The Tucson citizen., 1902-01-01
HAPPINESS BY CONTRAST.


time and the first day of New Year
has no more real significance than the
last day of the old year. lac year, the
month. the week, the day, the hour are
asst what we make them and 1t makes
very little difference whether they be
branded 1902 or 1901. When the par
sons and the moralists and the sharps
and the knaves and the ounces preach
homilies about the New Year they In
yariably concentrate in the word hap
piness, and when they construe hap
piness, in nine cases out OF ten they
mean success in the struggle with me
world. Ninty-nine per cent OF all hui
man effort Is to get rich.
The poor fancy that their condition Is
pre-eminently a pitiahle one, and look
upon the rich man who can buy what-
ever he wants as the happiest of men.
To be able to get the best the world
affords to eat, drink and wear, and
besides that, % have ample provisions
for old age-what would be more
blissful? But the rich mans advantage,
it may be held, is more apparent thah
real The very fact that he can bny
whatever he wishes is an immense de-
duction from the interest OF lie. Snop-
plng. for instance, which implies
getting bargains-making ones money
90 a long way-could have no charm
for a man who goes out with fifteen or
twenty thousand dollars in his pocket
great part of the charm of acquisl-
tion is in the little schemes, comDina-
4ions and complications attending the
effort to raise the requisite sum- Inc
outlay of the poor widows one dol
lar for Christmas or New Years sweets
and cheap toys for her appreciative
urchins gives her keener pleasure
for the reason that it costs her an ef-
fort Contrast the feelings with which
a how or miss of Is walks past we'll
supplied candy store, jewelers., DOCK
store, drygoods store or bicyciist g.
and the feelings Of the man to wnom
none of these things appeal. The young
enjoy with zest. largely because OF
the difficulty ! of getting-because OF
the restraints imposed on them, by
their circumstances and the discipline
of their seniors, but superabundant
money, like age, brings safety anu
apathy. One who knows that anything
is within his reach. wants nothing.
Not infrequently the self-made man
has wrecked hfs constitution in acqulr-
ing his million. Intensity OF applica-
ton has disordered mis- digestion, In
iured his vrain, ruined his kidneys,
and cut his life short with disease. he
doesn't dare to eat the luscious viands
h IS income puts within nis reach. Tne
moor man enjoys his buckwheat cakes
and sausage gravy--a diet forploden
on pain of death to his envied neigh
Dor. The juicy peach, the delicious
Crane. the delightful oyster and the
Christmas or New ears turkey are
for the man who works lor his living
and - kept from excesses by scanty
salary. Beyond certain point Increase
of wealth brings no increase OF com
fort or serenity OF mind, but on the
contrary exposure to moral rlsks
onxiefv and a n brood OF cares. Mr.
Rockefeller, according to a recent New
York dispatch, has an income OF $3o'-
ooo Ooo vet since 1891 he has not been
able to eat a hearty meal. Iepid skim
med milk and crackers constitute MS
supper. and he does not care TO vary
his t,,et. He cannot smoke cigars,
drink wines or liquors, drive his fast
horses or sail In his fine yacht ANY
one of these pastimes or pleasures
would upset him and make him SICK
FOR months. His fine estates in city
and country are without value to him
for hearty use. Add to This, his hair
thanks 10 his muiti-milIonaire worries
.-is falling out, and he is as bald as
the poorest clerk who has to hustle TO
make both ends meet.
On the other hand, the sleep OF the
laboring man is sweet This is because
owing To the hard work all day long
his digestion is good, and he goes to
bed with ) good conscience, having no
corners. ''squeezes," combines or
"trusts" 10 repent of. He has his
troubles, as all have. but not indiges-
fson, which affects the man OF leisure.
He has health and hope, and life is fuii
of interest. His limited means restrict
the number and variety of his plea
sures, but what comes to him ne en-
Joys with . keenness that the rich
must envy. The volume OF the sensible
moor mans happiness IL greater, even