St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-10-05
is HUMAN WEAKNESS
THE DESIRE TO GET SOMETHING
FOR NOTHING.
AN IGNIS FATUUs TO AVOID
One Cause That Has Led to the Down
fall of Many-FalIacy That
Ever Tends Toward
Evil

A man who won the confidence, ire
spect and admiration of the people of
his state was elected to the United
States senate. Soon it is discovered
that he was owned by the railroads, :"
bought by favors and instead of repre-
senting the interests of the people
who sent him to his. high place. in
the nations councils, preferred to rep
resent the corporations that made 1t
possible for him to ride over rail-
roads without cost. It is only dem
onstration of human inclination tosget
something for nothing.
The member of state legislature
was accused of showing special atten-
ton to legislation favorable to the
railroads and corporations. He was
charged with riding on passes; and in
fact it became known that his pFin-
cipal supporters, too, rode free oyer
the railroads. Another illustrations of
the human desire to secure something
for nothing.
The mayor of a city regularly oGcu-
pied box at the leading theater;
handed out free street car ticket to
the conductor, enjoyed free drinks at
the bars-another example of the man
who wanted something for nothing,
and at last his greed caused him to
enter into dishonest deals that landed
him In the penitentiary.
On certain days of the month"; at.
numerous supply depots conducted;
by county and city charities, long!
rows of men and women can be seen
awaiting their turn to get SMALL
supply of -four, sugar and other neees-S
saries of life. Some are helpless de-
formed, and their looks indicate want
and misery, but there are others who:
have no appearance of need. Here:
again we find men and women leaving!
pride and self-respect behind because,
of the desire to secure something for:
nothing.
On special sales days in the retail;
districts of every large city great:
crowds can be seen about the en-
frances of the great department
stores, crushing, fighting to get. 60!
the bargain counters, all bent upon
getting something Of value for little.
or nothing.
From the highest walks of life to-
the lowest the all-prevailing and dom,
inant trait in evidence to show the,
weakness of the individual is the!
struggle to get something for moth.
Inc TT ia hacod 57pcp q LpouInduc g:
this fraility of humankind that some
great business enterprises are built:
Wonderful bargains are advertised.
and the masses rush to buy, without:
calm reasoning in the matter of any
comparisons of value. Good business.
judgment is cast in the background
by the madness to get something for
nothing.
The get-rich-quick operator usesthe
same methods to lead to his trap vic.
tins with dollars as do the railroads.
the big department stores and the.
others who have certain objects 10.
gain. It is always the promise Eeld
out to give something for Inadequate.
compensation, without its equal in: ey.l
penditure OF money or labor that al.
lows the frauds to succeed. Ther6 ia;
magic in the something for nothing:
deal. It is bait that catches pet3pIe;;
In every rank and walk of life. II
often is the cause of the downfall of
men who have all the abilities to sue.
coed. It is a fal1sey that tends To.
ward evil. There can nothing; be
gained without adequate compensa-
ton. The something for nothing L
an ignis fatuus that the wise VIII
avoid.
d. M. CARR.