The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-04
CHAPTER XII.


 PRIDE AND SIMPLICITY IN THE INTER
 COURSE OF MEN.
 TT would perhaps be difficult to find
 a more convincing example than
 pride to show that the obstacles to A q better, stronger. serener life are rather in us than in circumstances. The diversity and, more than that, the contrasts in social conditions give rise inevitably to all sorts of conflicts. Yet, in spite of this, how greatly would social relations be simplified if we put another spirit into mapping out our plan of outward necessities! Be well persuaded that it Is not primarily diff ferences of class and occupation, diff ferences in the outward manifesta- tions of their destinies, which embroil men, If such were the case we should find an idyllic peace reigning among colleagues and all those whose inter ests and lot are virtually equivalent. On the contrary, as every one knows, the most violent shocks come when equal meets equal, and there is no war worse than civil war, But that which above all things else flinders men from good understanding is pride. It makes a man a hedgehog, wounding every one he touches. Let us speak first of the pride of the great.
 What offends me in this rich man passing in his carriage is not his equi- page, his dress or the number and splen- dor of his retinue 1t is his contempt. That he possesses a great fortune does not disturb me, unless I am badly dis posed. But that he splashes me with mud, drives over my body, shows by his whole attitude that I count for nothing in his eyes because 1 am not rich, like himself-this is what dis turbs me, and righteously. He heaps suffering upon me needlessly. He hu- initiates and insults me gratuitously. Tt is not what Is vulgar within me- but what is noblest, that asserts itself in the face of this offensive pride. Do not accuse me of envy. l feel none. It is my manhood that is wounded. We need not search far to illustrate these ideas. Every man of any ac- quaintance with life has had numerous experiences which will justify our dictum in his eyes.
 In certain communities devoted to material interests the pride of wealth dominates to such a degree that men are quoted like values in the stock market The esteem in which a man is held is proportionate to the contents of his strong box. Here society" is made up of big fortunes. the middle class of medium fortunes. Then come people who have little, then those who have nothing All intercourse is regu- lated by this principle. And the rela- lively rich man who has shown his disdain for those less opulent Is crush ed in turn by the contempt of his su- periors in fortune. So the madness of comparison rages from the summit to the base. Such an atmosphere is ready to perfection for the nurture of the worst feeling. Yet 1t is not wealth, but the spirit of the wealthy, that must be arraigned.
 Many rich men are free from this gross conception-especially Is this true of those who from father to son HTt dSCuStOliCeA to CooC VI ehNJ oOha~ times forget that there is a certain del icacy in not making contrasts too marked. Suppose there is no wrong in enjoying a large superfiuity, is it indispensable to display it, to wound the eyes of those who lack necessities. to Haunt ones magnifcence at the doors of poverty? Good taste and sort of modesty always hinder well man from talking of his fine appetite, his sound sleep, his exuberance of spir- its, in the presence of one dying of consumption. Many of the rich do not exercise this tact and so are greatly wanting in pity and discretion. Are they not unreasonable to complain of envy after having done everything to provoke it?
 But the greatest lack is that want of discernment which leads men to ground their pride in their fortune To begin with, it is childish confusion of thought to consider wealth as a person. al quality. It would be hard to find a more ingenious fashion of deceiving oneself as to the relative value of the container and the thing contained. have no wish to dwell on this question. It is too painful. And yet one cannot