The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-11-19
tContinued.)
HuMBUGs OF GREATNESS.

When federation and Deacon Lamson
got to discussin' the subject OF fame and
real greatness the other evening when
he stopped over at our house TO borrow
our horse rake, 1 must say they had
quite warm argument before they got
through. Now federation has got some
good ideas on that subject II do say 81.
and he draws the line dreadful close be-
tween what folks call greatness and
that which possesses the real article
that'll stand the test.
Yes" says the deacon. ''its always
been my opinion that men like the
Bateses should be put down great
men. for they have been successful gem
GRAFTON after generation, laying away
money and buying up land and speculat-
ing and laying away more so that today
they are the most respected family In
the town because they've got the most
money, and, consequently, the most in
fiuence."
Most influence" says federation, be
cause the people OF Canterbury are slaves
to money. IL that wasn't so they would
mt have Influence enough 10 build a
thank -you-marm on the turnpike. unless
they went to work and put IL I'm them
selves, which, OF course, you know they
wouldn't do because they're too much
kid gloved to shovel. II all men were
iiht Nntin WOuiu never nave Oetn
n man with the hoe Now Il may be
truthfully said that they have used tact
and have accumulated money, but money
was never even the swaddlng clothes OF
real reatness-greatness I'm the sense OF
magnanimty of spirit, with a self-sac-
rihcing nature. and with a loftiness OF
conception OF right and Justice such as
was wrapped up IN characters like Abra-
ham Lincoln. Silver spoons are not the
Kind OF gratis that bear such fruit. They
never did and they never will II you
say the Bateses are useful members OF
the town. because they own a good bunch
OF taxable property, then you'd tell the
truth. but to call them great because OF
their accumulation OF real estate and
long bank account, you're simply making
the common mistake OF thousands OF
other people OF warming your shins at
Colonel Sellers patenS freside. which
has all the appearance OF real warmth
but when he accidentally opens the door
there's nothing but a lighted candle in
sidei Now that kind OF imaginati may
satisfy you. but for myself give me the
fire-log that burns right before your eyes
and sends out such y glow of warmth
that everybody can recognize that it's
Old Hickory or some other such kind of
timber that's a burning and keeping tho,
people comfortable and sending up such
shower OF sparks through the chimney
fiue that everybody In the neighborhood
Will know that something is going on
down TO Uncle Sans house besides the
burning Of taller candles. No. sir L
don't want any 1ckerlng uncertainty
Don't care a whit about his money I
want TO know the man himself, inter-
nally. externally and eternally.
And by that ! mean / want to know
whether the mans made OF the kind of
material that'll last. When man
weighs his neighbor by his wealth in
property. that mans opinion isn't worth
as much as the cider that he's Just put
into his stomach. No SIR
"Oh," says the Deacon. you've got the
wrong idea. Why, Mr. wilberforce,
haven't you read your Bible enough 10
know about the men with the talents
Didn't two OF them invest theirs SO that
fhey made lot more money by the in
vestment. and were awarded by their rru-
gality? And didn't one OF them bury his
in the earth and suffer condemnation
That record shows me plain enough that
the great men are the frugal men, the
ones who accumulate. and save and be-
-eofre power I'm the land
THAT record says federation, "is
figure of speech. Money is used as the
mere substance by which the idea NAV
he brought out IT simply conveys this
that man must make all that he can
out OF the gifts that his Creator endows
Wilis Dt litN UT small. AND
10 he does this he becomes a great man,
no matter whether he accumulates much
or little money. or no money at all. If
property was the qualification of great
ness, why did Christ tell the rich young
man to give his riches 10 the poor?'
The accumulation OF wealth has nothing
TO do with real greatness. Never did
have. Never win"
We'll" says the Deacon, seeing you
m rlo
example. Ill bring you down To our own
NINE. and see what you can say. Now
Here's where can corner you:
Take Rockefeller, the great oil mag
nate. and Carnegie who was the great
manufactures OF steel and the Wander
bits, and the Goulds, and the Rotschilds.
and the Astors. and the Morgans, and a
lot more Of such kind OF men. They
are the greatest among the great men
Of the world. and you know IL, Now
Mr. wilberforce be honest. and admit |
that these are the best examples that |
we've got. You know you can't deny IT," |
"Tn admit" says Toleration. that |
these men and n lot more can be put \
down as great In one sense. Understand. |
] cay in one way. and that is in tho way /
that that black Berkshire out In my pig |
pen Is great In tho sense that he eats up |
most Of the swill that Is put into the /
trough that belongs 20 the other plgsl I |
have 10 thrash him about every day in |
order 10 give the others a chance for /
existence. and that's what Uncle Sam |
Will be compelled TO do before long II (
this class OF men that you speak OF keep
pn trying TO gobble up everything there
II In tho commercial trough. and then.
After they've apparently got their fill go
70 work and stick their hoofs In 50 that |
nobody else can get n chance OF what's
left"
now" says the Deacon, you're maxi
ins odious comparisons."
Nothing odious about g." says Tolera-
tion. simple illustrations OF truth. that's
df. Now Deacon. n you had said these
men were smart. keen fellows that
would have been different They are
bright and have got a good deal of