Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-02-02
CHAPTER XII.
PRIDE AND SIMPLICITY IN THE INTER
COURSE OF MEN.

CdAPIEh All.
PRIDE AND SIMPLICITY IN THE INTER
COURSE OF MEN.
VT would perhaps be difficult to find
a more convincing example than
pride to show that the obstacles to
= a 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 simplif1ed 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 manifesto
hons OF their destinies, which embroil
men. If such We're 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 hinders
men from good understanding Is pride.
1t makes man hedgehog. woundlng
every one he touches. Let us speak
first Of the pride Of the great.
What offends me I'm 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 great fortune does
not disturb me, unless | am badly dis
posed. But that he spiashes me with
mud, drives over my body, shows by
his whole attitude that l 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 hui
initiates and insults me sFatuitously.
1t is not what is vulgar within me. but
what Is poblest, that asserts itself In
the face of this offensive pride. Do
not accuse me OF envy. / feel none.
1t 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
djctum IN his eyes.
In certain communities devoted to
material interests the pride OF wealth
dominates to such degree that men
are quoted like values in the stock
market. The esteem in which man
is held Is proportlonate 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 RACES from the summit to
the base Such an atmosphere In ready
to perfection for the nurture Of the
worst feeling, Yet 1t is not wealth,
but tho spirit Of the wealthy, that
must be arraigned.
Many rich men are FREQ from this
gross onception-especially Is this
true of those who from father to son
are accustomed to ease-yet they some
times forget that there Is certain del
icacy in not making contrasts too
marked. Suppose there Is no wrong
h enjoying a large supernuity, Is 1t
Indispensable 70 display It, to wound
| the eyes OF those who lack necessities.
20 naunt ones magnifcence at the
doors OF poverty? Good taste and q
sort of modesty always hinder q well
man from talking OF his fine appetite,
his sound sleep, his exuberance of spir-
| ,ts, In the presence of one dying OF
| consumption. Many of the rich do not
exercise this tact and so are greatly
| wanting I'm pity and discretion. Are
| they not unreasonable to complain OF
envy after having done everything to
provoke 1t?
But the greatest lack IL that want of
assortment which leads men to ground
| their pride in their fortune To begin
with, 1t Is childish confusion of
| thought TO consider wealth as person
| nj quality. 1t would be hard to find
| a more ingenious fashion OF deceiylng
| oneself as to the relative value Of the
coutainer and the thing contained. !
/ nave HO WISH VI uWCit oi liiAo A0N9AApi
1t is too painful And get one cannot
| psist saying to those concerned: Take
| barc; do not confound what you possess
| With what you are. Go learn to know
The underside OF worldly splendor,
| that you may feel Its moral misery and
its puerility." The traps pride sets
Tor us are too ridiculous. We should
distrust association with thing that
makes us hateful to our no!ghbors and
robs us of clearness OF vision.
He who yields 10 the pride Of riches
| forgets this other point, the most Inn
portant OF all, that possession Is pub
| lie trust. Without doubt Individual
| wealth is as legitimate as individual
| existence and liberty. These things
are lnseparable, and 1t Is dream
pregnant with dangers that offers bat
| tie TO such fundamentals OF life. But
| the Individual touches society at every
| point, and all he does should be dono
| with the whole In view. Possession.
then, Is less II privilege OF which to be
| proud than charge whose gravity
should DO felt As there Is an appren-
| ticeship, often very difficult to serve,
| for the exercise OF every social Office, 80
this profession we call wealth demands
an apprenticeship. To know how to
be rich is an art, and one OF the least
| easy OF arts to master. Most people.
rich and poor alike, Imagine that In
opulence one has nothing to do but to
take life easy. That is why 80 few
men know how to be rich. In the hands
OF too many wealth, according to the
genial and redoubtable comparison of
Luther, is like n harp In the hoofs of
! an ass. They have no idea of the man.
ner of It's use.
So when we encounter man ut once
! rich and slmple-that IN TO say, who
considers his wealth as means OF full
filling his mission In the world--we
| should offer him our homage, for he IL
surely mark worthy. He has sur
mounted obstacles. borne trials and trl-
umphed In temptations. both gross and
subtle. He does not fall 10 discrimi-
nate between the contents OF his pock-
etbook ana the contents Of his head or
heart, and he docS not estimate his
fellow men In figures. His exceptional
position, Instead OF exaltlng him.
pakes him humble, for he is very sen