Omaha daily bee., 1921-05-22
A Life Of Real Service.

y single line III the story announcing the
death of Franklin X. Lane must have arrested
the attention of even the casual reader 1t was:
"Mr Lane left no estate" Five words, but it
denotes the material results of lifetime. Does
that, however, comprise the sum total OF what
the man who was known as Franklin K Lane
did while here on earth?
Those who measure success in life by dollars
have not chosen the best standard Wealth is
desirable, can be made of great service, depend
ing on how it is used, and is source of power,
but as an end or gauge of accomplishment it
does not meet the highest requirements. Frank
lin X. Lane did not amass wealth for the reason
that he was too busy serving the public to give
attention to selfish ends. 1t is not necessary to
recount his activities. He arose from obscurity
to high and responsible place in the govern
ment of his country, through merit alone, and
when he died "he left no estate"
He is but type of the men who truly do
the peoples work. The late Champ Clark was
one of these. He served his people as educator,
lawyer, Congressman and statesman, and left no
estate Other names can be added to the list but
these will illustrate the thought These not
improvident, they are not without capacity, but
they do become so concerned in giving help to
others that they forget their own interests and
at the end find themselves with slight reward in
way of pelf and frequently little compensation
in the way Of appreciation from the public to
whom they have given all they possessed.
Yet the country has grown great just through
the efforts Of that sort of men, If all were to
turn their attention to the acquisition of wealth,
a great deal of the work that is needed would
never be done. man schooled to the ways
of commerce could not have given to the De-
partment of the Interior the fine enthusiasm it
had from Mr.. Lane, nor could he have presided
over congress as did Champ Clark. Charles
Evans Hughes has for the third time in his career
set aside lucrative law practice to take on the
work of the public. Louis D. Brandeis, the late
Chief Justice White many and many another
gifted man has deliberately turned from the al
Turing path that leads to wealth 10 give himself
to the exacting duties of public service, and
when he reached the end of the road has been
summed up so far as his worldly goods 60 in
that sentence "He left no estate
1t is we'll for the republic that it does have
such men, All who strive for Office do not do
so for the slender emolument that goes with
political position, nor for the power or influence
or preSuge moving 1rOm the preference So SHOWN
by their elevation. Sincere and devoted men
honestly strive to serve, and do serve their coun
try and its citizens, and while they are giving
their lives to that service others are pilng up
wealth, achieving distinction, gratifying whims
or ambition in private pursuits, secure in all their
hopes and prospects because they are protected
by those who find outlet for their energies in
doing the things that must be done for the
world and for society. And of these no nobler
or worthier epitaph can be written than: He
left no estate"
1t is told of Roman general whom il was
sought to humiiate by naming him public scaven-
ger, that he said: The office can bring no
honor to me, but I will bring honor to the
ofhce." And he kept the city cleaner than it
ever had been. There is the true spirit of serv-
ice 1t made Rome great it has made America
greater, and it will still lift our country and its
people to higher plane. It's value can not be
measured in money or anything tangible; place
among the country's great is above price, and
can only be bought by deeds done for the good
oi men.