The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1913-08-08
THE ARROGANCE
OF SUCCESS
fBy :. B. Moon.)


Ii has h~~n said with undoubte,f truth
that "A little learning is dangerous
thing" It might also be sad With equal
truth that snccess 10 too heavy . burden
f"r week minds /, carry without danger
To tbems-lves and those who have the
misfs.rtnne of having 20 deal with them.
We q" not relieve in predestined sphere
OF s'tivity Cor any individual or cla~ of
individuals ON tie contrary we suhscribe
~ the doctrine that all men are created
sccordins ~ Laws :hs. .-e interchangeable
and impsrtisI. All men ought 10 be
equal before the law, but this 10 rarely
true in practice. In the beginning, no
doubt, every one OF the human species
had equal physical and mental cndow-
ments and every creature started On the
course Of life with an equal number of
talents The human race has multiplied
and the earth has been replenished;
there has heen no stagnation, but always
motion and variation. Babel and the
confusion Of tongues long ago. 20 long.
indeed, that it 10 now regarded by many
a. . myth, laid the foundation Of ma
tions; development and retroeression
have ali of the time been in Close proxi-
nifty, running in parallel counses; ns-
tons have risen, deteriorated. and de-
clined, and races and individuals have
d1ne and are doing the same The "sins
OF the fathers" are daily transmitted o.
an inheritance and the accompanying
heirlooms are too frequently physical and
mental weakness
AZ the rain sliehtefh not the unjust.
neither does good fortune refuse to smile
upon moral. physical and intellectual de
een~rate who crosses her path. Then
comes trouble. The trouble almost in
vsriably ari~~ from weakness on the
pert Of the recipient of "a blessing" In
tine hollow cranium of the sueces~ful
weakiing where brains do not and never
did abide, visions of greatness and dreams
of unlimitef power hold q war dance.
preparatory To IN expedition Intended
and expected To result in the conquest OF
the world The ranks OF the Fake
are generally fuii not only Of
snldien Of fortune. but too oftes men
who had hitherto ssfe~med honor n the
most d~sirable OF all their posses.ions,
by the promised eiories of
holdings numerous minions i'm despotic
subjection and enforc~d vassalagp, link
their fortunes with those of the "pre-
tender" The progress of the conqner-
ing forces is for Q time succession OF |
victories. and cringing sycophants make
the welkin ring with shouts Of praise that |!
have been purchased either in the cur
rency Of fear or the coin OF favor. For
> time everything that 10 nauseating is |
aannted in the faces Of those who are
not OF the iIk of the usurper OF a power
and prestige thst writhe in the grasp OF
mean, marrow, covetous and prairie dog
like natures But, happily. the time al |
ways romes when the royal donkey 10
chased Neither fine raiment nor a,
retinue can ward of the de-
thronement Of those whose membership
in The Order Of Coyote-" IL proven hy
all they do and much they ssy. No line
NJ human endesvor is safe from the in
vasion OF rascality. But rascapty like
the Gip-y tribe is always on the move. |
It cannot l,ns tsrry in one locality with
impunity. There comes q time when the
atmosphere is surcharged with the often
sive odor Of deceit and pollution lester
ing conduct. Then something drops.
The uDclean clan hear . great noise and
feei great shock. They hurriedly alb
dicste their mushroom throne and take
refuge in the rubbish pile whence they
came.