The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-02-18
WHO ARE RIcH7

The standard Of wealth Is a varl-
able one. Diogenes with his tub was
rich-because he was content. Solo
mon with his palaces was poor-be-
cause life TO him was vanity Of van
tiles. Thoreau in his hut at Walden
Pond was rich, while the car, trem-
bling in his capital, was of all men
most miserable. Pullman, the multi
millionaire, in answer to the question.
when is a man rich, replied: when
he has s6,O00,0OO,OO0 In good securi-
ties" Emerson said: Give me health
and day and will make the pomp
of emperors ridiculous"
The world has come to accept money
as the symbol of wealth. The coin that
bears the stamp Of the mint spells
riches. He is poor who-having all
else-lacks this. He is rich who has
his Golfers full Of these material coun-
ters
Nothing finer has been written in
later days than the words which were
penned by lunatlc in the Cook coun-
ty asylum in Illinois. In thought and
phrasing, in poetic appreciation of ma
ture and life. there Is felicity of ex-
preston which equals the finest
poetry. This document, which is called
A Madman's Last VIII, is worthy of
preservation. 1t reveals the highest
philosophy Of life.
Here it is:
/, Charles Lounsberry, being of
sound and disposing mind and mem
DRY, do hereby make and publish this,
my last will and testament. in order.
as justly as may be to distribute NV
interests in the world among succeed
Ing men.
OF that part OF my interests, which
is known in law and recognized in the
sheep-bound volumeSRs my property,
being inconsiderable and of no account.
l make no disposal; but these things
excepted, all else in the world | now
proceed to devise and bequeath.
Item-I give to good fathers and
mothers, in trust for their children.
all good little words of praise and en-
couragement and all quaintspet names
and endearments, and / charge said
parents to use them justly but gen.
erously, as the needs of their children
shall require.
Item--I leave to children inclusivelv
out only Tor the term OF their child
hood, all and every the flowers of the
feids and the blossoms of the woods.
with the right to play among them
freely, according to the customs of
children, warning them at the same
time against the thistles and the
thorns. And | devise to children the
banks of the brooks and the golden
sands beneath the waters thereof. and
the odors of the willows that din
therein, and the white clouds that float
high over the giant trees. And / leave
to the children the long, long days to
be merry in a thousand ways, and the
nights. and the moon, and the train of
the milky way, to wonder at, but sub
ject. nevertheless, to the rights herein
after given to lovers.
Item-I devise to boys. Jointly. all
the useless, idle fields and commons
where ball may be played, all pleasant
waters where one may swim, all snow
clad hills where one may coast, and
all streams and ponds where one may.
fish, or where, when grim winter comes
one may skate-to have and to hold
the same for the period of their boy
hood; and all meadows with the clov-
er blossoms and the butterflies there-
of. the woods with their appurtenances,
the squirrels and birds, and the echoes
and strange noises. and all distant
places which may be visited, together
with the adventures there found.
And give to said boys each his own
place at the Preside at night, with all