Bismarck weekly tribune., 1889-05-31
THE GOLDEN CALF.
HOW 1T IS woRsHlPeD sY THE
FAsHIoNABLEs or SOCIETY.

diced IN favor OF the vtrtueS-or against
them. am only aphilosopher, and my only
object is to ask you question which has
bothered me very much, and which confess
that cannot answer myself When was
boy at Oxford had to read good deal of
moral philosophy, and I found out what
had already guessed by the light Of nature)
that the distinctions drawn between what Is
called right and what is supposed to be
wrong are purely conventional. Acts which
are forbidden in one country are enjoined in
another; those which have been blamed in
one age are glorified in another The enligh-
tenment which obtained at the university
has done me good service in after life. IF I
have been led into actions which my wife or
my friends have seen cause to condemn, !
have always succeeded in proving to my own
satisfaction, if my conduct did not conform
to one code of morals, that it could easily be
squared with different set Of ethical rules
How few persons have reached similar no
sition OF moral indifference and q may add,
of philosophical fairness!
CASE THAT PUZZLED HIN.
Myself ! never ask is this right7 or is it
wrongf But love to explore the motives of
human conduct. am puzzled more by the
behavior of persons who move in polite So
ciety than by the untaught and unreaecting
mass Of mankind. can understand why a
drunken man throws parafine lamp at
wife who wishes to deprive him of part Of the
money which he has earned by the sweat Of
his brow. can explain the mistake of q
clerk who forges his employers name on
blank check; he miscalculates the chances of
detection. lean guess why some tradesmen
carry out their bargains without any attempt
to take advantage Of their customers. They
believe that in the long run good charac-
ter is worth more to them than the fortui-
tous and irregular profits they might secure
BY different policy. But am puzzled when
have to account for the doings of fashion
able men and women.
state one Of my puzzles by quoting pas
sage from recent newspaper. A gentleman
who is popularity reputed to possess enormous
wealth has just left this country, and his de-
parture from Euston was made the occasion
OF mighty demonstration. 1.-THE hero of the
day had awaiting him tremendous recep-
tion. Serried humanity was in state Of
boisterous enthusiasm, and it was with diff
Guilty that he made his way through the dense
concourse. The colonel was in jovial spirits;
his face was wreathed in smiles, and the
hail fellow kind Of greeting was evidently
very pleasing to him. Scores crowded round
him to say good-by and to shower upon him
fettering compliments At the same time
he was inundated with telegrams and letters
from those who were unable personally to at
tend the imposing levee"
Tell me, sir, why was the serried humanity
In state Of boisterous enthusiasm What
had the rich man done that every body should
admire and applaud him2 And how MANY
OF those who went to shout and cry huzza!
and throw up their caps in the air would be
likely to get anything out Of hims Many of
them were unknown to him, and unlikely to
make his acquaintance. Many of them you
say We're loafers and idlers who would do
anything to pass the time. True; but the
crowd contained many others who were de-
Gently dressed, persons of some prctensions
in their different positions in life, who had
come long way in order to catch one
glimpse of him.
You tell me that he is good fellow. So
he is, believe; but why should | care how
good he be it he be no good for n1es And
how many of that crowd knew or cared
whether he was good fellow or rank curmud-
geonf He has been introduced in the highest
circles of society, presented to very great
persons, feted himself and allowed to fete
others; not because he has done anything
praiseworthy, but simply because he is be-
lieved to be wealthy. If you say that Lady
Bareacres has been civil to hira because her
lord wishes to be put up to good thing in
gold mines. can excuse and applaud her
policy.
PREACHING AND pRAcr1c1NG.
If the rich man has a marriageable daugh-
ter or susceptible son and heir, then there
is every reason why he should be petted in
Belgravia. If he gives away his money
freely to the institutions which for some
reason or other have been called charitable,
then the persons whose income or social i'm
portance is involved in their success do well
to tout for his subscription. If he is man
known to use his money for the advancement
of friends or the ruin Of enemies, then it
becomes matter Of prudence to be placed in
his good books. Nothing of this kind is
known about him. All that is known (and
that is only guessed is that he is one of the
richest men of the world You and sir.