The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-06-10
GLAMOUR, OF WEALTH.


Dear old Toni Again is he Gliding me for my
garruous optimism and "eccentricities." He tells
me that with all my assumed lofty dsdan for
vulgar riches" he notices that but little less
prone to 'pander' to the rich than is the aver
age American citizen.
As Tom, with all his penchant for the disagree
able role of self-consttuted censor is really dis
posed to be honest in his every utterance and Is,
witha, keen and shrewd observer of men and
events-it is, indeed, these sterling qualities that
endear the boorish chap to all honest men, spite
of his boOrshness-his criticism has set me to
thinking; and shame-facedly must l confess that
| am forced to suspect that his observations. in
this instance, not without their moiety of just
ifcation.
Now, [ ask, how account for the mighty potency
of the glamour that accompanies the mere posses
sion of wealth-so potent that even so inveteratc
CONTENDER of vulgar rches'a myself is unable to
withstand it And | must frankly admit, because
of my public professions of adherence of all
subterfuge conscious evasion of the exact truth
that the rich are, to my nd-subconsciously as
it were, and despite my world philosophy to the
contrary eyeoped by atmosphere of alto
gether finer texture than that breathed by ordi-
nary-less fortunate-mortals.
All in vain do | seek for satisfactory solution
of this vexing and poignantly humiliating prob
lem: for what in sooth be more humiliating
to one of my ideality-inclined temperament than
the suspicion-nav. the conviction!- that he in
~
for the most, all unconsciously-to pay homage to
mere, ignoble riches!
Ny intellectual nominations lead me- however,
into maze of more-or-less curious and interesting
speculation follows:
Is it. | solicitously ask myself. but natural
and altogether reasonable inclination to pay due
tribute to uncommon refinement and nobility of
manners! Be 1t remembered that the world-re-
nowned Emmerson, with all his spirituality-that
peculiar brand of soul-loftiness yclept Trans
cendentalism; with all his lofty disdain for aught
that is merely accidental and transitory with all his
loyal devotion to the higher andm more subtle reali-
ties of the Nature-God-the 'over-soul" and that
sort of thing-nevertheless pays the most glowing
tribute to Manners" 1t cannot therefore, be ig-
noble in any one to do homage to noble manners
under whatever circumstances and environment
they may be encountered.
If | should be reminded that the rich are not
necessarily in possession of a monopoly on charm
ngness of manners l might justly retort that it is
at least more common among them than among
the mass of mankind and that [ am therefore
justified in suspecting it's presence whenever en-
counter one of the Glass; and that, therefore, my
"subconscous" homage is in reality but due hom-
age paid a noble entity" that is duly recognized
and justified by the Transcendenta Emmerson
and hence, that [ am not to be accused of ignobe-
ness of character-on this score at least.
But when | earnestly consult with nv inner
most consciousness, | am forced to conclude that
the foregoing solution of the problem that [ am
fondly mootng does not really solve anything
then ask myself Is it, forsooth because this
gnobe idolatry of wealth is so all-pervading that
unconsciously imbibes it with the very air he
breathes-the moral and mental atmosphere which
constitutes his daily environment-so that his
moral constitution becomes impregnated with the
loathsome virus in spite of his higher and better
nature is it, in reality because he is, necessarily
controlled, in common with all his race by En-
mersons 'Over-SouF and finding himself in Rome.
must perforce, howl with the Romans? And this
las reflection invariably restores me to my habit
Us serious mood, and l conclude as follows:
If each and every integral part of the human
race must, in the very nature of things be domi-
mated by the ideas and ideals that dominate the
race whole, does it not behoove each and
every Individual, who may be conscious that the
ideas and ideals that commonly animate society
gnoble and base, to earnestly exercise his more
or-less eficacious influence to elevate them? If.
to be swayed by the glamour of riches is to yiol5
to base and ignobe impulse-and no nobly ra
tional being, in his saner moods will, take # be
disposed to deny that this is undoubtedly severe
it not well to labor to effectually disspate this
miasmatic glamour? And how labor to this end2
By once more causing to prevail the Christian
ideals, with all their primeva vgor and verilityi
1T is as easy for camel to pass through the