A Victorian Scrapbook

There are but a few things more offensive than purse-pride. Wealth, when honestly and fairly earned, is honourable; and one may take to himself a reasonable share of modest self-praise, of congratulation, for his successful industry; but the vain and conceited snobbishness of some wealthy people deserves the most energetic reprobation. It is as if a man should heap up a huge pile of pennies, and then mounting to the top, say to the passers-by:

“Good people, you may have heard of the column in the Place Vendome, which was cast of the cannon won by Napoleon in his hundred victories, and on the top of which is a stature of that gentleman; but here you may behold a pyramid of copper, built by the exertions of the speaker, and entirely composed of pennies, which other and foolish men would have spent in charity, or for books and pictures, but which I had the wisdom to put away in my breeches pocket. Therefore, good people, admire and wonder at me, and bow low in my presence.”