The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-09-07

a juster insight and deeper, more natu-
raj feeling than the professional artist
or critic, so may an ingenious, un-
trained philanthropist or sociologist be
able to take wholly new views of human
ills and their palliatives. Yes, to dis
cuss the various schemes for improving
the world with Lady Felicia as they
rode through country lanes would be
enjoying life and opportunities indeed.
From thinking of generalities he came
to particulars. If it would be uplifting
to benefit suffering humanity, how much
more delightful to benefit his friends!
And who hath friends of the rich and
happy only? The new-made million
aire felt pang as he reflected that the
two beings who had shared the poverty
of so many years could not share his
wealth. He had no near kinsfolk to be
gladdened by the crumbs that fall from
the rich mans table. But if he had
no blood relations, he had those bound
to him by closer ties. There was an
old college tutor of his, on whom had
fallen evil days. On the occasion OF
his last visit to him-how well John
Dollar. remembered it!-in his dingy
chambers the old man had apologized
ruefully for the poor fare.
'.The doctors orders were chicken
and Madeira, forsoothr' he said; ''as
well order Cleopatra pearl stepped in
vinegar"
Dollar went home determined to dis
patch the regales. but, alas! to this day
money had been wanting. Henceforth
his friend should have chicken and
Madeira in plenty. Dollars eyes mois-
tened at the joy of informing his old
tutor that he should have two hundred
a year. This was one pinched life to
be eased along the downhill path. Like
all poor men, Mr.. Dollar had many
proteges and hangers-on. He felt in
duty bound to share his prosperity with
his old tutor, but early association and
kindly feeling now took the shape of
many claim. There was his college
friend, James Downing, who had taken
to literary pursuits instead of the out
of door life that might have given him
a physique. This poorfellow was hope
lessly struggling against consumptive
temperament and ill-health generally,
with the cares of domestic life and q
smoky London climate, when q couple
of winters at Al giers might quite set
him up. Then, not to speak of pen
sioners, how many small yet priceless
services might a rich man render his
friends-heIp this ones promising lad
to profession, that ones girl to a
marriage outfit or college curriculum.
A millionaire may, indeed, supply eyes,
ears, hands, digestion, and even appe-
tite to his friends, seeing most OF us at
some time or other find out that these
tried servants of ours, the senses. are at
least for time worn out. Especially
in Dollars line of life that was the case,
most of his friends being of those who
wear out their brains and bodies by
perpetual strain. At last he began to
think of himself, and what wide field
here for satisfaction and benevolence!
Rev. Mr.. Dollar was not vain or self
inflated man, and did not overestimate
himself; perhaps, indeed, erred on the
other side. The superciliousness of the
world had led him to discommend his
own ego. He had summed up things
in general with the reflection that, after
all, human beings were poor creatures,
and Rev. John Humphrey Dollar had
got, perhaps, his deserts.
But all the time there had been a
lurking conviction that the world was
Judging or rather misjudging him by
circumstances rather than character.
And is any of us without weakness? 1t
was pleasant to think that henceforih
he should be listened to, made way for,
no longer meet with the half attention
accorded to shabbiness, no longer be
jostled against by careless neighbors.
Respect hath more than charm. 1t
brings consciousness with it, as Mr..
Dollar knew to his cost. How many
times but for his calling he. should have
cursed the time-serving spirit of his
fellow-townsfolk. 1t had again and
again happened to him that when max
ing hasty purchases in the brief inter-
val between school hours, the shopman
would leave him, his business but half
done, to attend bareheaded upon some
lazy dowager in her carriage, and, in
the case of young girls similarly cush-
Toned, insult seemed added to injury.
Again, as we AL know, our friends treat
us, shabby as we are, on the level with
the rest of their tests. But when did
society, especially that section of it that
wears livery, fail to find us out? Dollar
had more than once been inclined to
throw some rich friends turnkey down
stairs for the suspicious glances cast at
him. But Heaven forbid that we should
appear to confine snobbery to the
kitchen. 1t fiourishes equally in the
salon and is found to perfection among
well-bred people. Rev. Mr.. Dollar re-
Elected cheerfully that henceforth, when
he entered a drawing-room, those in it
would at once show an alert conscious
ness of his presence. The difference
between a millionaire and a nobody is
nicely indicated here. When Dives
crosses the threshold, there is a Just
perceptible tlutter; even the mistress
pet poodle, by intuition, ways his tail.
When Nobody comes, the silk gown of
the mistress does not rustic and there is
no wag of her pets tail. These may
seem bagatelles, and indeed they are;
but Just as field mice, by gnawing the
bow-strings of the Assyrian army, en-
abled the enemy to obtain an easy vic
tory, SO will tritiing checks aid annoy
ances often destroy a noble nature. Mr..
Dollar saw, as clearly as any man
could see, the unlovely, sordid side of
money, but nevertheless he realized by
slow-bought and better experience the
value of wealth in enabling us to make
the best of ourselves. Be as lofty
minded as we please, we are yet con-
strained to accept the worlds standard
as we accept its mintage, till better
one be found.
From generalities to particulars:
In his fortieth year Rev. Mr.. Dollar
could hardly accuse himself of an ex-
tr,yoo,pco Tho virt,,a p,irbt have