The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1900-09-20

COSC III IIlO COlu VI lu0 T0dlIu. DuU tu0
parties to the transaction understood
it and were satisfied with the exchange,
and however strange it may seem the
fiddler was paid, and paid no doubt in
a coin completely satisfactory to him.
But the object of this paper is to
give some thoughts on the power of
the dollar and influence for good or
evil on society. There is no doubt but
the almighty dollar has become the
greatest power and influence for both
good and evil in the universe. There
was time not so very far back in the
history of this country when the dol
lar occupied a somewhat secondary
place in the aspirations of the human
heart. What 1 mean by this is that
there were many, many things that the
dollar could not buy. But l know of
nothing today that its power does not
reach and in some manner control
and influence. Its power is almost
omnipotent, and yet no force or power
in nature presents such an anomoly of
Grass purposes as the dollar Its COM
pass from given point or centre
reaching out in one direction for good
and in another direction for evil, is
beyond human computation. The ac-
quirement of the dollar has become
the great desideratum of not only the
American people, but seemingly of the
entire civilized world. Strictly speak
ing this is the age of the almighty dol
lar, And as the great struggle for its
possession goes on and on and swells
out and embraces every avenue of life,
every phase of society, every grade of
intellect, every condition of mankind,
all in one grand, mad rush and frenzy
of human energy and force for that
one single purpose.
We pause to ask what the end of all
this will be. Grave questions come to
us as to what will be the final outcome
of its power, which of its composite
elements will conquer. Will its power
for good conquer or will its power fol
evil finally achieve the victory and enc
all society in chaos and ruin?
Governments are beginning to bow
and tremble before its power. 1t il
fast becoming mighty factor in pro
voking wars that are beginning tt
drag their bloody trail across the page.
of history. Honor and questions Of
state are its vassals. Truth and virtue
its victims of spoil And religion an(
happiness its sacrifices and offerings
1t is our idol, our God and our religion
It's Our-Our-our-wel no matter
it's ours if we've got it, if not, woe b.
us.
In England not many years ago
was considered far beneath their no
/ bility to have anything to do with tn
t making of money through bushes
} pursuits, and one of the peerage n
, matter how impoverished his estate be
Q came or how badly he needed none
z for actual personal wants and comfor
f he must not deign to enter vulgar bus
4 ness or commercial trade to reliev
g himself And if the young noblema
a could not marry some wealthy woma
n his case indeed became serious on
: I believe however that there was a
S exception to this rule in the bushes
S of banker, but very few of the nobi
), ity were able to enter this avenue t
e wealth unless they were possessed {
r sufficient capital to enter the bushes
= All other trades and business wei
e under the ban, and it was considere
it far beneath the dignity of gentlema
q to enter the commercial field. Th