The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-13
"The Struggle for wealth."

Last sunday the olC time custom OF
preaching the baccalaureate sermon, or
sermon to the graduating class. was
observed at many of our colleges and
universities. Until within recent years
the college president was almost in
varably clergyman and on him usually
devolved the preaching Of the bacca-
laureate sermon, which in some cases
was preserved in collections of notable
pulpit eloquence.
One of those institutions in which the
baocalaureate sermon was always a
feature of great prominence was Prince
ton University. Famous discourses to
the Princeton graduating classes at
commencement time have been preached;
but not until the first lay president of
Princeton was indicted into office, DR..
WOODROW WILSON, was the function as
sumed by layman. Last year President
WILSON preached the baccaaureate
sermon and last Sunday he again per-
formed the office of moral and religious
monitor to the graduating class.
1t is true, as he said, that never were
educated men so much needed as now, and
perhaps we may accept his rather loose
development and simplifcaton of the
mind by perfect adjustment to its
uses and to its environment The
reason he gave why such men are espe-
cially needed at this period, that "the
modern struggle for wealth is more like
thon riybt fun
ton of health" is open to question.
Is the struggle for wealth now more
consuming than it used to be? In
doubleday the prizes ohtainable are far
richer than formerly. Wealth as it was
regarded in this country fifty years, or
even twenty-five years ago. was small
as measured by the fortunes accumu-
lated to-day. Houses looked on then
as palatial edifces are modest abodes
as compared with the magnificent and
sumptuous residences in town and coun-
try now demanded by the very rich.
Family expenditures then viewed as
extravagant were relatively paltry.
Business structures then recently con-
structed and regarded az permanent
and splendid monuments of financial and
commercial wealth and enterprise are
ruthlessly torn down RS if they were
shantes, and replaced by vastly cost
lier skyscrapers. But has all this indi-
Gated any more consuming fever" in the
struggle for wealth?
Actually, was not the struggle harder
in the earlier time, because Of the greater
difficulties in the path to the goal? In
many ways men worked more tirelessly
fifty years ago than they do now. They
were not less eager in the chase for
money. They started earlier and kept
it up later. The eight-hour day was not
yet introduced. Instead of having resi-
dences at two or three different places
in the country, mon OF wealth, as wealth
was accounted at that time, contented
themselves with few weeks vacation
from town in the dog days, and usually
they put up at some seaside or noun
tain hotel in democratic fashion. They
had few diversions; outdoor sports were
almost unknown to them. The credit of
a bank president or of merchant Of
consequence would have suffered griev-
ously if he had appeared in golfing cos
tame, for example, or if he had been
seen speeding horses. Ifhe had put up
house to live in like the residences now
deemed necessary to comport with the
dignity of op'.lence, the holders of hin
obligations would have trembled, or at
least he would have been pitied for the
loss Of his wits.
In those days close and undivided at
tcntion to business was required of
everybody no matter how rich he might |
be relatively. II he lived plainly and |
dressed rather stability, so much the
better. Uncle RUSSELL SAGE is very
fair type of the man Of wealth Of that
time. He sticks to business and fritters
away no time on golf or bridge or auto
MODELLING. He builds no palaces to live in. |
He makes his old clothes do. Frugal
fare satisfies him; yet has not the fever Of |