The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-03-09
A DELUHION.
Why Great Wealth 50 Often Fails 10
Bring Happiness.

Though many people, who Dc not
think very deeply, always have been
prone to combine the idea Of great
wealth with happiness, the less super
fetal at all times have realized that
rich man is not necessarily happy
! one.
ln the fables Of ell nations we find
stories dealing with the anxiety Of the
rich man that he might be deprived
OF his wealth, how he trembles at the
thought of robbers and burglars, which
his Imagination makes him see every
where.
TO be true, this kind of fear and
anxiety was of very primitive ma
turc and is unknown to the rich of to.
day.
And still even the rich man Of to.
day, in spite Of safes and banks aud
steel vaults, has his fears and anxiety
and to be sure Of keeping what, he
possesses or even add to it he must
possess personal qualities which are
not given to every one.
The person who is unable TO follow
economical and political events and
arrange his holdings accord: ,.ly must
go backward and at last lose his
| wealth, no matter how his 4, .,,pe ia
invested
1t is by no means tatad ,2 or an
exaggeration to say that, after all, no
investment is absolutely safe.
Government bonds may be convert.
ed and pay less interest, and in case
Of war and revolutions lose all value.
Municipal and railroad bonds, and
still more, all kinds of industrial
stocks or stocks in banks, derive their
value mainly from the ability of the
managers of these concerns.
Even real estate in city or country
may decrease in value from political
or other reasons.
The rich man who can or will do
nothing more than cut coupons or
collect interest must always suffer by
the idea that something may happen
to make him less rich or even poor.
know of many rich people whom
this fear makes exceedingly unhappy,
who live in continuous dread of Social
lists and other advocates of social re-
forms, and who for this reason be-
come prey for the advocates of re-
action, of politicians who play upon
their fear as upon musical instru-
ment.
Others, and am glad to say quite
a large number of rich people, have
arrived at the conclusion that they
owe their wealth to society, and that
for this reason they have duties to
society, duties which some think chat
they can fulfill by magnificent charity
on large scale; others in actual social
and political activity.
Here is where the personality comes
in.
The rich man who breads or is in
capable of every effort and RESPONSE
bility is always under the spell of
fear of what might happen in the fu-
ture.
In later years it is rather surprising
to notice the number of rich people
who have recognized the teachings
and doctrines Of socialism, and we
have no right to doubt their sincerity
even if they have not made the step
in full and given up their wealth for
the benefit Of their fo!low-men.
They are either like tho man who
sets fire to the grass around his house
when he sees prairie FIRE coming, or
like man who jumps in the water
that he may not be soaked by threat
ening shower.
1t may be considered fact that
the possession of wealth carries with
it certain amount Of uneasiness and
anxiety, and the question is then this:
Does the possession Of riches carry
with it sufficient enjoyment to ooun-
terbalance this anxiety?
This is by no means certain; it is
hardly even probable.
In the first place, what is riches? |
Who is rich man? The primitive
definition is this: The man is rich
who possesses more than he really
needs. This sounds simple enough,
but what does man need; what are
the neeessaries Of life?
Also this question suggests ready
answer.
The neoessar;ao nc l;fo oo,.;,. e -,