The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-10

pages of antiquity. that caused childish eyes to
grow big with wonder and filled the juvenile
heart with dreams are clothed in the garments
of actually by the genius for grab given 10 the
modern general Of finance Old Midas touched
the earth and base matter WAS transformed to
shining gold His disciple touches the world
at many points. and in the miracle OF that
touch treasures untold have leaped TO life,
Croesus sitting the shining sands Of the Pacto-
bus enriched himself beyond the measure Of the
ages and blazoned his name upon the records
Of an time in letters Of gold. A Croesus of to-
day. with keen eye, discovered the untold
wealth that ran to waste in streams of oil and,
with eager grip, has gathered riches that chal-
enee the comparisons of the centuries
The income Of this modern Midas is of such
colossal proportions as to startle the man who
attempts its contemplation. No fanciful story
out Of the past staggers the imagination more
than this real record OF amassing in the present.
The historic spirit of today, that brings the
past under scrutiny. and seeks to distinguish
faet from fancy by the application of severe
rules of evidence and the ineXorable laws Of
logic. Us nor more ready to brand the fable Of
yesterday as fiction than the generations yet
unborn viii be to classify the stories of this
man wealth in the category Of the impossible
This magician, whose financial legerdemain has
amazed. the mind of a wondering world. can
juggle ~with coins and perform such feats as
baffIe the understanding of men. He could pur-
chase great railroad system every year until
every such system we're his and his principal
would be untouched He could purchase with
his income. az zoe cents in the dollar the com.
bined income or all the crowned heads Of Eu.
rope, and still possess as much again to invest
in other fertile fields lie could each year,
from his income. in twentydolIar gold pieces,
build golden pillar as high as six-stor.'
building His income like a raging torreny
Of dollars PUSHES down upon him so rapidly
that he can not give It's food an outlet. despite
the many channels of public benefaetion he
has opened up His wealth is rising constantly
about him. the incoming tide threatens the
castaway upon some sea-girt rock, Millions he
distributes with lavish hand. yet more millions
than he can manage await distribution His
fortune stands conspicuous In the midst of the
unthinkable fortunes that favorable conditions
have created.
And yet-and there's the pathetic moral--he
is lonely, suspicious, unhappy old man. He
is captive TO the resources he has acquired and
dominated by the forces he created within him
self In the effort to acquire. The spirit and the
hab It's Developed by long years Of struggling
for money have made him creature dependent
upon money. Yet he has found that sordid
gain cannot satisfy the soul He has confessed
that great wealth is a burden and brings, in
stead OF peace, mental fortunes and anxieties.
John d. Rockefe1ler's career Is conspicuous
demonstration Of the inability Of mere NOR ey
TO purchase happiness Lonely he stands In
the midst of sycophants. fearing he has no
friend. Rich, he stands in the midst of his
treasures realizing that what ministers to tho
highest happiness and greatest good can not
be bought with gold Aged. he stands in the
contemplation of tho years, understanding that
a life goes down in defeat having failed of its
largest possibilities that gives Itself to mere
accumulation
The hissor, n The wen who, have acquired
fabulous fortunes is clear call to contentment,
even in comparative poverty. If need touch only
the body and leave mind and heart free Il enter
their cougenial spheres