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

''the shining mark" "the key that opens all doors," "'lxing money" = if one gathered up all the sayings about the glory and power of gold be could make a litany longer than that which Is ehanted in honor of the Virgin. You must be without a penny, if only for day or two. and try to live in this world of ours, to have any idea of the needs of him whose purse is empty.
 Invite those who love contrasts and unforeseen situations to attempt to live without money three days and far from their friends and acquaintances- in short, far from the society in which they are somebody. They will gain more experience in forty-eight hours than in a year otherwise. Alas for some peopIel They have this expert ence thrust upon them, and when veri- table ruin descends around their heads it is useless to remain in their own country, among the companions of their youth, their former colleagues, even those indebted to them. People affect to know them no longer. With what bitterness do they comment on the creed Of money! With gold one may have what he will; without 1t, im- possible to have anything. They be- come pariahs, lepers, whom every one shuns. Flies swarm round cadavers, men round gold. Take away the gold, nobody is there. Oh, it has caused tears to flow, this creed of gain-bitter tears, tears of blood, even from those very eyes which once adored the gold en calf
 And, with 1t all, this creed is false, quite false. shall not advance to the attack with hackneyed tales of the rich man astray in a desert who can not get even a drop of water for his gold, or the decrepit millionaire who would give half he has to buy from a stalwart fellow without a cent his twenty years and his lusty health; no more shall I attempt to prove that one cannot buy happiness. So many peo- pie who have money and so many more who have not would smile at this truth as the hardest ridden of saws. But I shall appeal to the common experience of each of you, to make you put your finger on the clumsy lie hidden beneath an axiom that all the world goes about repeating.
 Fill your purse to the best of your means and let us set out for one of the watering places of which there are so many-I mean some little town for merly unknown and full of simple folk, respectful and hospitable. among whom it was good to be, and cost little. Fame nounced them to the world and shown them how they can profit from their situation, their climate, their person ality. You start out on the faith of Dame Rumor, flattering yourself that with your money you are going to find a quiet place to rest and, far from the world of civilization and convention, weave a bit of poetry into the warp of your days.
 The beginning is good. Natures set ting and some patriarchal costumes, slow to disappear, delight you. But as time passes the impression is spoil ed. The reverse side of things begins to show. This which you thought was as true antique as family heirlooms is naught but trickery to mystify the credulous. Everything is labeled; all is for sale, from the earth to the in- habitanas. These primitives have be- come the most consummate of sharp o-a rfx,on r~1,r y,,onov fbav huua ra solved the problem of getting it with the least expense to themselves. On all sides are nets and traps, like spider webs, and the fly that this gentry lies snugly in wait for is you. This Is what twenty or thirty years of venali- ty has done for population once sim pie and honest whose contact was grateful indeed to men worn by city life. Homemade bread has disappear cd, butter comes from the dealer, they know to an art how to skim milk and adulterate wine; they have all the vices of dwellers in cities without their vir- tues.
 As you leave you count your money. So much Is wanting that you make complaint You are wrong. One never pays too dear for the conviction that there are things which money will not buy,
 You have need in your house of an intelligent and competent servant At ten 7t to find this rara avis. According to the principle that with money one may get anything, you ought. as the position you offer is inferior, ordinary, good or exceptional, to find servants unslziIled, average. excellent, superior But all those who present themselves for the vacant post are listed in the last category and are fortified with certificates to support their preten- sions. It is true that nine times out of ten when put to the test these experts are found totally wanting. Then why did they engage themselves with you? They ought in truth to reply as does the cook in the comedy, who is dearly paid and proves to know nothing:
 Why did you hire out as cordon blsu7
 It was to get bigger commissions.
 That is the great affair. You will always find people who like to get big wages. More rarely you find capabil- ity, And if you are looking for pro pity the difficulty increases. Mercena- ries may be had for the asking; faith fulness is another thing. Ear be 1t from me to deny the existence of faithful servants, at once intelligent and up- right. But you will encounter as many, if not more. among the i'll paid