The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-06-19
HOW RICH SHOULD ONE BEP


A reader OF the Cornmoner asks the
question. How rich is II right to be-
And the COmmoner answers as
follows:
s.how much money should
rerson hayer Is IL 80 useful that
there can be no limit to the amount
that one should possessf II man Is the
climax of creation and the lord OF
material things. Is not money MS
seryantf II u man has so much money
teven though 1t comes TO him by
inheritance or in any way considered
Ieg1timatel that it requires all or his
time to take care of IL, has he not too
muchT
There are Things which money can
not buy, and they are the dearest
things of life. Money cannot purchase
love. but the love of money has some
times separated the best OF friends
If one thinks that money can purchase
happiness he is doomed to dlsappoi mt
menr. The Creator was not so unkind
az TO make ones highest enjoyment
rest upon so unsnbstantial founda-
ton as dollars. nor does he dole out In
Joy In proportion to ones earthly
possessions. Compare for ILLUSTRATION
the Joy of the philanthropist land phi
lanthropy ia determined more by the
spIr,t OF the glver rather than by the
size of the gift with the JOY OF tne
n,iser land here. too, II must Do
remembered that the miser Is distlng-
uished by his averice rather than DIV
the amount of gold that he ciutches.
Compare the happiness OF the virtuous
cottage covered couple whose souls are
held together by the indissoluble bonds
of holy love, with the estranged occu-
pants of q palace. Compare the up
lifting delights Of one who follows.
even though unshod, the path OF duty.
with the revelries of the pronigate
with inherited millions at his disposal.
MAN needs money for the purchase
of clothing, for the securing OF an
education, for the procuring of books
and for the gratifying Of his spirit OF
benevoience. He can Justify the ex-
penditure of money, IL honestly ac-
ouired, for travel, II travel contributes to
tins higher self; for recreation. insofar
as ii is strengthening. and for SOCIAL
intercourse insofar as 1t Is helpful.
But mo- one can afford to cultivate that
love of money which it not the root OF
ali evil, is the root OF far too much OF
evil, or even to possess 80 much money
that the mere care of 1t will absorb
enersies that are deserving OF better
employ ment.
iThe highest purpose that man can
have Is the retirement Of the human
family; all other things are secondary !;
even the Improvement OF himselt-if
1t has no higher end than self. 1t Is
unworthy. The marble statue may Dc
more nearly perfect in feature ana IN
form than any living creature; its
hands do no mischief; Its feet run on
no errands of evil and it's lips speak
neither lie nor Dalsphemy. No human
being with passions and frallties can
approach In harmlessness the product
of the artist 9 chisel. and it he could,
of what value would his life bef 1t
| is a low measure of man that estimates
him by his negative qualities. he
must be positively good to be re-
spected. His back even though IL
bend, must help to bear his brother 9
load; his hands, though sometimes
idle or worse than uselessly employed.
must have part in the shaping ana
moulding of the world; his tongue
though 1t may stammer or sometimes
utter what the heart would tain re-
tract, must be the vehicle OF higher
and broader truth than can be found
within selfish limits.
eAs the ships captain throws over
any cargo that endaugers the safety OF
the passengers, so man must be Will
ing to sacrifice anything and every
thing even money-'f 1t I'M
pedes his progress or prevents the
highest : ossible achievements.