The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1906-06-21
MEN WHO SUCCEED
A Most Striking Contrast
SUGGESTIONS 10 FARMERS

| IL lS NCh nOLLA ISdiluS
The greatest success in life is to SC
shape our efforts as to continue the
eternal progression and uplifting of the
human race, A mar who rears fam
lily each member u which IS batter
equipped TOR lies dulles than himself
has won triumphant success. Ii
matters little whether he has anased
wealth or not. The greatest achieve
ment of his life is that be has i'm
proved upon himself.
The writer has been led to these OBJ
servations from an incident that re.
Gently occurred in his presence. Two
gentlemen were speaking Of the dlsap-
pointments and successes in life One
was gentleman of ready address and
pleasing manners, who stated that he
was entirely coutented though growing
OLD He had reared six sons, educated
them and fitted them tor business and
to be good citizens He himself owned
beautiful farm, small but we'll titled
and had besides probably an income oi
$1,000 a year. All his sons were in
business for themselves and doing we'll.
He had taught them the Wisest of all
precepts-never if possible to be de-
pendent directly upon the will or word
OF another. Three of them were pros
porous farmers, one was a physician
and two were engaged in mining on
their own account. The father had
managed to give all ct them a little
capital, which thay had invested wisely
and had given their attentions to its
management. Every one of these
young men were leaders In their seyer-
al localities. They were trustworthy.
had excellent credit, were prominent
In church matters, and though not
ambitious Of political prelerment, they
welded an Influence that deferred un-
worthy persons from soaking political
iavors. All these young men except
one had married prudent, economical
wives and were the fathers Of bright
beautiful children.
The other gentleman participating
In the conversation was a man Of
wealth. His whole lie had been de-
voted to money- making. On Change
he stood the peer OF anyone. But he
was a disappointed man. HIS m an
ners abrupt, MS speech curt, often dis
agreeable, his talk was of the perfidy
and treact cry OF mankind and of tie
part he had taken in several large
transactions. He never mentioned his
family, but it was learned afterward
that he bsd two sons, both very dissi-
pated and both gam biers. Their only
delight was In spending the money
that 1.-The old man" had made. They
would meyer learn at school, they rarely
attended church except with purposes
ulterior to worship. They spoke Of
their father with disrespect and be
lieved their mother to be too exactlng.
These young men were perpetual
source of dlsquitude and unhappiness
to :hefr parents. They engaged IN no
business. Theater-going, fashionable
tertalnments where they could DIS
play their skill at cards, horse-racing
In which they were adepts-these were
their occu oations. No wonder the
father, with all his wealth, was miser- |
able. He had forgotten his duty to his |
family in hls greed for amassing
wealth.
Now, my fellow-iarmers, which OF
these two made the greatest success in
life, the millionaire Or the well-to-do |
farmer?
Improvement OF tho mind and ele-
vation OF character are tar more to be |
desired than money. They appeal to
time and eternity. They will exercise
their salutary influences long after
their possesors have been gathered to
their fathers. Upon persons endowed
with high character and mental accom-
pllshments oblCquy can cast no shadow
Neither the adulations Of the cynic |
nor the SCOTS of the prejudiced nor
the venoInous diatribes OF the misan-
thrope can avail against such virtues.
Compare General Lee with any OF |
the .'big rich that swell toadllke in
their efforts to equal greatness. The
SIGHT is pltiable, and but ior the gravity
OF Its Influence upon the rising gener
alton it would be laughable in the
highest degree. Let us hope that the
Southern people,in the efforts to build
up splendid and durable character
for themselves and prosperity for their
section, may meyer become 50 sordlc
as to lose sight of the examples of the
great Southerners that have gone be-
fore us so far as to prize money more
thai character and wealth more than
virtue.
5alte , rSalvve Spread the Salve, but
of IL he Pine saIyo. natures rem 6dy