The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-05-22

Editors Note-Recently. Mr.. Ktpl.ng.
who very rarely does this sort OF thing.
Of McGill university at Montreal. So re,
markedly true, penetrating and practical
were his observations that they are al
most classic in character and form We
wish 1t We're possible for us to reprint the
entire address. instead of merely this ex-
tract.
When. to use a d%etestable phrase,
you go out into the battle of life you
will b. confronted by An organized con-
spiracy which will try to make you
believe that the world is governed by
the idea OF wealth for wealth's sake
and that all means which lead to the
acquisition of tina wealth are. If not
laudable. at least %expedient.
You will live and eat and move and
have your being in a world dominated
by that thought; Some OF you VIII
Now, I do not ask you to be carried
away by the first rush OF the great!
game OF life. That is expecting you
to he more than human. But I do
ask you. after the first heat of the
game. that you breath and watch
your fellows for a while.
Sooner or later you will see some man
to whom the idea of wealth as mere
wealth does not appeal, whom the
methods of amassing that wealth do
not interest, and who will not accept
money If you offer 1T to him at a GER
tain price. At first you will be In
clined to laugh at this man. and to
think that he is not smart In his Ideas.
l suggest that you watch him closely.
for he will presently demonstrate to
you that money dominates everybody
except the man who does not want
money. You may meet that man on
your farm, in your village. or in your
legislature. But be sure that, when
ever or wherever you meet him. as
soon as it comes to a direct issue be-
tween you, his little finger will be
thicker than our loins. o will go
in fear OF him; ne will not go in fear Of
You. You viii do what he wants: he
will not do what you want. You Will
find that you AVE no weapon in your
arlnory with which you can attack
him; no argument with which you can
appeal to him. Whatever you gain he
will gain more. I;
I would like you to study that man
I would like you better to be that
man, because from the lower point of
view Is doesn't pay to be obseSsed by
the desire of wealth for wealth's sake.
If more wealth is necessary to you.
for purposes not your own, use your
left hand to acquire 1t, but keep our
right for your oper work in life. II
you employ both arms In that game
YOU will be in danger Of STOPPING; in
danger also Of losing you soul. But
in spite of everything you nay sue
coed, you may be successful. you may
Ease ] warn you hat you stand IN
grave danger of being spoken and writ
ten of and pointed out as a smart man.
And that is one of h most terrible
calamities thai a overtake a sane,
civilized white man today.
VThn1y n 1,n,Vth 90 n oe,0 80 L~--
ambition and uplift-that the last word
youth needs is an exhortation to be
cheerful. Some of o here know. and
I remember. that youth can be a sea-
son of great depression, dependencies.
doubts and waverings. the worse be-
cause they seem to be peculiar to our
selves and incommunicable to our fell
lows. There is a certain darkness into
which the soul Of the young man some
times descends-a horror of desolation,
abandonment and realized worthless
ness. which is n Of the most real OF
the hells in which we are compelled to
walk.
I know Of what I speak. This is dua
to a variety of causes. the chief OF
which is the egotism of the human ami
nal itself. But I can tell o for your
comfort that the chief cure for it il
to interest yourself, to lose yourself, In
some issue not personal to yourself-in
another mans trouble. or, preferably.
another mans joy. But IL the dark
hour does not vanish, as sometimes It
doesn't: II the black cloud will not lift.
as sometimes 1t will not; let me tell
you again for you comfort that there
are nan liars In the world, but there
are no lars like our own sensations.
The despair and the horror mean moth
ing, because there Is for you nothing
irremediable, nothing fneffacable. Moth
ing ineffaceable, nothing irrecoverable.
In anything you m a have said or
thought or done.
II for any reason you cannot believe
or have not been taught to believe in
the infinite mercy of heaven, which has
made us all, n will Ike care we do
not go far astray, at least believe that
you are not yet sufficiently Important
to be taken too seriously by the powers
above us or beneath us. In other words.
take anything and everything seriously
except yourselves.
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