English Improvidence.
As a contrast to this you have English improvidence, especially in the genteel professional class, where the whole energy of the master of the house is devoted to earning fairy gold, the gold that immediately vanishes. He spends that he may succeed and succeeds that he may spend. He brings up a family with genteel habits and no capital. Apparently prosperous and enviable, he enjoys in reality nothing that prosperity ought to give, since he has neither leisure to think, nor liberty, nor peace of mind, nor any hope of rest except in the grave.[53]
Results of French Thrift.
The final results of French thrift, for the nation, are as follows:—
The Poorer Class.
1. The poorer classes are better fed and better clothed. This is a real good, because they needed it. They are probably stronger than they used to be.
Increase of Idlers.
2. The idle class is constantly increasing in numbers, not because it is prolific, but by the accession of nouveaux riches. This is not perceptibly a benefit.
Effect of Thrift on Population.
3. The extreme spirit of thrift will not allow population to increase with riches. It operates as a powerful restraint on procreation even in wealthy families. This weakens France relatively to England and Germany.