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

resulted in forcing numbers to seek
their fortunes in the United States and
other countries where business was
not considered vulgar. They certainly
found that our nobility in the United
States embraced only those who pos
sessed the almighty dollar in abun-
dance. But today while some of the
old time prejudice still exists among
the older aristocracy, the yourger
generation of the nobility have began
to see things in different light and are
today entering all branches of trade
and running neck and neck with us in
the race for the almighty dollar.
If you want to see the power of the
dollar exemplited in all its various
phases of greed, enter into any of our
large cities and stay there long enough |
to make observation. This paper is
too short to 60 into detail, but if the
power there shown is not sufficient to
make sober men stop and wonder
where it will all end, then l do not
know what am writing about. And
yet how few of the masses realize this
terrible power until too late. The toll
ing, struggling millions who are being
ground into poverty and wretchedness
little realize that the dollar is the
cause of all their trouble. They see
around them beautiful bright world
filled with abundance of everything
that contributes to their comfort and
happiness, and yet just little beyond
their reach, reducing them to want be-
cause they cannot first secure the nec-
essary medium of exchange to bring
all these good things contained in the
almighty dollar. They also know there
is wrong somewhere when such con-
ditions exist, but know not the remedy
nor how to apply the remedy.
The possession of the dollar makes
kings of men and queens of women.
Have you ever experienced that fine,
noble, independent feeling, that safe,
buoyant, kingly feeling a man has
when his pockets are full of almighty
dollars? Why it makes nobleman
out of him. You can see it in his walk
down the street: that firm, prosperous
tread, the fine carriage, the erect, full
form towering above the shiftless,
shambling, slow step of the poor devil
whose pockets are empty and who is so
thirsty and hungry he don't know
where to stay all night. It's an awful
feeling, isn't it? to realize that you
haven't got dollar or friend, (for dol
lars are about the only thing that
brings you friends too) in the world.
cannot help but relate little Incl
dent that came under my own observa-
tion once that will illustrate this feel
7 ing. 1 was in saloon taking glass
J of beer and some lunch; it was the
: noon hour and the saloon was full OF
men. There was magnificent free
lunch set out on a separate counter
f the bar was fp.l of empty beer glasses
. that had been epptied of their contents
l except the dregs, when l noticed {
I. fine looking, well-dressed man entel
/. quickly, walk to the end of the bar
unobserved as he supposed, picked VI
Q one of the glasses that had still LITTLE
beer remaining in it and with it HI
t went to the lunch counter and pro
) ceeded to appease his hunger as fast a
Q possible AS he drew near me at tn
S lunch counter l could not forbear t.
o ask him in a quiet, friendly way, "Wel
> old boy, how are they coming?" o
Y words to that effect, when he drey
t himself up to his full height and sai
j. with all the dignity he could muster
e every we'll 1 thank you." But tina
n dignity of voice and manner put me il
n mind of what Mark Twain said abou
e. the coyote. While his manner wa
n savage his face apologized for it. H
IS knew 1 had seen and understood tn
J. whole transaction and he hastily sc
% the glass down and went out. All tha
If man lacked to be prince among hi
S. fellow men was the almighty dolla
re for 1 afterward learned he was youn
ID noblemau and finally committed su
n eide in his room in one of the hotels
is Minneapolis.