GOLD VERSUS IDEALS 



literature did not usually bring large emoluments. 

 Milton was the efficient secretary and practical apologist 

 of the most practical of conquerors and rulers. Dante 

 took an eager interest in the political conflicts of his 

 time, as the most casual reading of the Divine Comedy 

 will reveal. Machiavelli and Bacon, Leonardo and 

 Newton were the counselors of princes; as, in the 

 remoter age, were Aristotle and the two Plinys, and as, 

 in our own day, were Gladstone and Bisrharck. Vol- 

 taire turned aside from literature for a short time to 

 make a fortune, in order to prove, as he characteristically 

 said, how easily the thing might be done. Grote 

 and Schliemann began their historical labors after they 

 had gained financial independence in business pursuits; 

 and the sweetest singer of the Victorian age was noted 

 for the thrift with which he disposed of his inspired 

 wares. 



A popular form of cant would make it a misfortune to 

 inherit wealth. Doubtless sometimes it is so, to youth 

 of defective stamina; but consider how often, on the 

 other hand, inherited competency has proved itself no 

 hindrance to genius. The list is a long one from 

 Plato in antiquity to Gibbon, Byron, Darwin, Brown- 

 ing, Ruskin, Tennyson in modern times of men of 

 genius who were nurtured in luxury, and who never 

 had to consider the question of material ways and 

 means. Who dare affirm that for these men, and a 

 host of their fellows, the possession of gold was not a 

 means to the attainment of the highest ideals? 



Affect not, then, my eager aspirant, that fine scorn 

 of the fleshpots. Render unto the power of gold the 



