The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-20
EVENING CHAT
By RUTH CAMERON.

In the upper classes of society there
are many people who think that in
order to prove their superiority they
must look down scornfully upon the
flower classes and speak antagon-
istica1ly of them.
Among my friends, number beau
tiful and talented woman. who, to me,
is marred by this one fault-that she
often speaks disparagingly and dis
painfully of the lower" classes. "They
get all they deserve she says. why
should they demand higher wages
when they are too ignorant to earn any
/ more?" These people whom you pity
are usually ignorant and disa greeable
and do not appreciate decent treat
ment," etc, etc.
Now am not a socialist. I am not
sure of any panacea for present condi-
| tions. I do not claim to have any idea
as to just what is wrong, but this is
the way I feel about it: something
must be wrong, or else II would not be
possible for some men to have hundreds
of millions of dollars, and for other
men to work all the days of their lives
from morn till night, and still not earn
enough to support themselves, their
wives and even two or three children
know that Ebert Hubbard and some
other brilliant writers would have US
pity the poor employer who is every
where hampered by the ignorance.
stupidity, disobedience, and viciousness
of his employees, but can't see it that
way. Suppose he is hampered; he man
ages to make a good deal more than
decent living for himself and his own.
doesn't he? And that is enough. I
think. My sympathy is with the under
dog every time. and 1t seems to me
that anyone who can say that the
under dog must stay down because he
is down, and that there is no sense in
giving him a chance to live like a
decent creature because he has never
had that chance, and can thus dispose
of the matter, is morally lacking.
Sometimes, like everyone else. wish
that were rich. and then again, I'm
thoroughly glad that I haven't that re-
sponsibility. 1 was looking at a mag
niicently appointed limousine the other
day, and though how beautiful q
would be to have that to take me to
the theatre or to my work on a stormy
day, and then again I was glad that
would probably never have T.. For Il
did not seem to me as IL I could be con-
tent having such luxury and knowing
of the people who lack necessities. And
yet, if 1 had it. probably would lack
the strength of mind to give it up.
One of the most tragic characters In
the Bible to me is the rich young man
of whom it is written that Jesus, be-
holding him loved him"-something
which is said of no other man or
woman. And yet "he went away
grieved: for he had great possessions"
If this man had been just poor fisher
man like Peter. untrammeled by the
chains of wealth and luxury. probably
he too, would have followed Christ ana
become one of the personal friends of
the worlds Greatest Man.
To the happiest and busiest OF US.
there come moments of very serious
thought-when we wake up in the night
AMI feel quite detached from the day
light world of happiness and business,
when we are i'll, when we are in church,
when treble or sorrow breaks our
routine 1 wonder If Their are not
many rich folks who, in such moments,
have solemn doubts about their own
right to their luxuries. It seems to me
there must be.
1 have wandered far af1eld. I started
to simply rebuke those who think that
they demonstrate their superiority by
being antagonistic to the cause OF the
under dog, and have said much more.
Perhaps too much. But II have
started someone, hitherto Indifferent, to
thinking on this subject, I am not
sorry.