Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1901-06-21
10 McDILL'S MUSINGS.
HOW AND HOW NOT TO GET RICH.

Some fifty years ago, l attended a school
whose teacher was more noted for muscle and
heartlessness than ability to teach. It was the
custom in those days for teachers 10 treat the
scholars some time during the holidays. Our
teacher, when called upon for treat, bought
one bushel of apples for thirty scholars. He
kept peck for himself, and the balance were
scattered upon the school playground, and the
scholars were told to help themselves. AS will
readily be perceived, the big scholars got most
of the treat; and not only did the big scholars
get most of the treat, but the little scholars
were hurt IN their efforts to grasp few of the
apples.
rhis is parallel case with the competitive
sys,-,n-the plav. ground representing the earth,
anu the apples the means of self prese rvation.
The how and the how not is here in nutshell.
The strong and the hearless override the inno-
cent and defenceless. Fi,st thought: Be strong
and hea ,tless.
| followed the after career of our teacher,
and from teaching, he became dealer in stock
Like buzzard on the lookout for carrion, he
was on the lookout for bargains. He pumped"
,nrie lads as to The necessities of their fathers.
When he found man who was obliged 10 sell
his steers to pay debts, he always bought below
value. This old.time teacher was "a bright
and shining light" in the church, and he
Jewed his brothers with the same persistency
as the outsiders and profane. Wherever there
was necessity, there was also Legitimate prey,
al b,,k 1,o
had honor in that he was political boss. Also,
his money procured him high seat in the
synagogue. So, as we see, the man who could
enjoy scramble for apples of little children
with hurley rufians had some of the necessary
qualities and characteristics of the men who
get rich. AS teacher, this man was below
the average OF fifty years ago.
About that time in my life, knew two boys
who were both healthy and bright. There was
no noticeable difference in their abilities, intel
lectually. Their fathers gave each calf. One
boy matuied his calf and sold 1t for cash. With
the money he bought nice suit OF clothes,
and, still having surplus, he bought his par
ents and each of his brothers and sisters pres.
ent. The other boy maured his calf, sold
him, and bought three calves with the money.
He "sponged" his clothes off his father and
made sharp deals with his brothers. He rarely
bought anything in tho way of treat, but
when he did, he shared with no one-not even
the pup. In course of time, the one calf had
g, own into hundred. Our money maker had
houses and lands. He had married, and his
wife was slave, in household drudgery, from
~ day she crossed his threshold till the day
she was laid in her cofiu. He jeered at the
,,nnu unate and turned deaf ear to the cry of
the poor No missionaries went to China to
ge, .no trouble with the Boxers on this mans
money l cannot say that this man was selfish.
He bestowed so little on self as to hardly te
respectable. We call snch men misers, but
what is a miser but a monstrosity without
parallel IN nature, or reasonable sanction out.
side Of Hades?
This mau also belongs to, and is part OF, our