The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-11-03
On Man and His Moneu.

By G. W B.
Paper Red Before the Chautduqud Circle.

F0pef RFad BcfOfc Che ChGuCduQuG Ctrcte.
Gentlemen of the Circle: 1 do
not propose in this paper to trace
the origin of money, nor the creation
of man, but rather to connect the
one with the other; to show the
power and influence emanating from
each; to portray to you what the one
will stand for against the other. It
is a question today whether charac-
ter, principle and honesty are para
mount to the power of money and
bloated wealth. or whether riches,
opulence and boarded wealth in the
present use they are made conserva-
tive to, are debasing in their influ
ences and cover up all the higher
attributes that ennoble a richly en-
dowed manhood.
AS Moses lifted up the serpent in
the wilderness for the Jewish wan
derer to bow in servile humility to,
so the golden god Of mammon is
raised aloft by a moneyed aristocra-
cy that knows no limit to it's selfish
power. Monuments of marble and
granite shafts pierce the skies. to
commemorate the lives of the dead
money kings who lie beneath them.
What lesson of life these towering
pillars of vanity teach, except the
art of money-getting, is hard to
comprehend.
The advice Of dying father to
his son: Get money, my son, hon
estly if you ian, but above all other
things get money. Get money the
best way possible, regardless of ev-
cry other material issue in life. )"
This advice seems to be the preva-
lent system in vogue today.
Nature revealed wondrous sense
of justice when she admitted money
into the world, namely: AS a linn
tied legal tender. Money is ne
cessity in our civilization. As it has
possibilities for evil, SO it b as
great powers for good. While it
lsr purchase only within fixed linn
It's, it can give, spend and serve
without limit in the interest of hu-
manity. 1t can feed the hungry,
help the sick back to health and in
many ways overflow the material
things of life beyond it's own narrow
channel. While money cannot buy
either mind, heart or soul, it can
inspire; it can furnish new opportu-
mites; it can hearten the sorrowing;
it can strengthen the weak; it can
give new starts in life to those fallen
by the wayside; it can give new i'm
pulses, new, glad hours of fresh
hope and the sunrise of new pur-
poses to the struggling, the sad, and
the suffering.
All the greatest things in life
those of mind, heart and soul, nature
put safely beyond the power OF
money to purchase. Money in its
purchasable capacity is restricted tC
the material things Of life, those
that in some way appeal to the
senses: to comfort, service, luxury
and position; just little way be.
yond these is a clearly marked-ou1
deadline that money cannot cross
When Joseph's ten brethren, un.
derthe leadership of Judah hurriedly
organized little syndicate to sci
him to a company OF lshmalite
traders for about eleven dollars il
our money, they sold only the tangi
BILE man as a slave, with whatevel
service might be forced from him
That was all the money brought
1t could not buy the real Joseph, hi
clear head, high principles, honesty
loyalty, generosity, energy, purpos'
and those other vital characteristic
that made him great and memor!
to the human race. Mere none!
cannot buy any of the eternal real
tiles of life, all that makes living
highest. truest and best. They ar
as far beyond it's reach as the pola
star. 1t cannot buy love, happiness
honor, truth, justice, self-respect
hope, faith, trust, friendship, loyalty
courage, genius, nor any OF the fin
manifestations of mind, heart ant
soul.
When money enters the field 0