[222-1] Temple, Observations on the U. Provinces, Works, I, 136, 138 seq., 179. Roscher, Geschichte der engl. Volkswirthschaftsl., 129. Thus, for instance, the Richesse de Hollande, I, 305, describes a rich town near Amsterdam in which a man with an income of 120,000 florins a year expended probably only 1,000 florins per annum on himself.
[222-2] As early a writer as D. Defoe, Giving Alms no Charity! 1704, says: the English get estates; the Dutch save them. An Englishman at that time with weekly wages of 20 shillings just made ends meet; while a Dutchman with the same grew rich, and left his children behind him in very prosperous circumstances, etc. L. Faucher draws a similar contrast between his fellow countrymen and the English. Goethe's ingenuous observations (Werke, Bd., 23, 246, ed. of 1840) in his Italian journey, show that the Italians, too, know how to save. Molti pochi fanno un assai! And so in Bohemia, the Czechs have a good reputation for frugality, sobriety, etc. as workmen. They are more frugal than the Germans, although all the larger businesses belong to Germans, because when the Czech has saved something, he prefers to return to his village to putting his savings in jeopardy by speculation.
[222-3] Drunkenness a common vice of northern people: thus in antiquity the Thracians (Athen., X, 42; Xenoph., Exp. Cyri, VII, 3, 32), the Macedonians, for instance, Philips (Demosth., Olynth., II, 23) and Alexander's (Plutarch, Alex., 70; De Adulat, 13). To drink like a Scythian, meant, among the Greeks, to drink like a beast. (Athen., X, 427; Herod., VI, 84.) On North German drunkenness in the 16th century, see Seb. Münster, Cosmogr., 326, 730. Kantzow, Pomerania, II, 128.
[222-4] Plutarch, Cato, I, 21.
THE MOST DETRIMENTAL KIND OF EXTRAVAGANCE.
The kind of extravagance which it is most natural we should desire to see put an end to, is that which procures enjoyment to no one. I need call attention only to the excessive durability and solidity of certain buildings. It is more economical to build a house that will last 60 years for $10,000, than one which will last 400 years for $20,000; for in 60 years the interest saved on the $10,000 would be enough to build three such houses.[223-1] This is, of course, not applicable to houses built as works of art, or only to produce an imposing effect. The object the ancient Egyptians had in view in building their obelisks and pyramids continues to be realized even in our day.
I might also call attention to the premature casting away of things used. Our national economy has saved incredible sums since rags have been manufactured into paper. In Paris 4,000 persons make a living from what they pick up in the streets.[223-2]
[223-1] Compare Minard, Notions élémentaires d'Economie politique appliquée aux Travaux publics, 1850, 71 ff. He calls to mind the many strong castles of the age of chivalry, the Roman aqueducts, theaters, etc., which are still in a good state of preservation, but which can be used by no one; so many bridges too narrow for our purposes, and so many roads too steep. The sluices at Dunkirk, made 12.60 metres in width by Vauban, were made 16 meters wider in 1822, and still are too narrow for Atlantic steamships. In England, private individuals have well learned to take all this into account. Compare J. B. Say, Cours pratique, translated by Morstadt, I, 454 ff.
[223-2] Fregier, Die gefährlichen Klassen, translated 1840, I, 2, 38. In Yorkshire it is said that woolen rags to the amount of £52,000,000 a year are manufactured into useful articles. (Tooke, Wool-Production, 196.) Compare The Use of Refuse: Quart. Rev., April, 1868. On the ancient Greek ragpickers the so-called σπερμολόγοις,[TN 49] see St. John, The Hellenes, III, 91; on the Roman Centonariis: Cato, R. R., 135; Columella, R. R., I, 8, 9; Marquardt, II, 476, V, 2, 187.