The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-12-24
For The Christmas Mirror.
THE POWER THAT MOVES THE
WORLD.

BY ADDISON HOOD IL. j..
In Gotham once three wise men sat
Discussing things telluric.
And things celestial, making note
All of things sulphuric.
These wise men sat, but not a smile
Was seen upon their faces,
For wisdom ne'er was known to smile
Except in foolish places.
And as each topic took its turn
In varying twists and twaddles-
Now light. now strong. now back. now tack.
As weddings of the paddles
bout of some uncertainty
Was taken up in tourney
What had most power to rule mankind
Upon this earthly journey?
The first wise mana portly man,
With flowing beard and Witty
Declared, with striking emphasis,
''The Dollar is all mighty.
And nothing else has half its power
To regulate mems actions.
1t is the very soul of life.
The death of other factions;
In politics it is the might,
In business it is choser,
In science, art, and letters, it
Has not fit opposer;
1t comes before the Christians creed,
1t gets behind the scorner
And rushes him a tue tete
Into a helpless corner;
1t rules the roost. it rules the round,
1t rules at every painting
Fen Love itself without its aid
Would be forever wanting"
The second sage "a lean-kind man.
With visage cleanly shaven-
Sat in his chair. like mariner
At ease in sheltering haven,
And as he listened to the claims
Made for tn Almighty Dollar.
He struck his fingers through his hair.
Or eased his linen collar,
Or, placed two fingers to his cheek,
Which on his knuckles rested,
As if he we're a man whose might
Had thoroughly been tested;
And after number one had said
His very thoughtful saying,
This second sage upspoke. and. like
A deacon who was praying,
Said, ''Yea, the Dollar is a might,
And rules in Love and Larder,
But Fame is what the Dollar brings,
And Fame is mans regarder;
To be thought mighty men of wealth
Is what rules mighty self, sir,
'Tis Fame that ever goes before
The rushing, pushing elf. sir.''
II beg to differ" said the first
In accents most emphatic
The second sage said just the same,
Though not quite so dramatic.
."Tut! tut! my friends" the third one said
He was q man most homely-
"Your diff rences are like myself
They are not very comely:
You each deny that Love is not
The all Almighty Reuter-
If Love were not, pray tell me what
There would be found without herr
To love the Dollar for itself
Is surely falsely taken,
To love it for the Fame it brings
Is surely Truth forsaken:
'Tis Love, my friends, that rules the world,
For tits the most enchanting
OF all things known alone below,
And useless is your canting."
II beg to differ" $50 do I;''
~ beg to differ, too. sirs;
'Tis Dollars;" mo, tits Fame that rules;"
'Your statements are not true, sirs.'
Awhile they wrangled, hen. or egg2
Each with his own opinions,
And 'gainst his fellows, who, forsooth.
Were only Wisdom's minions.
When-happy thought-the portly sage
Said, ''Let's call in the waiter:'
All being greed, the gong went "ting!"
And just little later
In stepped the man who knew no more
Than, on his little finger,
To balance we'll six tiers of plates,
Or for tip to linger.
my FRIEND" the portly sage began.
The waiter thus addressing,
I'VE three have wrangled here tonight,