Theluxuryofoneclassiscounterbalancedbytheindigenceofanother。Ontheonesideisthepalace，ontheotherarethealmshouseand“silentpoor。“ThemyriadswhobuiltthepyramidstobethetombsofthePharaohswerefedongarlic，anditmaybewerenotdecentlyburiedthemselves。Themasonwhofinishesthecorniceofthepalacereturnsatnightperchancetoahutnotsogoodasawigwam。Itisamistaketosupposethat，inacountrywheretheusualevidencesofcivilizationexist，theconditionofaverylargebodyoftheinhabitantsmaynotbeasdegradedasthatofsavages。
Irefertothedegradedpoor，notnowtothedegradedrich。ToknowthisIshouldnotneedtolookfartherthantotheshantieswhicheverywhereborderourrailroads，thatlastimprovementincivilization；whereIseeinmydailywalkshumanbeingslivinginsties，andallwinterwithanopendoor，forthesakeoflight，withoutanyvisible，oftenimaginable，wood-pile，andtheformsofbotholdandyoungarepermanentlycontractedbythelonghabitofshrinkingfromcoldandmisery，andthedevelopmentofalltheirlimbsandfacultiesischecked。Itcertainlyisfairtolookatthatclassbywhoselabortheworkswhichdistinguishthisgenerationareaccomplished。Suchtoo，toagreaterorlessextent，istheconditionoftheoperativesofeverydenominationinEngland，whichisthegreatworkhouseoftheworld。OrIcouldreferyoutoIreland，whichismarkedasoneofthewhiteorenlightenedspotsonthemap。ContrastthephysicalconditionoftheIrishwiththatoftheNorthAmericanIndian，ortheSouthSeaIslander，oranyothersavageracebeforeitwasdegradedbycontactwiththecivilizedman。YetIhavenodoubtthatthatpeople’srulersareaswiseastheaverageofcivilizedrulers。Theirconditiononlyproveswhatsqualidnessmayconsistwithcivilization。IhardlyneedrefernowtothelaborersinourSouthernStateswhoproducethestapleexportsofthiscountry，andarethemselvesastapleproductionoftheSouth。Buttoconfinemyselftothosewhoaresaidtobeinmoderatecircumstances。
Mostmenappearnevertohaveconsideredwhatahouseis，andareactuallythoughneedlesslypooralltheirlivesbecausetheythinkthattheymusthavesuchaoneastheirneighborshave。Asifoneweretowearanysortofcoatwhichthetailormightcutoutforhim，or，graduallyleavingoffpalm-leafhatorcapofwoodchuckskin，complainofhardtimesbecausehecouldnotaffordtobuyhimacrown！Itispossibletoinventahousestillmoreconvenientandluxuriousthanwehave，whichyetallwouldadmitthatmancouldnotaffordtopayfor。Shallwealwaysstudytoobtainmoreofthesethings，andnotsometimestobecontentwithless？Shalltherespectablecitizenthusgravelyteach，bypreceptandexample，thenecessityoftheyoungman’sprovidingacertainnumberofsuperfluousglow-shoes，andumbrellas，andemptyguestchambersforemptyguests，beforehedies？WhyshouldnotourfurniturebeassimpleastheArab’sortheIndian’s？WhenIthinkofthebenefactorsoftherace，whomwehaveapotheosizedasmessengersfromheaven，bearersofdivinegiftstoman，Idonotseeinmymindanyretinueattheirheels，anycarloadoffashionablefurniture。
OrwhatifIweretoallow——woulditnotbeasingularallowance？——
thatourfurnitureshouldbemorecomplexthantheArab’s，inproportionaswearemorallyandintellectuallyhissuperiors！Atpresentourhousesareclutteredanddefiledwithit，andagoodhousewifewouldsweepoutthegreaterpartintothedusthole，andnotleavehermorning’sworkundone。Morningwork！BytheblushesofAuroraandthemusicofMemnon，whatshouldbeman’smorningworkinthisworld？Ihadthreepiecesoflimestoneonmydesk，butI