Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-09-30
THE GOOD FELLOW.
Valuable Advice to Young Men
Packed in Few Words.
Indiana nOIIs Nauya


In his little talks to the people-as he
might call them-John d. Rockefeller has
said a good many interesting and valuable
things; nothing ranking higher in both
qualities than that in which he said, speak
ing to young men-he generally speaks to
young men-'Dont be a good fellow" II
is doubtful II more valuable advice to
young men was ever packed into fewer
words. 1t is OF equal value to men at all
times of life, but its additional value to
young men is that at their stage OF devel-
opment the generous instincts outrun dis
cretion Like puppies they think every
body is kind and honest and they are ready
to make friends on sight. The perversion
of this fine impulse is to be good fell
low" This is to give rein to a virtue
until It becomes an amiable weakness, and
thence degonerates into a vice, the center
of which is the grossest selfishness Sell
fishness is the rich bed and muck heap in
which most II not all forms OF sin have
their root. A peculiar danger OF the sin
of the good fellow is it's unusual quality
OF self-deception. 1t lulls it's victims into
the belief that he is really very noble,
broad. unpreJudiced, democratic, generous,
no stingy, old self-centered curmudEeon
who denies himself. and perforce everyone
else. this that and another thing And
that is just II; there is the fatal assump-
tlon that undermines the whole foundation
of character.
In one OF his plays Bernard Shaw pic
lures hell as a place where everyone is
a good fellow" Every want and wish IL
gratifed; more than, mo sooner said than
done" II is, no sooner wished than con-
summated. The result is hell" indeed
The utter safety, the awful soul-slckness
that comes from this wallow OF self-lndul-
gepce makes indeed 1.-The smoke OF torment
| that ascendeth forever" Heaven, on the
other hand, he pictures as place where
will rules, where choice is exercised. where
| there is attainment. Whatever be thought
| OF this. II is certain that the light that
| lighteth every man that cometh into the
world" shows that this earthly life means
denial. subsection, discipline. the substi-
| tuition OF will for desire. and that there is
no happiness without II. And as Pastor
Wagner said in one OF his sermons in the
! News this effort is constant; one that can
never rest on victory-or. rather, in which
there never is victory. There is no place
or time where one may cease rowing-to
use a familiar simile--and drift The cur
rent is constant and life consists in max
ing head. AS soon as we cease this we
4 cease to live.
Now Mr.. Rockefeller's warning against
being a good fellow" cuts TO the very
core OF all this; touches the handspring
and vital principle OF all life. Being a
good fellow" is simply the envelope OF
circumstances that surrounds everyone In
his daily relation to the world OF little
things-whieh means life. Myron Reed
said Life is just simply doing common
chores there is so much going TO bed, 80
much getting up ana so much making a
| living" Thus this existence fraught with
eternity addresses itself and appeals at
FIRST sight. II It begulles into being a
good fellow good fellowship is some
what differently, II starts ths blight that
will in time 0yerspread all the growth OF
lihA