Omaha daily bee., 1911-11-26

THE course OF q cOnNerSh-
lMY ton over the phone the other
R day. man made this re.
49, nark;-'One's best friends SrS
ECSt54oN often ones worst enemies,
S$SxS Aud It Is essentially true.
Electricity lights our homes, toasts our
bread, heats the iron on Tuesdays, runs
our motors and engines, makes our street
cars a great convenience, rune our cleo
trio cars, furnishes power, actual power
for various and sundry purposes, In fact
one can scarcely sec what our foFefathsrs
did without g. II is one Of our best
friends. 1t Is great when We control Il.
As Professor Grummann pointed out last
Monday in connection with I,olSi, In hts
remarks on demonology, these beings
gave good service when they were con-
trolled by the gods: Il was when the gods
lost control Of them, or we're in their
power temporarily, that they caused
trouble. And so, in the matter whereon
we are speaking, these friends OF ours are
of service when they are controlled by US.
When electricity In the form of a light
ming bolt, descends, II brings fire. destruo-
ton and perhaps death with Il; It Is then
uncontrolled. When we read OF some per-
son being electrocuted by having come in
contact with a live wire we note that the
friend has become a friend, that our best
friend is our worst enemy.
=
Take the case Of fire. II heats our
houses, cooks our meals, gives us light.
heat and comfort 1t generates our steam
and makes possible the Twentieth Cen.
! fury Limited OF the Pennsylvania Flyer,
or the Overland Limited. And yet, houses
are eaten UP by the flames, homes are
ldnaNFovaH a.
ness depressed, warehouses reduced 20
ashes, men and women driven out Of en-
ployment; yea, our good friend fire is
often spoken Of as the fire-fiendi
.
The railroad lie a great friend and one
that does wonderful things for us, II
makes It possible for us TO visit friends
at q distance, II Rnnihilates space for us,
and conveys us comfortably and safely,
yes but--there are sometimes bad railway
wrecks, and then there are accidents OF
fatal nature. and people lose their lives,
and It seems as though the friend had
become an enemy.
And money, what friend Is money.
1t makes US happy. 70 be able to buy
what We want and IL one has money,
many people think that he is rich. Out
and you can have money and not be rich
Lots OF people wish for tho friendship OF
this friend, and when they get 1t they
find that they do not get as much out of
1t as they thought they would. Money,
after all, is purely commercial PROPOSE
| ton. II depends on what Il costs: Il de-
ponds on what you paid for It, what you
get out of It. II is a very good friend;
1t makes possible the trip abroad for ecu
cation, the trip for health, the nurse, the
teacher, tho grocAr and baker and candle
| SHOEMAKER; Il is a good friend this
money. But remember II is also an
| enemy. Cant we hear someone say "Oh
| how l do love my enemies".) Money has
been the enemy of many good people.
Often have you heard the remark ''He
would be all right IL II weren't for his
money. Many persons would be happier
to-day If they had just one-tenth as much
money as they have, and this is no railing
against the money power. Many OF Us
think we would like a little more OF the
friendly side, and risk the enemy PROPOSE
ton; But perhaps not, after all. Even In
the musical profession many a piece OF
trouble or mischief has been caused
through money as en- enemy. The anxious
grabbing for IL causes money to be an
things mentioned, can be very good
friend and q very bad enemy.
s.
That wonderful analyst OF human ma
turs. William Shakespeare, said some
&, centuries agoi--
He that wants money. means. and
content, IL without three good friends. :"
(want, here of course being used In the
sense OF lack, not deslre), But the same
immortal seer also aaid;-
who should not wish to be from
wealth exempt.
SINCE riches point to misery and coa-
tempt"
1t was said by One in old time "A nian'H
/ foes shall be they OF his own household"
And It is true very often today. A mans
friends, the very people OF his household
are his worst enemies In many cases.
They have wrong viewpoint. They are
prejudiced In his favor and they can not
cell him the real truth because they do
not see It. And then when someone does
tell him the truth, the friend becomes in
uignaht and wOe betide the truth.tellsr.
Take the matter Of playing or singing.
1t is usually the case that the members
OF ones household are the most fervent
admirers of ones work. Ut is not al
ways so--sometimes the best critics of
one work are to be found In tho family
circle, or in the circle OF close fI1ends.)
But usually the friends and admirers
are IN the household. They always place
a false value on the work Of the one In
whom they are Interested. They never