Not Riches, But Qualities Of Mind And Manner

The truest test of success in liíe ia chavacter. Has a man built up, not a fortune, but a, well disciplinad, well regulated chaiacter V Hi3 lie acquii ed, siot mere gold or aeres, but virtue, benevolence, and wisdom? Is he distiuguished, not for his ingota, but for hisphilanthropy? That is the only true tost of a man. Gold is every day becooiiug oi le3S consideration in society. There are so many riela men already, and likely to be so mauy more richer still, that the po33ession of mere wealth will entitle a man to no consideration of itself, unless aceompained by - .-...-. r nl-Unv íYinrn Tnfiílti íl 1 fl ílí rtTíl í.íí dislinction and respect. The rulers of opinión - tb e men of mark in society in this day - are most of tliena self-raised men. They may be rich men - that is very well so far; but they are also men of moral power, of scientific skill, of enlightened judgment and of large public spirit. It is not the mere power of the till which these men wicld, but the power which works in their moral character and discipüned experience. It is personal quahties, not tno accident of birth or the accuniulatiou of gold or icres whicli teil upon sociatjf ut lavge. Money ia power, it ís true but so are intelligence, public spirit and moral virtuo powers, too, and far nobler powers. The making of a fortune niay enable many to enter the list of the fashionable and the gentle classes, but it doe3 no more. , To be e3teemed there, they must possess qualities of mind, manners or heart, else ,hey are mero rieh people - nothing noire. There are men in the city ;Unost a8 rich as Crceaus, who have no ;onsideration extended to them, who ïlicit no respect, for why? They are out money-bags. Compare them, for inatance, with the pamphleteer, who gave us the penny postage, and how intinitely less respectable are they! It is the same throughout society. The men of vreight - the successful and usef ui men - are not necessarily rich men. They are men of sterling cliaracter, men of probity and moral excellence. Even the poor man, though he possess but little of the world's goods, may in the self-consciousness of a well-cultivated nature, of opportuni lies usecl if not abused, of a Ufe spent and imprövéd to the best of his ability, look down, without the slightest feeling of envy, upon tlie mere man of worldly succsss, the man of rconeyjags and acres. - Johnson. "What I want to know is who struck tbe firstblow?" said an Austin justice to Jim Webster, who waa the principal witness in an assault and battery case. "Únele Ike, dah, he hit do íust lick," replied Jim. "Are you positive tliat Uncle Ike struck the flrst blow?" "Ob course I is. Didn't I see him reach out and hit de fust lick, but how mauy licks he hit befo' dat fust one, or how many licks de udder niggah hit him fust, ara more dan I'se willin' to swar ter."