Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-29
BY HOWARD WHITMAN

Riding in a taxicab in Chi
cago. I asked the driver, Who
the richest man in town."
He replied, "As far as I'm con-
cerned. it's the man with the
money"
I challenged his answer,
probing for some recognition
that there were other things in
life besides money, but he re-
Joined with finality, Outside of
that there's nothing to be rich
about"
Surely many Americans share
that view. We live a money
culture" And if you visit Bev-
erly Hills, Calf, you see it car
ried to its nth degree. even with
a self-conscious good humor
which permits the Hollywood
moneyworshiper to quip. Whats
happiness? 1t won't bring you
money"
Money isn't everything. But
In this installment the author
also wishes to make the point
that money isn't nothing.
A Mere Pose
There is tendency among the
nonconfromistS and the social
tmprovers Of our time to fight
the overlordship of money sim
ply by despising it. But nine
times out of 10 such despisal is
mere pose Cor sour grapes. if
you like and what such a con-
tender usually despises is his
own bad luck at not having
more money himself. 1t is not
necessary to despise money in
order to fight against money
worship.
Freud spoke much of the
reality principle" and still in
the field of mental health we use
as first standard of diagnosis
the individuals contact with
reality. There is a reality prin-
ciple, too, in the role we assign
to money in our individual lives.
Most Of us recognize this when
a couple of young romantics tell
us that they are about to get
married on $1.98 but they are
sure they will be blissfully hap
py because money plays no part
in their love. We quickly tell
them that this is a fine flight of
fancy of which they will be dis
abused within about 70 hours.
Unfortunately we do not carry
our realistic view of money con-
sistently into all the areas Of
living but rather we vaguely
most Of us-diSapprove of a
money worshiping society and yet
cannot quite buy poverty as an
alternative and so remain vague
about the whole thing.
Most Of us are clear on the
palpable fact that money doesn't
necessarily bring happiness 1--WE
all have finger tip examples Of
the miserable rich, but the
reality principle would seem to
demand that we recognize an OPP
poSite fact as well: money doesn't
necessarily bring unhappiness.
Rich Is Best"
The veteran entertainer
Sophie Tucker, said at a dinner
concentrating her multiple
decades in show business. i've
been rich and I've been poor
And believe me rich is best"
1t is easy to despise the money
for which someone else has
toiled: one takes a different view
when II is he himself who has
put forth the toll and his own
bank account which is a memo
landum of it. He may indeed
despise ill-gotten gains or money
come by undeservedly, but by
time the hair around his temples
shows a tinge of gray he has
developed a healthy respect for
money earned. He sees that
this too, like Churchill's victory.
often is the end result Of blood
sweat, toll and tears.
The incisive question In regard
70 money becomes not How
much?" but rather "Why?"
Why do we have our money!
For what purpose have we placed
the product Of past striving in
storage?
II was Thoreau who wrote
from his vantage point at WAL
den Pond that mankind simply
goes on generation after genera
ton developing improved means
toward unimproved ends
We ought 10 ask ourselves
why We are living. to what pur-
pose II We then examine the
purpose and ind 1t good. the
next logical step is 10 determine
how best 70 achieve ii.
II money is neceSsary-say, II
our purpose is to live in a lovely
home surrounded by charming
gardens or 10 travel TO a score
Of countries or 70 collect fine
paint.ngs-then We must with
further loGlc 90 about the buG-
ness Q; accommodating the needed