The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1888-03-24
MONEY WON'T DO EVERYTHING.
Professor Adler on the Use and
Abuse of Wealth.
3. Lise "a PIsyIhIng or 4. IL Not.
Business Mems Methods tie Count
ing Room to the Gard Room.

ethical culture, were more than ordl-
narily enthusiastic Yesterday when they
heard Prot. Felix Adler declaiIn Oh
"The Use and Abuse of W-airh.'
Why were these masses, always most
ethical in their Opinions, exceedingly
appreciative Yesterday
Because among tlen there air classes
whose Representatives were present III
large numbers, AID Ia whom the pro
fGssOr's lecture a3plied so tersely al
times that il made the masses forget
they had braved the seasons first
storm.
Beginning his discourse with the
statement that it was proper for man
to have something laid by for rainy
day, aud which might be needful for
the education of his children, the pro
fessor nevertheless pointed out the evil
effects of getting rich too fast. The
wealth OF the United States had i'll
creased from sixteen billions i'll 1860 to
forty-three billions in 1880. AS peo-
pie we were increasing our wealth
quarter of a million dollars per hour,
and six millions of dollars day.
sis there not such a thing" the
speaker said, "for u nation, as well as
tor an individual, as getting rich too
iastl" Why should our material re.
sources be SO suddenly developed! :!
Why should we add thousands of miles
Of railroad to our already vast posses
sIons every year2 1t would be better
to let these matters slninber longer and
do work more slowly. 1t would be
we'll to remember that it is better to
have houses of willow and men OF oak
than men of willow and houses Of oak
I'VE have set up" continued the pro-
| lessor. 1.-THE fact Of our national wealth
as an idol before which we must all
bow down. and we are sacrificing our
selves before this idol until the energy
! of the nation will have been exhausted
in the fierce struggle for the production
of wealth."
THE WEALTH IN OUR HOMES.
In speaking of the influence which
wealth exerted over character the pro-
lessor said that he was perfectly aware
| that the evils of which he intended to
speak might be found in the greater
| part OF the homes of the rich and mod
erately rich, and that there were few
persons of this class who betrayed
none of the evil symptoms which
wealth produced. We should look
back TO history, to the rise and decline
of the Roman Empire, to see the effect
of an overabundance of wealth upon
nation, and also to see that when
through these evils the strength OF man
breaks down the virtue of woman fol-
lows closely. Rome was surfeited
with good things and died OF the dis
eases brought on by oveIindulgence.
We should study these lessons and
compare them with the signs of decay
visible in our own nation.
In considering the influence of wealth
upon the women of our day, the speak
er said that large wealth made women
pleasure seekers. as it was the case III
the days of the Romans. Wealth and
the evils which go with it tend to take
our women away from their true sphere
of duty in their homes. AS women OF
wealth are also women of leisure we
have a right to expect that they will
lead the advance guard in the science
of child education. The duties that
the true mother has to discharge will
illl up all her time.
The woman who leaves home coutin.
ually or makes of her home simply a
hostlery for the entertainment o.
strangers shows that to her the society
OF her husband has lost it's charm, OIL
why should she be continually gadding
, about for pleasure?
A PERTINENT QUESTION.
Tho speaker said that he was no
opposed to innocent aud OccasiOna
pleasure, but in our wealthy classei
pleasure seeking is made business
especially among the women. ''I
wonder this question from the kOral
il not asked from ever pulpit when the
people attend church do you believe
that this world was made in Jest, ths
that this life is n playtbingT
This tendency To testivity is the
logical consequence OF great wealth fol
as the rich man does not wish to hide
his light under busher he must give
continual entertainments III order tC
advertise his wealth. The effect u
this state Gf things upon young girls
who are dragged from one such enter.
tainment to another, who spend the
night in frolic and sleep half of the
blessed day to prepare tor the mex
nights dissipation, is such that II il
utterly running a good many OF oul
young girls for the sacred duties which
they will be called upon to perform"
The professor then spoke. of the
condition of the sewing women, the
white slaves of our city, who ply theil
needle for the miserable pittance anC
who could be happy and contented fol
life with the money that is spent II
arranging any one of the social testiv.
tiles. Can any wOman," he asked
"who leads life Of continued festivit,
look out into the world upon the toll.
ing masses and not feel ashamed? W.
should not only thipk of the none,
which these affairs cost, but also of III,
time which is wasted in selecting my
8 lady's wardrobe and in attending t
other so-called duties. Consider tn,
amount OF time spent by this class o
. people in perfunctOry visiting upoI
people.with whom they simply have ,
l formal connection, and whom the'
!. often dislike and frequently hate. AL
this time wasted prevents women fron
making any advance in their tru,
sphere-child education. The poo
mothers are said to be prevented from
this on account of proverty, but how
much more are the wealthy mother
prevented by the artificial condition
in which they live?
!, FRESH AIR AND HARD BEDS.
I Prot. Adler then spoke of the infiu
cnce of wealth upon young children
, and advised simple clothes and sur
! roundings for them and hard bed T.
l sleep on with plenty of fresh air. Th
:, simple habits made the body robust
Too much wealth about child cultiva
ted his sense in certain directions q
the expense OF the cultivation OF hi
: mental power. TO make the minds @
e a child reach its proper development
/ his senses must be kept under. d
, our parents act according to thes
D principles, which they all admit to b
corrcctP "Whv, =" said the profes
: sor; "they act quite otherwise Th
= speaker proiessed astonishment al fin,
ing that among the poor children
pari icularly among the Germans, til
parents were in the habit of givin
beer to their children. The FOOLS
parents like beer themselves, aud i
their apish affection they give wha
they like to their children. For tn
same reason because the mother like
v gaudy clothes she dresses her doll of
child IN tho came way, breeding vanit
in the child heart, and the same conrs
Is followed in regard TO childreLs food
and in this way life of tho sense
II early stimulated and the energy of ia
mind is loosened. IL appeal earnestl
to parents who were brought up wit