The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-04-14

When girl has wheels she almost
invariably has penchant for spinning
yarns.
In looking over the latest number of
The Refo7nnatory Pillar l noticed
April printed in calendar form and the
first of the month was on Wednesday.
The compositor evidently was trying
to beat time out of about two days and
fraction.
1t is amusing to note the great
amount of moralizing that gets into
print for the sole benefit of the million
aire. He is depicted as hypocritical
monster. And why? Just because he,
saw an opporI unity to acquire wealth
and seized il. There are narrOw-mlnd-
ed people who cannot bear to see 9TH
ers secure that which they themselves
cannot get, and who are ever ready to
accuse the rich of all things mentiona-
BILE and unmentionable simply because
of their affiuence. The man who has
succeeded in stacking up a few thous-
ands and has placed himself on COM
Portable plane does not waste his time
or breath in deplOring the business
methods of him who can count his mil
lions. He is satisfied; and with salts
faction comes content. But the indi-
vidual who is dissatisfied because the
millionaire has what he himself can
never hope to possess, broods until he
becomes a veritable misanthropist.
When the sinner who has acquired
wealth settles down to enjoy his mill
lions and buys steam-yachtsSa utOmo-
biles, etc, for the pleasure of himself
and his friends we hear naught but a.
suppressed murmur. But let the mil
lionaire offer few thousands for some
charitable enterprise and the howl be-
comes one prolonged cry of "hypocrite."
Then the small fry indulge in mod,
ern repetition of the parable of the
widow and her mite. Then it is that
the millionaire ought to be ashamed of
being millionaire. A writer in one
of these columns said recently: "They
use charity as perfume to put down.
an unpleasant odor. These men give
to the church and to charity in the
hope that it will counterfeit the evil
aroma of unprincipled methods in their
daily life."
What authority the writer of this
statement had for making such broad
assertion is beyond me. No matter
what the methods of man in business
may have been we have no right to-
judge the state of that PERSONS mind
or his intentions when he gives to char
ity. He may be just as sincere in Civ
ing $4,000 as the poor is in giving a
nickel. But regardless of his object in,
building orphan asylums and other
charitable institutions, he is doing an
act that is more beneficial to the pub.
lie than thousands of poor labOrers can
possibly do with their nickels. He is
not compelled to give to charity; he
can keep his money and spend it for
his own especial edifcation. And
when he donates few thousands to
some charitable enterprise we are.
bound to admit that it is going to ben
eft others more than himself. The
poor man who gives a nickel may be
more sincere, but when we cut senti-
ment out we must admit that the ma
terial benefits of the millionaire in
comparison are inestimable. An &C
quaintance once tolG me of an instance
that happened to him when be was on
his uppers, and which l think illus
trates this case to queens taste. In
his own words: 81 was in good sized
burg out West without money. was
so famished my stomach was falling
out. l decided to beg the price of a.
meal. stood on the corner and when
l saw a fellow whose face looked good
to me told him my little story. I got
turned down several times. One man,
whom [ stopped said, and in sincerity
too, My poor fellow. am sorry can't
help you, but l haven't cent and Pm,
hungry myself [ felt sorry for him
seeing that he wasn't used to being
hard up. But his sympathy didn't ap--
pease my hunger. At last 1 stopped a.
fellow who was slightly under the.
weather, and repeated my formula. He
looked at me quizzically, and laughed.
He pulled out half-dollar and gave it
to me saying, Here, you d bum, is
four bits. won today and 1 can afford
to treat. Go feed your face.' You can