Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1913-09-12
he Phil sophy
Of Selhshness
81 KATHLEEN J. M'cURDY

49,.
When Johnny Perkins was boy in
his native town Of Bloomsbury he
was every body's pet. When he smiled
his eye lighted up and dimple ap-
peared In each cheek His face chang
ed, however, in a twinkling at the re-
cital of tale of woe or an injury to
any animal. For this reason some
called him chicken hearted.
When Johnny grew to manhood.
while he was as much beloved. his
stand in the community was not as
high as it had been when he was
child. Men and women occupy a diff
ferent sphere from either children or
youths. The latter periods are nat
ural; the former is artificial.
Edward JONES' rich man of the
town, died and left his fortune to
found an institution to be called the
Jones Lyceum. 1t was beautiful
monument to Mr.. Jones and was fire.
quented by the best people. The poor
had no use for it. and if they had their
clothes were not good enough to war
rant their going there. One day John
Perkins was standing before it admir-
ing the architecture of the building.
A beggar came along and asked him
for aims. He gave the beggar a
nickel. all the money he had in his
pocket at the time. He looked from
Mr.. Jones' monument to the beggar
and from the beggar back to the mon
ument.
when I've got fortune" he said to
himself, II won't leave it to the rich:
ri leave it to the poor. No, won't.
ether be said on second thought.
III enjoy it myself-enjoy it by giving
it away while live"
. John had no idea whatever when he
said this that he had struck the philos-
ophy of true selfishness. He thought
not of doing a duty, only of giving
himself pleasure by benefiting others.
" When John went home he found the
postman at the door. who handed him
letter. 1t was postmarked Dawson.
Alaska. John was mystifed. He knew
no one in Alaska. However. he opened
the letter and found that it was from
an attorney, informing him that John
Perkins had recently died. leaving John
Perkins residuary legatee of his estate.
1t was intimated that the property
was very valuable and he had better
come at once and attend to it.
When John showed the letter to his
mother she told him that this John
Perkins was his fathers younger
brother, who had disappeared some fif-
teen years before. John had been NAM
ed for him.
John went to Alaska. where he re-
NAMED several years. When he re-
turned he was drawing an income Of
10000 year from mines he had in
herited from his uncle. He converted
his property into mortgages. settled in
bis. native town and began to enjoy
life in his own selfish way.
4 1t was not long before he had acquir-
ed reputation for miser. He gave
nothing away, except under promise
from the recipient to hold the gift a
profound secret. And all the recipi-
ents were those of the middle and low
er classes. The Jones memorial was
referred to as illustrating the benefit
done the town by the donor of the ly-
ceum in contrast with the niggardli-
ness of John Perkins. John also suf-
fered from persons who applied to him
for money to use in various schemes
which would make them rich. They
were all refused. for John at the out
set had made resolution to keep all
his money for needy persons. -.
The enmity John excited among the
better classes as he grew older embit.
tered them against him. He lived with
his old mother in comfortable house,
into which none of his own class ever
came. The reason was, primarily, that
such persons were not invited; but,
secondarily, they knew there was
nothing to be made out Of John Per-
kins. They had no time to waste on
those who would be of no benefit to
them. There were rumors that he was
not quite so bad as he was painted,
but whenever such came to his ears he
squelched them by saying that he was
selfish; he knew it and didn't care
whether the world admired or blamed
him for it.
John gave away all of his income ex-
cept a couple of thousand dollars,
which was all he and his mother need
ed to be comfOrtabl After his moth
er died he didn't spend as much. and
his reputation for being miser was
enhanced. How could it be otherwise
since he would not permit any one he
benefited to tell of what he had done?
And the more he gave the crustier re-
marks he made. No one understood
him, and no one cared to understand
him.
When John died. with no relative to
benefit by his fortune, everybody won
dered what would become Of it.
surely the town at last would get
something from the old curmudgeon.
On opening the will it was found that
q splendid fortune had been frittered
away in small gifts. 1t was not known
how MANY nerSOns were benefited but