The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-06-15
MONEY AND CHARACTER,
How to Strike the Highway of Large
Hearted Life.

How to Strike the Highway of Large
Hearted Life.
There is no test of character like the
relations one manifests toward money.
The way in which anybody gives, holds
and spends money will tell you more
about that person than any other one
fact that you might learn. We once
thought that the best test of character
is the manner in which a person treats
those dependent upon himself. And we
have often said that we would rather
know how processing Christian treats
his wife and children, how protesting
Christian woman treats her housemaid,
how they both treat their dogs and cats,
than to know what they say in prayer
meeting
But this money question cuts even
deeper, because up to this time money
stands for all that anybody wants on
this planet except character. 1t will even
buy reputation, but nothing on earth
can buy character. That is heaven
ly vision and comes down from God.
1t has been said by the wisest among
men that the love of money is the root
of all evil. and no statement showing a
deeper insight into human nature was
ever made. Emerson has somewhere a
thought like this: SAT first you are
careful that your neighbor does not
cheat you, but some day you become
careful not to cheat your neighbor, and
when this happens you have exchanged
your market cart for a chariot of the
SUM-" Everybody knows in his heart
which of the two he is most anxious
about-not to be cheated or not to
cheat. If the latter then he is rich in
character whether he is rich in dollars
and cents or not.
Among relatives money questions
have caused more i'll feeling than any
| other subject. 1t seems strange that
the tie of gold is stronger than the tie
of blood, but so it has proved thou
sand times. 1t is well for us to look
carefully into our attitude toward our
pocket-b books. Have we mean, little
and niggardly ways? If so, we are in
spirit poverty-stricke whether we have
realized this or not. Are we willing tc
divide with those about us? If not
we must steadily cultivate this kindly
habitude.
| We once read of man converted late
in life who had by nature the mean
ness of an inordinate love of money
1 One day when the collection basket wa.
approaching his pew he opened hi
purse and took out the smallest coin i
contained. Perceiving that this wa'
not according to the gospel plan h,
took out another larger still Jus
then voice whispered to him
"You had better look out, you arr
giving too much" He recognized thi
as voice from beneath and from abov,
and as the basket had just then arrived
he flung into it purse and all, saying il
an audible voice. "Ah, old devil, 20,
may as well clear; if you speak to m
again | will do this way every time"
That was probably the best hour tina
man ever saw. However money-lovin,
we may be by nature, it is entirely pos
sible to break away from this corrodini
bondage that eats away all the fine
qualities out of the human spirit an
destroys every blossom from the garde
of the heart and home. If we will pun
/ sue method analogous to that of tn
/ man of whom we have just written, W
} shall soon find ourselves out of the wi
derness and onthe fragrant, happy higf
ways of a generous, large-hearted life
, a life
That is twice blessed;
1t blesseth him who gives and him who take
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