Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-02-13
RICHES AND POVERTY.
THE HALO THAT SURROU NDS
POVERTY FOR THE WELL
TO-DO..

curse to the second BenerallOn Is
very deeply rooted In the minds OF
the rich themselves. To possess the
luxuries of the rich and the virtues
of the poor is condition. il is
thought very difficult OF attain
ment by the children of opulence.
How often we hear it said OF some
rich young prodigal that. had be.
been born poor. no might have
amounted TO something But there
is no way of confirming the truth
OF this conviction; and the prodigals
and rcprobates who were born poor
and yet derived no moral advantage
from their birth, might lead us to
suspect that the prejudice against
the rich young man is founded more
upon a theoretical than an actual
basis The Rich young men who
have turned out we'll and have serv-
ed nobly the cause OF truth and
righteousness are too often over
looked for the purpose of pointing a
moral and adjoining a tale.
BY a curious compensation of,
Nature poverty is far more beguiling
to the poetic Imagination than
wealth. But this is true only OF
those who are far beyond the verge
of need. To those who are miners
ed in its CRIME, deprivation, it's UNI
cleanness, ugliness, unsanitary CON
ditions, whore every day body to
body the wolf must be fought from
the door, it presents the stern UNI
lovely side OF its face, without the
padding OF dreams or the glow OF
idealism. 1t were well to remember
that to the poor riches wear just
such halo as surrounds poverty for
the well-to-do. 1t knows nothing
OF the safety and emptiness OF the
attained. the feeling that there is
nothing beyond tu strain muscle
and nerve to reach. The rich are
in sailors snug harbor where they
are yawning perhaps with ennui, and
the effort TO kill time. while the
poor are outside the port struggling
with the waves and finding II nearl,
impossible to keep head above water
and save themselves on a bit OF spaI
or floating plank from being en-
quilted. But reconciliation lies not
In external or incidental conditions
OF equipoise where there will be no
rich or poor. where all will occupy
the monotonous dead lever of a suf-
hciency. In the last ANALYSIS these
things seem trivial and accidental
when measured with the worth OF
soul A glimpse of noble human
nature. manifestation OF pro.
found affection, sentiment of high
courage, of undergraduates ana
sacrifice and the pettiness of dis
tinctions and differences vanishes /.
consciousness OF that supreme. God
given worth that is the best ana
grandest excellence earth affords.
The dividing lines are thinner
and weaker than we are aware
Deep below the shame OF the rich
man that he is so rich, the shame
OF the poor man that he is SO poo,.
Ties the inherent consciousness Of
other and better standards. an an.
peal to the essentially human. the
quality OF Nature that enables us 70
get glimpses Of real values to
measure ourselves with the myster.
lous fate that has brought ms HIN
er' the wonders by which our Iivos
are encompassed, the unknown dee-
tiny toward which we tend the
pa'hos and pain Of life only 70 no
reviewed by mutual kindness and
A'ipiuIness. We are all alike
cropping in the dark to find tba
mothers breast. the fathers hand
We are all equal in the grasp or
'he mighty powers, equal in weak
ness and dependence before death
ana the unknown mysteries and
above all in the need of love and
above aIl in the need of love on,
7ympathy- Christian Herald