The state herald., 1907-01-25

attractive to look upon, but inside is
gall and wormwood. Jacob, the He
brew patriarch and founder Of the race
of Israel, was forced to make an equal
ly humiliating confession at the end Of
long life, lasting one hundred and
thirty odd years. Few and evil have
the days Of the years of my life been,"
he confessed to Pharaoh when he went
to reside in the land Of Egypt. And yet
as usually viewed, Jacobs career was
one to be envied and initiated. All of
his main plans had worked out well, and
to use one of our modern slang express
sions, things had come his way. He
had reared large family, accumulated
property, and had been specially singled
out and favored by his God. Yet we
have his own words for it that his life
was sad failure.
The rich New Yorker came up to the
great city many years ago an orphaned
boy from the farm. as poor ~ poor
could be. He soon obtained employ
ment, bettered his position from year
to year. became partner, then head
of the concern, made fortune larg,
one-and is now retired. That's the
whole story. but he confesses now in .
published letter that he il ashamed Of
it all. In his business transactions he
was content to do things simply because
others were doing them, because It was
the custom. But he forgot the first es-
sential of manhood and morality. He
forgot that there was such thing a. q
square deal. II he could get the better
Of an associate or 4 customer or an en-
ploye, he did. Anything he could do to
attain success was good business. and
he did it. 1t is true that he OCCASION
ally gave to charity, headed subscrip-
tons and posed as a philsnthropist. But
these things did not satisfy. The man
felt, and knew, that what he had done
was not manly. When he meets other
successful men, looks them in the face
and studies them, he feels that they too
when they think at all, think a. he does
1t is sad story. sadbeyond measure.
that this man tells. He declares bitter
ly that the kind of success he has sehiv-
ID is rank failure. It has made this
country rich; 1t has made II great; but
it has made its people selfish and un-
principlcd. He sums Il ell up In words
rrore bitter thsn Tia bitterness Of death
itself: II would give al possess to-
night II could say have given every
one n square deal; have done no man
a wrong" Unhappily there are many
others like this millionaire, though they
have not confessed publicly. The
recent raids on graft and drastic ex-
posures Of derelictions in high places
have uncovered many gastly skeletons.
There is senator dying Of mortifea-
ton in New York sanitarium. There
is great insurance company president
in an untimely grave because his sins
found him out. There are millionaires
in constant hiding from the writs Of the
courts. Powerful railroad magnates
are trembling AZ the investigating
searchlight is turned their way. The
men managing the richest and most
prosperous corporation In the world
have been shown to be merely an sg-
grcgation OF criminal conspirstors, do
ing systematically for money all those
things which heretofore were supposed
To be confined to organizations Of
thieves.
The rich New Yorker. being retired
now. has time to think. and his thoughts
make bad companions. He Is wondering
after all whether Il would not have been
better for him 10 remain on the farm.
He would not have made fortune. per
hapn would have remained poor. but he
could have obtained some things which
all his money now can not procure. He
would have enjoyed robust health. and
money cannot buy that. He could have
slept In eontentmcnt. and money cannot
buy that. Above all. he would enjoy
that most precious Of all possessions. a
good conscience. and money cannot buy
that. lie would not In his old ngc be
suffering the untold Aeonics Of remorsr
and self rcproaeh. freedom from which
cannot be purchased by money. Had
he grown up on the farm he would now
perhaps have only few acres Of land.
some live stock and little home on
the hill. Bu, foul bats would not be
flying through his reeolleeiionn and re-
preaching him at every turn. What he
had would be honestly his, allearned BY
labor. noac obtained by cheating and
trickery. none stolen from widows and
orphan, mons secured by sharp dealing.
lie woul no, have great fortunes to
leave his children, but something far
better In the shape Of good character
tho respect Of his nciehborn and the
ynod will of troopa Of friends, "A the