The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-07
"The Simple Life, "
BY pastor Charles Wagrer.

nv
BY pastor Charles Wa9ner.
Copyright, 1904 by ]. S. Olsilvie Pub Co.
New York. and published by arrangement with
them.
Pride and Simplicity In Social Re-
latiOns.
1t would. perhaps, be difficult to prove
subject better qualified than pride to prove
that the obstacles to a better life, stron-
ger and more peaceful, are more in our
selves than in circumstances. The diversity
and. above all, tho contrast Of social Sit
uations. inevitably cause all sorts Of con-
iicts to surge upon US. But how many of
these relations between members Of the
same society would not be. In spite Of all.
simplified IL we put another spirit In the
frame traced In external necessities! Let
us be- well persuaded that it Is not after
all the difference in classes. functions. the
50 dissimilar forms of our deStinies, which
embroil men. If that were the case we
should see an idyfic peace reign between
colleagues. comrades. and all men with
analogous interests and similar destiny.
Every one knows. on the contrary, that
the bitterest quarrelS are those which
arise among similar beings. and that
there Is no war worse than civil war. But
what hinders men from living in accord is,
before all. pride. Pride makes man
like a hedgehog. which cannot touch
anyone without wounding him. Let US
speak first of the pride of the great ones.
What displeases me in the rich man
who passes in his carriage Is not his
equipage, nor his toilet, nor the number
and swiftness of his domestic service. 1t
is his scorn. That he has great fortune
does not wound me unless have hate
fm disposition. but that he throws mud on
me, rides over my body. shows in his
whole attitude that l count for nothing
in his eyes because 1 am not rich like
him; that is where 1 feel the hurt, and
With good reason. He imposes suffer
iES upon me, and after all q suffering
quite useless. He insults me and humili-
ates mo gratuitously. It Is not what is
vulgar in him. but what there is noblest
in me, which rises in face of that wound
ing pride. Do not accuse me of envy, for
Is touched. 1t is useless to seek far to
illustrate ones Impressions. All men who
have seen life have had many experiences
which will justify our words In their eyes.
In certain centers devoted to material in
teressts. pride of wealth dominates to such
point that men quote each other as
they quote values on the exchange. Es-
tcem Is measured according to the con-
tents OF the strong-box. Good society is
composed of big fortunes; the middle class
lesser fortunes. Then come the people of
little means. and those of nothing. On
all occasions they act upon that principle.
And he. who. relatively rich. has shown
his disdain for those less opulent than
himself, Is watered. in his turn. with the
disdain Of his superiors in fortune Thus
the, rage Of comparison saps from summit
to foundation Such center is as though
prepared to order for the cultivation of
the worst sentiments; but it is not the
riches, it is the spirit they put into them
that we should accuse. Some rich men
have not that coarse conception-above
all. those who. from father to son, are
accustomed to ease But they forget that
there Is certain delicacy in not causing
the contrasts to be too marked Suppos-
ING that there is no harm In the enjoy
ment OF great superfluity. Is it indis-
pensable to spread out this superfiuity, to
shock the eyes of those who have not the
necessaries. and to aff1x this luxury close
to poverty? Good taste and sort of mod
esty will always hinder a portly man from
speaking of his vigorous appetite his
mo- 81, ,tSar hi,
the side of someone who is fading away
with consumption. Many rich men lack
tact, and sometimes by that they lack
even pity and prudence. Are they not
from tflen on badly inspired I'm complain
Ing Of the envy of others. after having
done all in their power to provoke it?
But what they lack most is discernment,
when they put their pride In their
fortune, or when they let them
selves drift unconsciously with the seduc-
tions Of luxury. Firstly. it is to fall into
a puerile, confusion to consider riches
personal quality. One could not mistake,
In a fashion more simple, between the
reciprocal value OF the envelope and It's
contents, do not wish to bear too heavi-
ly on that question: 1t Is too painful.
And, yet, can one hinder onself from say
ing to those Interested: Take care; do
not confound what you possess with what
you are. Learn the seamy side of the
splendors Of the world, that you may see
the childishness and moral misery Of them
more forcibly- Pride in truth lays traps
too ridiculous for us. We must suspect
companion which makes US hateful to
our neighbor and causes US to lose our
clearness of vision?
Those who deliver themselves up to the
pride Of wealth forget another point-and
the most important Of all-which IS. that
to possess is a social function Without
doubt. individual property is as legitimate
and as his liberty. Those two things are
inseparable, and it Is an Utopia. full of
dangers. to attack such elementary bases
Of all life. But the individual belongs to
should be done in view OF the whole. 10
posSasS iS therafnre less Of r,xiS,ilace