Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1904-07-16

California, where to return to the-Old
home is to go to "thc states" phrase
that recalls the once tremendous gap
between the old western frontier in
Iowa and Missouri and the scattered
fringe of civilization along the Pa
cific. "Out vest to the New Eng.
lander, going east" to the Denver
visitor to Omaha, 1.-THE states" to the
Californian. all are survivals of
time when there were localities with
actual differences that justified the
phrases. but are nearly outworn now.
We have reached the point where
some of the phrases have become alb.
surd and others have nearly lost their
meaning. II Is time to begin to cult.
vate the habit of mere relatively as to
points of the compass in country
rapidly crystallizing into homogeneity.
Foreign critics frequently declare
that Americans are living at too high
a pressure, that they have a strained.
nervous expression. take life too seri-
Ously and have 10 time to converse
and enjoy themselves. Now, Is not
the exact opposite of this the actual
case? Look ut the biographical sketch
es In magazines and newspapers of
the most successful men and are they
not all longer-lived than their doctors?
Are not the captains Of industry. all
we'll along In years. still in harness.
hale and hearty and travelling about
the country attending to tremendous
amount Of business? Why is not
overwork killing them Off? Simply
because with all their business cares
they are shrewdly dividing their time
In such manner that they have SUI.
ficient TO spare In which to look after
the preservation Of their health.
~
Since some Of our very rich men
lave taken to public discourse upon all
sorts Of matters their uttednces have
somewhat diminished their reputati ton
for infallible wisdom. 1t has been dis
covered that man may possess great
wealth and still fail Of complete mas.
terry Of the science Of government or
the principles of political economy.
Nay. Y Ii evident that such man may
not even prove reliable guide to the
inquirer who seeks for the road to
wealth. One Of the most didactic Of
our vivaclOus milliOnaires has recently
declared that riches are within the
reach Of every man who wishes to be
rich. He asserts that theres are but
two requisites for the acquisition of
wealth--mOderate intelligence and I'M
limited industry. Given these. he de.
clares that any man can get rich.
Which is, of course. entirely false and
misleading, even though II comes from
a gentleman who has piled up great
wealth and Is now engaged In plling
up free libraries. Everyone knows
Of men highly intelligent and thorough
~ industrious who can scarcely make
n living. 1t Is true that intelligence
and industry are qualities favorable tn
the attainment of wealth. but IL Is not
true that the possession of those quail.
tiles. even In the highest degree. con.
stitutes any assurance Of riches. The
money -making faculty Is thing apart
from other natural endOwments. An
ignorant, illlterate man who possesses
1t will get rich, and intellectual genius
without 1t will remain poor all his life
Like gift for music. 1t can be cult
waited. but 1t cannot he acquired. The
sayings Of our lOquaciOus mllliOnaires
like the aphOrisms In the cOpybOOks
will not always bear analysis. In the
present instance the falsity Of the prop
Osition Is evident to everybody. since
Il vast majority Of the people, though
they are intelligent and hard working
never acquire SO much as a modest
competence, let alone wealth.
George Thompson, who has spen
twenty-five years of his hfty.nIne II
prison. says there Is SO little real hu
mainly and so much real hypocrisy II
the world that man who Is once
crook Is doomed always to be a crook
He walked into New York barbe
shop and stole six razOrs. He wa
caught He was anxious to be caught
he said. for he was hungry and cOul'
not find work. After he had completes
his last term In prison he determines
to be honest. He secured half dOxel
Jobs In succession. In every instanc
somebody discovered that he had
prison record and denounced him. an,
he was driven to his old trade, for onl
ut the Jail was there a welcome. Tina
Is his story. The usual thing In cas-
like this would be to denOunce human
J ity for Its heartlessness ana Its mere
less manner Of keeping a man dow
once he is down. Facts ana figure
are against the sweeping conclusion
of this confirmed crook. Every da
the doors of u thousand prisons ope
to release one or more men who hav
completed their punishment. DO all G
them, or even great part Of then
return to criminal ways? If they d.
then our system OF punishment Is
complete failure. But they do no
: There are thousands of men who hay
! served terms In prison cells who N
to-day respected and useful citizen
They reformed. ana were so SINGER
D and conscientious In their refOrmatlo
: that society forgave them. and the
found place to labor ana live. "Ont
! a crook. always crook" Is the cry {
) one lacking the elements of true MAJ
: hood. The fact that George ThOmpso