South Bend news-times., 1922-10-15
Does Wealth
Gake Happiness

- NJ OF the weaIthiest and vyisest
men ever knew told me once
- that he wished he could leave
ms children the advantage OF pow
cry rather than the Disadvantages
OF wealth lie himself had conquer
ed his humble birth and knew the
incentive which want creates. knew
also. the temp ta3lOn OF wealth which
go often throws cold water on the
divine spark OF ambition.
Il chanced one afternoon that I
repealed the remark % a woman.
who though not unkindly. neverthe-
less consciously hOisted the dollar
sign wherever she went a truly
poor person would laugh at your
words. my friend. But lately I've
discovered Il 10 be true"
smiled and asked: Has your
wealth proved a hindrance 20 your
husband ?" She did not reply. In
stead. she told mo her story.
a year ago had you asked me
such a question / should have
answered you promptly, no. Today
j know better. For nearly 3 years,
our married life has been unmarried
by even the slightest thought that
our lives might have been different.
more happy. more worthy. had we
possessed less OF material things.
Your inquiry would have seemed
90 me at any time during those
years. absurd. for the very idea Of
-. estioning the supreme goodness
money never entered my mind.
From childhood. wealth has always
represented itself 20 me as a par
ticular gift from a generous God
20 a favored child. Probably be-
cause OF this belief, my attitude
has been such rlat I have Justly
many times been called a snob.
Wealth Not Advantage.
TT Is only during the past few
months that there has been any
question IN my mind regarding the
advantages Of wealth. It has only
been lately that have surmised
that my husband has been secretly
dissatisfied with the life laid out
for him when he married me. And
somehow. I've come 20 the con-
ciusion that a man who would aC-
Compllsh things does not find un-
alloyed Joy IN having his career
mapped out - he wants the keen
competition OF others and he needs
this 10 develop whatever there IS
in him worthy OF development. In
a word. he desires the task OF
making his own success no matter
how little that success proves 10 be
"On the other hand my parents
thought that they were doing both
OF US a real kindness when they
gave up a beautiful home and hand
ed over money which neither OF Us
earned. Ny father thought ne
was doing a big thing for my hus-
band when he gave him high
sounding title. a luxurious office IN
the company which he controls. 1
too. thought my wealth added 20 the
happiness OF the man 1 married. He
had struggled so many years that {
Aalmost felt like fairy gOd-mother |
ho raised him over night to a |
state OF continual bliss and luxury /
No Financial Worries.
In this world where sufferinga 4
seems 20 be at least an occasional |
visitor in many homes, no suffering /
entered ours: we were spared the |
trials and tribulations OF money |
matters. In times OF Illness we had |
AZ our call the finest specialists; !
when periods OF commercial distress !
lranAced many homes. no halt was
made in our extravagances
As I said before. IS years have
passed and it is only recently that /
have begun 20 doubt Something !
ne said one night and the touch Of
sadness and regret which fingered |
I'm his eyes. made me at least think /
differently about wealth.
we had as our guests, my hus-
bands boyhood friend and his wife. |
They were on their way 20 Wash 4
ington as ne had been recently elect
ed senator from his western state. /
and they were both supremely happy /
over weIl-earned success. He and |
nv husband had been poor boys
working their way through college
together Unlike my husband. he
had not a rich wife"
Once when we went west We
visited them in their coy brick
bungalow on the outskirts OF small
Gown. Everything he possessed had
been made through his practice as
"A lawyer and her economy as a
Tous~heeper and a mother. Then
Are did not see them until they drop
PED IN on US on their way 20 the
rapitot. We talked ate that evening 4
and presently the senator addressed 4
my husband: You've always had \
political ambitions. you've a legal .
,nird-why don't you get into the I
rarneq" IN turn. my husband laugh
"a harshly: "Do you think anyone
would nominate rich mans mere
son-fn-la who has never done any
thing when you get down 10 brass
tacl1a. No no man can have
everything
Wealth Real Handicap.
DAYS afterward q seemed 20 me
that he was saving that over and
over 20 himself and when I ap-
preached him on the subject. he re-
p1ted. I'VE have had TOO much from
lfe. too much comfort. TOO much
luxury and It has killed the thing we
ought 20 have had-the impulse 20
reach the heights
"Ts words. go fun OF pain. so
f-sEunentary. lodged ia my mind and
continually I am asking what sort
~ a lffe would we have known to-
rsthsr II he had started out 90
mould his own career with only his
brain and a determination 20 win
Has my money been the help 20 him
that I had always supposed or has
g. been a hindrance2 Has 10 kept
my husband from being the man he
would have been and should have
been7"
Wealth Is powerful stuff but IL
rexer has been nor never VIII be