The San Francisco call., 1898-06-05
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 WITH ENTIRE FRANkNESS.
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By HENRY JAMES.

gentleman connected with the Gridley Herald still persists that I have habit of abusing the country editor. I must beg the privilege, not only of saying that he is in error, but that l wish I were myself country editor. Then any city jay who wanted to poke fun at me could do so and well come. If the Herald man thinks that city newspaper men would accuse him Of lack of ability to use the English language with excellent effect he cer- tainly has made an underestimate either of their Judgment or of his own prowess in the matter of words.
 
 Before this article shall reach print the situation may be changed, but at the present writing I confess te lack of enthusiasm either as to Sampson or Schley. They seem to have expended considerable energy, not to mention coal and ammunition, in accomplishing nothing. Cervera is on the wrong side of the proposition, and doubtless will sooner or later be compelled to run up a White flag or go to the bottom. It may be remembered that the Maine went to the bottom, although this is a forbidden topic by the code of the Peace Society. However, while re- training from mention of 1t, recall it distinctly, and 1t serves to ease the pang which might have been created by the thought that so clever an ad- miral as Cervera is occupying a pre- carious position between several devils and an expanse of deep, blue sea- Of course Cerverd will be defeated He represents a cause already doomed. The Americans have the better ships, the better guns and the better princi- pie for which to fight. But I wish they might borrow some of the Cervera cunning.
 l observe that the Hamburg -Ameri- can Packet Company has in defense of itself invaded such proper columns as those of the Boston Transcript and is sending copies of that paper, duly blue penciled, to the public generally. Doubtless there is virtue In the Ham, burg American outfit, but the quality of it displayed in selling ships to Spain when the purpose was hostile to the United States does not, even with the indorsement of the Boston Transcript, appeal to me as indicating a lofty or, l may say, decent, state of patriotism. The line in question has made money from American patronage. It does not deserve to make another cent. If any American contemplating a trip abroad patronizes this line I will call into question his standing as a loyal citi- hA To, A ,t1 woo and win the approval of all Bos- ton, but out this way the influence of Boston is not markedly strong. It may be an authority on beans. but as to de- votion to the flag I prefer town in which editorial space is not to be pur- chased.
 Last Sunday a number of rich men were kind enough to let the world know the fashion by which others may grow to be like unto them. All through the articles ran the assumption that every body desires to be the possessor of pile of useless gold. Certainly the money a man has beyond that he can use, if not for himself, then for the better ment of his fellows, represents an ab- solute waste. It stands for care and futile toll. responsibility, burden. The greater the hoard grows, the more ap- palling the certainty that in the un- equal division of wealth one instance of opulence means countless instances of the pinching of poverty. There is no scheme by which all may grow rich, albeit they who by scrimping, or through what they consider good luck, have managed to do so, will gravely lay down a method as infallible Some are born without the instinct either of thrift or of miserliness. They have not and never can acquire shrewdness. They are foredoomed to struggle for bread. There is not in existence enough wealth to give to each a share. The astute among us absorb it and then tell the rest how the trick may be done. 1 am not railing at the existence of great fortunes, but I object to having people drag out miserable lives in pur- attained, and having been reached brings with it no happiness and only such distinction as may be embodied in lofty headstone, lyingly inscribed. When a man of fortune, the basis of which he earned, employs it in the con- struction of factories or transportation lines or material development, he be- comes to this extent a public benefac- tor. Certainly he is a necessity. With out him great works would languish, for it is hard to imagine an ideal state in which property would be held in common and administered for the ben eft of all. Among the gentlemen quoted, not an individual proclaimed a rule other than the one laid down by the farmer to his boy when the lad had asked how to get rich. Work like hell and never spend a cent" the old man had responded. Such is the substance of Huntington's remarks. I cannot think of reason why a sane man should aspire to Huntingtons place in the world. He is generally regarded as unscrupulous, and the hes itancy about telling him so is not not able. He says, Be honest" But where would he have been now had he applied this to his own acts? Then there is Carnegie. One naturally thinks of the aerated armor plate he sold the ~ o,a6 t0