The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1911-02-16
Wealth
By F. G..

Taper Read Before the Chautduqua Circle:
Money alone can never be wealth
n the true sense, for money is only
egal tender, and is worth only what
can buy. 1t may or may not buy
happiness, wealth and contentment,
according to the wisdom OF the pos
SCISSOR. One man who has money
and uses it wisely may have wealth,
while another with equal gold may
be poor, because with his legal tend
er he buys no satisfaction. Those
who fail to satisfy their tastes be-
cause of lack of money are inclined
to regard money as wealth, but there
is no greater mistake. Wealth, like
happiness. comes from within. 1t is
the result of those qualities OF heart
and mind that make it possible for a
man to make use of his money to
minister to the general happiness; to
enlarge his own capacity for APP
prection and enjoyment and also to
make substantial additions to the
happiness of others. The veriest
vulyarian can buy horses, clothing,
pictures, automobiles and yachts;
can hire servants, take Journeys, en-
terrain and surround himself with
an admiring multitude, but this is
not wealth unless he can also edu-
cate himself to gain some true salts
faction from these things beyond the
satisfaction of desire for display.
The novelist never tires OF the
theme of suddenly acquired wealth
that fails to satisfy and the loss OF
money that brings it's owner back to
contentment.
Poverty is not single lack OF mon
ey: that also comes from within, IN
measure. and is lack of ability to ap-
preciate happiness and satisfaction
from life.
Of course. the extreme lack OF
money that denies sufficient food
NAV rob one of the satisfaction that
comes from within, but the poverty
that causes the most distress is a Jack
of power to gain from each day the
happiness God placed in it for us
and that poverty may be felt by one
whose bank account is great. The
greatest wealth IS the wealth OF him
to whom every day is priceless
boon. every friend lover and every
thought one of kindness, enthusiasm
and appreciation.
The man who rids himself OF all
the mean, small, narrow, thoughts,
rids himself of much of the poverty
of mind: and he whose thoughts are
full of love and tolerance for all the
world is adding to his wealth every
day.
If one man can appreciate beau
tiful picture in public gallery and
visit it from time to time, to enjoy its
beauty afresh, is he not more truly
the owner of that beautiful picture
than the man who can buy it be-
cause he has money enough to do so
and who buys it simply because it is
worth a large sum, but who cares
for it only because of that fact?
If a man is possessed of a great
fortune and spends it, at the same
time adding to it, by developing
some great resources of the country,
he is adding to the general good and
making friends of many who know
of his work and is benefactor to
many. and so is wealthy. 1t his
money is engaged in crushing his
competitors, in destroying the hopes
and business of others, he is doing
the public an injury and is a menace
to the country, even though he may
spend part of the vast sums he wrests
from the many in some good work.
Such man gets satisfaction from
tho succass IF his plans. but it is not