HISTORY OF VERMONT. 377 



sliip, that the people can procure the necessaries 

 of life at first, or the conveniencies of it after- 

 wards. What is thus procured with labor and 

 difficulty^ vvill be used with prudence and econo- 

 my. The custom will not be to fall into scenes 

 of expensive entertainrnents, amusement, and 

 dissipation : But to provide for the calls and 

 demands of nature, to preserve the health and 

 vigor of tl^ftbody, and to be able to raise up' 

 and support a family. And this will of course, 

 introduce a steady regard to, economy, in all 

 their expenses, liabits, and customs. The in- 

 fluence that this has on the affairs of individuals, 

 and on the state of society, is every where ap- 

 parent. No such degrees of vyealth can ever 

 exist In any place, as shall be equal to the ^- 

 mands of luxury. And where custom has in- 

 troduced -a habit of living and expense, above 

 the annual income, dependence, venality, and 

 corruption, Avith constant want and distress, i^ 

 the never failing consequence. But the most 

 pernicious of all the effects of luxury, is the de- 

 icradation it brink's on the nature of man. It 

 destroys the vigor and powers of men, and by 

 constantly enfeebling the body and mind, seems 

 to reduce them to a lower order of beings. The 

 body,' weakened by excessive indolence and in- 

 dulgence, loses health, vigor, and beauty, and 

 becomes subject to a thousand emaciating pains 

 and maladies. The mind, subdued by indo« 

 lence and inactivity, scarcely retains its rational 

 powers ; and becomes v/eak, languid, and inca- 

 pable of manly exertions, or attainments. To a 

 state thus degraded, effeminate, and unmanly, 

 luxury frequently reduces those, who bear th*? 

 voLi ii Y 2 



