The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-01-19
Our Special Contributors---ISo5.
TOO MUCH RICHES.
e of the Trials and Difficulties They Bring.
JOEL BENToN's PHILOSOPHY FOR HARD TIMES.

VI tOWn improvement Unor0 is no Gay
on which some letter or person does
not come to me. 1t is only the exact
truth to say that most of these appli-
cants have no real claim upon me. No
very rich man can be an almoner to
the whole world, even if he has the
misfortune to be multi millionaire.
He would be- wrong to be one if he
could. Are there Lot other rich men
besides myself9 If it is more blessed
to give than to receive, what right
have to prevent part OF the bless
ing which the proverb indicates from
being shared by those who are able
to share it?
Glowing Schemes for Investment.
Not few of the solicitors of the
rich mans bounty disguise what they
intend shall be gift for themselves,
by presenting some glowing scheme
OF business enterprise, for starting
which the millionaire is asked to fur
nish the money, while the solicitor
does the work and assumes the di-
rection. 1t may be mining scheme
in the Rocky Mountains, or a land
speculation in Mexico or South Amer
lea, or an ostrich farm in California.
Often it is SO novel as to defy any
generally known classification; fire.
quently it is the exploitation of pa
tent, having illimitable possibilities,
and promising wealth beyond the de-
sire of avarice. No Oriental tale ever
shone with brighter pictures than
those conjured by these applicants on
behalf of their enterprises. They
would bankrupt Jules Verne's or
Rider Haggard's invention to equal,
and make IScheherizade's royal .reci-
tations seem tame, if set down beside
them. Any expectant or exciting
novelist who will carefully interview
any well known millionaire, and who
can get permission to look through
the letters of these fervid projectors,
will have find" for literary use that
should prove perfect bonanza. AS
| have not fled or kept those received
by me, do not invite applications,
but merely throw out the suggestion,
which | am now powerless to aid.
Wealth Never Unpopular.
l do not suppose, however, that any
argument or catalogue of ills pertain
ing to wealth will make it unpopular.
The prejudice in its favor, and the
belief that its possession is the ex-
tinguishment of nearly all trouble
and anxiety, will keep it the one great
object to struggle for. 1t has been
said that a certain famous millionaire
injured his foot badly on one oc-
casion, by dropping the shears on it
which he had been using for half
day in simply cutting off coupons.
Very little sympathy was elected by
the accident, so many were they who
would be glad to experience it under
the exact conditions.
1t is true enough that the present
uneven division of property seems
almost an iniquity. But that is not
the fault of rich people, and to
remedy the situation without exact
ing fagrant injustice is beyond the
wit of man. Let those who are not
rich be consoled by the fact that in
about three generations, usually
every individual fortune is dissipated.
and there are, therefore continually
new candidates for the possession of
wealth. The law of compensation, in
the long run, steps in to even matters
up. AS the bottom of the wheel in
turning has its time of being at the
top, so it is with points in the moving
family lines. One of the best adyan-
tages of wealth, it may be noticed, a
great majority of wealthy men donot
attain. They looked forward once to
the gift of leisure, which in the null
titude ofcases never comes when they
might retire and attain it, the habit
of making money remains ineffacea
BILE, and brings its penalty. So, with
the burden of getting money, the fear
of losing it, the anxiety of keeping it,
and the temptationto continue the
accumulation of it, the itch man
days are not of unmingled bliss. Did
not Solomon say: Where much is,
there are many to consume it; and
what hath the owner but the sight of
it with his eyesi'
NEW YORK CITY.