Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-04-13

The craze for acquiring wealth In
this world is largely based on the
mistaken opinion that money means
happiness and pleasure for the pos
SCISSOR. OF course it is true that
money, OF its equivalent, is a prime
essential in procuring the necessities
Of life, likewise the things we are
pleased to term luxuries A fair
competence is, therefore, much to
be desired, but beyond such COM
petence it is doubtful if so-called
riches add anything OF real value in
the nature of enjoyment, if in fact
they do not detract from personal
happiness by Increasing cares and
responsibilities, and in many in
stances Wrapping and influencing the
pOssessor's mind in manner that
makes him incapable of appreciat-
ing the opportunities for real happi-
ness, and reluctant to follow the
ordinary practices that bring con-
tentment and enjoyment to the
average normal person.
4 few days ago there died IN the
city OF Kioto, Japan, wealthy
American named James Henry
Smith. known among his associates
As Silent Smith, and frequently
referred to as the seventh richest
man in the world. The history OF
his life reads like romance, for his
birth was humble and obscure and
his rise to great riches was due en-
tirely TO the fact that he possessed an
uncle, who by shrewd business
methods managed to amass a con-
siderable fortune, which was left
TO his favOrite nephew. The latter,
'.Sllent" Smith, was naturally
man of reticence and reti ement,
and for many years he proceeded to
live life of ease ad pleasure, fol-
lowing tne natural bent of young
man having more money TO spend
than he knew what TO do with. He
tried his hand at all the purchasable
Joys, and pleasures, living the life OF
q clubman, traveller and dilettante,
doubtless gaining some passing en-
joyment therefrom. but falling to
ind the full measure of content
ment that IS the natural hope and
desire of every person.
At last, having reached the age
OF middle life. and apparently with
q belated appreciation of neglected
opportunities. silent" Smith de-
cided to marry and settle down to
the peaceful enjoyment of home
life. Mrs. William Rhiuelander
Stewart, a beautiful and prominent
New York society woman became
his bride, and Mrs. Smith purchased
the palatial home of the late Will
liam G. Whitney at New York at a
cost Of 81, 500, 900, planning to spend
another million in fitting and re-
furnishing to suit to tastes of him.
self and bride. He decided, how
ever, to first make trip around
the world as a bridal tour, and with
a gay party of friends the journey
was commenced several months ago
in a sumptious private yacht, which
carried them to several Oriental
countries before the final and fatal
illness of Smith changed all their
plans and calculations.
Man proposes and God disposes,
and so it was in the case of silent"
Smith. An apparently slight all
ment of his teeth necessitated a
minor surgical operation, and in
spite of all his wealth and what it
might buy Smith died in a foreign
land. Perhaps there is nothing IN
particular to criticise in the career
and life of ''Silent" Smith. Some
good and worthy acts are credited
to him in the use of his money, and
possibly he intended to do more in
the same direction when he got
around TO it. Nevertheless his life
on the whole was one of selfishness,
his main aim being his own personal
enjoyment. With all the fieeting
pleasures purchased with his
wealth, however, he probablygained
no greater enjoyment, if as much,
as thousands of others who never
knew the meaning sof real riches.
And now he has gone and left his
money behind, perhaps cut short in
his career and anticipations by the
very life of ease and luxury provided
BIZ his wealth.