The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-07-11

seemed 10 deprecate poverty. He added that
most men of great achievement had worked from
poverty into success. He evidently regarded pow
erty, not as curse, but as blessing.
1t is true that many great men, in youth. knew
the hardships of poverty Some of them remained
poor to the end of their days.
| 1t is not by any means true, however, that
| all notable men have known poverty. There are
many examples to the contrary.
Think of our own Roosevelt. He was born to
wealth and he has always had plenty of means.
/ 1t will at once be said that among born to
wealth, he is an exception. So he is In this re-
gard he is exactly like all able men. They are
all exceptions in their class and in their humankind
They succeeded in spite of handicaps.
There are handicaps in both wealth and pow
erty. The rich mans son, as a rule, lacks incen-
tive. The poor mans son. as rule, lacks oppor-
tunity.
Dickens was not great writer because he
was poor or because he had to fight his way to
success His talents were inborn. They hap
pened be sustained by certain personal qualities
that enabled him to make his way against diff
culties. If he had not possessed those qualities,
the zest for living, a strong competitive spirit,
great industry, and ability to utilize every advan-
tage, he might not have achieved his wonderful
career.
On the other hand far more than we can realize
now, Dickens may have been aided by chance
which often works SO mysteriously and effectu-
ally. If he had not been born poor he could not have
understood poverty with his extraordinary in
sight and sympathy; but he might have
understood other phases of life His success,
far frou heino ~ IS
offers illustration of the rich talent that is
buried in poverty Now and then, as in the case
of Dickens it comes to the surface. As rule,
1t is either destroyed or denied expression
Where we produce great writer like Dick
ems we lose hundred great writers. The chances
are that such writers as are saved and developed
are not those who talents are the richest They
arc those whose talents are accompanied by the
qualities most serviceable in competitive life. Now
such qualities often denied to genius And
where genius has to rely them there is sure to
be failure, unless by miracle, chance comes to
the rescue.
great deal of undeveloped and lost talent has
belonged among Gods poor.
There is doubt, of course, that poverty de-
velops much that is precious in lie, not talent
genius alone but valuable qualities of character
But it does vastly more harm than good.
Whenever man succeeds in spite of poverty
we recognize the wonder and eagerly give it ac-
claim. But the failures resulting from poverty
we pass over. Indeed, they are so common as to
be almost undressing We speak of them by
the bulk, in the mass.
The chief work of poverty we know to be
he Nf ooI
leading to the weakening of the body the destruc-
ton of character, and to the loosening on society
OF vast number of balcfu Influences
So many diseases that we once regarded as
personal, the result of individual sin, we now
know to be merely expressions OF this most fear
full OF all diseases
No wonder then that human beings are begin
ming to realize the Importance of cooperating for
the purpose OF destroying such foe.
IT the time ever comes when there is no longer
poverty in the world, there will be a wonderful
freedom for the higher qualities of the human
race Men will then work, not because they are
driven by the competitive spirit, but from higher
impulse, love of work itself
The chances are that if man like Dickens
h ha been Tree to work in this way he would have
done not more work, perhaps, even less but work
OF timer and higher polish. For Dickens, as an ar
tist suffered till the end from poverty If he had
had more advantages in early youth his talents
would have been better trained. He would have
had more taste and more balance. He would
have striven less for popular and transient effect
than for the truth. for what permanent and
OF universal appeal
Every writer knows how limiting the mere de-
sire for popularity be to creative work. By
having constantly to keep in mind the importance
OF sustaining his success, of appealing to the
popular taste, Dickens continually kept back
If he could have worked for works sake, he might
have produced far greater masterpieces than those
now associated with his fame. In this way he
might have helped to bring popular taste to a
higher level.
Under our present ways of living, though every
great man is recognized as leader he is also
led He is obliged constantly to regard popular
favor as check. Often it operates on his finest
instincts and his best impulses Until the fear is
removed of loss of favor, with its resulting ma
teral disadvantages there cannot be any real free
dom for art. |
So when we talk about the beauty of poverty
we absurd phrase.
AS a matter of fact there is no more beauty
in poverty than there is in sickness of any sort
or in SIM
Like sin, poverty may call out the very noblest
qualities in human nature among the strong. But
the damage II does far outweiehs anv gain IL