Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-09-10
Money Making.

WITH the mass there is a positive de-
votion to the art and labor of money
making; the unrest of accumulation
selZes on them like a fever; unless they
are continually getting" adding to their
store, investing at a good profit, rein
yestIng, and so CrOWding into few years
the natural work of lifetime, they are
Wretched; filled with a sense of envy of
more fortunate people, sullen, discOn-
tented, angry at not being able to reach
or to surpass the level of their neighbors
or competitors Even really good men
are thus infected. = : = The worst
feature of devotion to money getting is,
that it necessarily destroys leisure, and
excludes alike the possibility and the
idea OF rest. A man cannot serve two
masters. If material things engross
him, the cultivation of the intellect, in
its broader and higher sense, must be
put aside, and the education of the heart
must cease. These require time, and re-
pose, and meditation; men must be con-
tent to lie falIOW, for the highest quail
ties are developed and strengthened not
OF set purpose, but insensibly, and I'M
consciously, just as the thirsty earth
drinks in the rain or reioices in the sun
light. To business men, therefore, rest
IS essential if they are to be anything
higher, or better, or nObler than mere
men OF business, mOney-making ma
chimes, accumulatOrs. Those who are
the most successful are most in danger.
Nothing deadens the heart or dims the
soul so much as uniform prosperity, that
brings with it increasing desire and in
cessaIt care for the growth, and disposal,
and safe custody, and cultivation of
r.
real blessing, however much it may seem
to be disguised, or however painful it
may be at the moment. It forces
himself; makes him think and re-
fleet; leads him to look beyond the
windows of the golden prison-house;
sets him yearning for the peace that is
born only of rest well used. In such
times men do feel a great desire for re-
pose for some respite from the endless
struggle to amass riches; and whenever
this feeling is aroused it is a benefit in
calculable, healthful medicine, a breath
| Of pure fresh air sweeping in as from
the mOuntain-side, or the heather-clad
moor, and purifying the close and sickly
atmosphere Of business life. If among
| those who read these pages there is one
| secretly conscious that he belongs to the
class above described, let him look into
his heart and say if he has not some
times felt a longing for rest, even in his
highest and fullest tide of success. At
some moment, surely, his wealth has
seemed as if it were mere dust and
ashes or the dried, dead leaves of fairy
land, worthless in comparison with the
fresh dream of youth-strong, resolute,
untaltering in aspiration; pure in mo-
! tive; clear in purpose; unseltish IN de
sign; looking forward to the full frui-
ton of manhood, born Of honest but not
excessive labor; and to the calm repose
of age. can fancy such a man feeling
how empty and joyless is all that he has
accom- lished, turning with a sigh from
the well-filled Golfer, the thick bank
book, the piles of scrip and shares, and
looking with longing eyes to the bless
edness of repose, with its vision of the
summer glory Of the isles Of the sea,
purple, azure, golden, crimson, sutfused
with long calm lines Of light-the glow
of heaven irradiating the sweet green
EARTH and kindling the waters into a
manufactured flame of celestial bright
| neSs.-C0ngregdt