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Show Modern Passion for Display. It was a century and a half ago that Benjamin Franklin wrote that "Idleness nnd pride tnx with n heavier hand than kings and parliaments," but his message comes with peculiar force to tho people of this day and generation. Perhaps Idleness Is no greater a vice than In Franklin's time, but the sort of prldo thnt taxes men's pocketbooks never before flourished as now. Tho deslro of tho poor to npo tho rich, tho universal effort and determination to keep up appearance for appearance sake, Is ono of tho curses of this age. That hollow ap-pcarnt-ees aro hut tokens of superficial superfic-ial mlmls too few understand. Men and womon of moderate means aspire as-pire to make the same display In spending money that their more wealthy neighbors do, nnd, when adversity ad-versity comes, finding themselves with no money saved thoy realize too late, ns Franklin would any, that they havo paid too dearly for the whistle. Portland Orcgonlan. |