Mexico Missouri message., 1905-04-20
CHAPTER XII.

PRIDE AND SIMPLICITY IN THE INTER
COURSE OF MEN.
TT would perhaps he difficult to find
more convincing example than
pride TO show that the obstacles to
\ better, stronger scrCncr 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 bc simplifcd if we put
another spirit into mapping out our
plan Of outward necessities! BE we'll
persuaded that it Is not primarily diff
ferences of class and occupation. diff.
fercnccs in the outward manifesto
tiOns Of their destinies, which cmbroil
men. If such were the case, we should
find an idyllic peace rcigning among
colleagues and all those whose inter
Csts and lot are virtually equivalent.
On the contrary, as every one knows,
the most violent shocks come when
equal meets equnl, and there is no
war worse than civil war. But that
which above all things else binders
men from good understanding is pride.
1t makes a man II hedgehog, wOunding
every one he touches. Let us speak
first of The pride Of the great.
What Ofrends me in this rich man
passing in his carriage is not his eQui-
page his dress or the number and splen-
dor Of his retinuc. 1t is his contempt
That he possesses great fortune does
not disturb me, unless / am badly dis
posed. But that lie splashes me with
mud, drives over my body, shows by
his whole attitude that l count for
nothing in his eyes because l am not
rich, like himself-this Is what dis
turhs me, and rightGously. He heaps
suffering upon me nCCdeSsly. He hut
initiates and insults me grntuitOusly.
1t Is not what is vulgar within me, but
what is noblcst, that asserts itself in
the face Of this offensive pride. Do
not accuse me Of envy. I feel none.
1t is my manhood that is wounded.
We need not search far to illustrate
these ideas. Every man of any ac-
qualntance with life has had numerous
experiences which will justify our
dlctum In his eyes.
In certain communities devoted to
material interests the pride of wealth
dominates to such Il degree that men
are quoted like values in the stock
market. The esteem in which a man
is held is propOrtionate 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
dlsdOin for those less Opuent is crush
ed in turn by the contempt of his SUI
perlors in fortune. So the madness of
comparison RACES from the summit to
the base. Such an atmosphere is ready
to perfection for the nurture of the
worst feeling. Yet it is not wealth,
but the spirit of the wealthy, that
must be arraigned.
Many rich men are free from this
gross nceptlOn-especially is this
true of those who from father to son
are accustomed to ease-yet they some
times forget that there is n certain del
icacy in not making contrasts too
marked. Suppose there is no wrong
in enjoying a large superaulty, is it
indispensable TO display IT, TO wound
the eyes of those who lack necessities,
to haunt ones magnifcence at the
doors Of poverty? Good taste and q
sort Of mOdesty always hinder a well
man from talking Of his fine appetite,
his sound sleep, his exuberance of spir-
fits, I'm the presence Of one dying of
consumption. Many of the rich do not
exercise this tact and so are greatly
wanting in pity and discretion. Are
they not unreasonable TO complain of
envy after having done everything TO
provoke it,
But the greatest lack is that want of
llscernment which leads men to ground
their pride In their fortune. TO begin
with, 1t is a childish confusion of
thought to consider wealth as a person
al quality. II would be hard to find
a more ingenious fashion of deceiving
oneself as to the relative value Of the
contAlner and the thing contained,
have no wish to dwell on this question.
II is too painful. And yet one cannot