The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-26
CRESUS AND SOLON.
The Dangers Of Money Mania and the
Defined Joys Of Busy Leisure.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: You
article IA Philosopher" Will perhaps
stimulate a controversy that Will re-
fleet an %incapacity on the part of the
modern Crpsus to qualify as a disciple
Of Scion. After a man has earned a
fortune his continued pursuit of super
nuous wealth becomes a form OF money
mania Tsychical Gunner In In time
transferred to its equivalent In money.
and prestige and influence are the direct
result of its impetus rather than ones
imagined ability.
Conversation with the vast majority
Of self-made millionaires reveals In them
a startling lack of the culture or knowl-
edge that makes the many sided man
Of refinement.
DO you find them familiar with the
history. ideals and ambitions of the hui
man race? DO they know that a drop
Of water is a world In which rhIzopods
and other infusoria live. multiply and
die? How many recognize the sedimeH-
tary, %igneous and organic materials
which compose earth's outer garment?
who among your millionaire acquaint-
anccs has pointed out To you the planets
Of our solar system or traced their
trackless path through the starry heav-
ems?
Some, living on large country estates.
vaguely perceive n difference between
biennials and p~erennials. The proIitic
world OF plant life. with its mysteries
and intense interest, is left to the pro-
fcssional gardener. Few, perhaps. have
experienced the thrill of true apprecia-
ton when reading Darwin's "Origin OF
Species
~ man of superior stuff" and a sou
worth inviting whose capacity for ac'
cumulating excess wealth has hyper
| troph cd 20 tho exclusion OF a true
knowledge OF existence possesses not
the slightest vesttgc Of a claim To- the
qualities designated by the words 'su-
p%erior' or soul"
His biography Is the history Of one
daN repeated.
At forty-two sustained effort along
tho time worn channels becomes meta
morphoscd into habit The law Of d.
m|in.shiug returns has become effective
and at that age ono uncousCiously goes
20 secd'' unless new fields of labor OF
Investigation are cultivated.
The demands Of modern business ar
a drain on the dcpreciating vital force
which dcpletes the reserve to such AZ
extent that the "ahti-philosopher' Al
forty-two lacks capacity for anything
but amusement after hours.
Agriculture az a science would ad'
vance FAR more rapidly II some OF oui
m]rliouaires realized the delights of ma
lures charms and the dividends she
PAYS not only In money but health
peace Of mind and happiness which
"passcth all understanding
D,meter. true 10 her sex. lavishes he
wealth in the greatest profusion on hei
| richest votlrlcs.
To rc'lre does not mean a condition
OF physical i~naction or mental lethargj
TO one possessing a capacity 10 ASSUME
the real respons ibiilties OF life.
I know q young man with an ambi
zion to make his pile before forty
nvc. retire and enter college to study
,he profession OF medicine. not with
hop" Of additional gain. hut with IN
desire to be of substantial service TO hi
fellow man.
Let him that If financially Independent
give his younger associates a chance
science and nature offer him create
responsibilities and rewards.
4 HoPEFUl PROSPECTIVE.
JERSEY CITY. March %.