ing the manhood and virtue c-i the honest and toiling poor, but on every hand these wise sayings say-ings are repudiated by actions that speak louder than words. The fact that so many people are unwilling to confess ihe.r inability to keep up with the extravagant and foolish fads and fancies of the day and even practice dishc nest methods to conceal such inibility, implies j that at t lis time there is a wide j - spiead sentiment incompatible: with the creed of Poor Richard. ; y' The desire toimi'cate those in' better circumstances is a cause of much usele;,; expense on the: part of certain kinds of people. The instinct for imitation is a strong trait of the monkey family. fam-ily. The less removed from monkeyhood a man is the stronger trie manifestation to this instinct for imitation. |