There certainly
appeared to be no limit to the millionaire's success in all that he
personally undertook, or in his fortunate complicity with the enterprise
and invention of others. His name was associated with the oldest
and safest schemes, as well as the newest and boldest--with an equal
guarantee of security. A few, it was true, looked doubtingly upon this
"one man power," but could not refute the fact that others had largely
benefited by association with him, and that he shared his profits with
a royal hand. Some objected on higher grounds to his brutalizing
the influence of wealth by his material and extravagantly practical
processes, instead of the gentler suggestions of education and personal
example, and were impelled to point out the fact that he and his
patronage were vulgar. It was felt, however, by those who received his
benefits, that a proper sense of this inferiority was all that ethics
demanded of them. One could still accept Rushbrook's barbaric gifts by
humorously recognizing the fact that he didn't know any better, and that
it pleased him, as long as they resented any higher pretensions.
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