Paris—­

  Dear George and Gertrude,—­

  The accumulation of my fortune, now largely invested in prime
  securities, has been a surprise and often a burden to me, and with it
  came, as I now clearly see, great responsibilities.

Money is power, and most people zealously seek it.  Many fail to get it, and often those who do succeed, fail to keep it.  Wealth unsought comes only to a few, while others, with perhaps hereditary financial instincts, pursue with certainty of success the golden fleece.

My early experiences with poverty, and now with wealth, and my late extensive observations have impressed upon me, as never before, the common brotherhood of mankind.  The great problem of our age is the proper administration of wealth, so that the ties of brotherhood may still bind together the rich and poor in harmonious relations.  What shall be the laws of accumulation and distribution?  To decide this wisely the discretion of our present and future legislators will be heavily burdened.

The condition of many races is better to-day on the foundations on which society is built, than on the old ones tried and abandoned.  What were yesterday’s luxuries are to-day’s necessities.  The poor enjoy to-day what yesterday even the rich could not afford.  Mankind always has exhibited great irregularities.  In every race some are born with an energy and ability to produce wealth, others not.  Invention and discovery have replaced scarcity and dearness with abundance and cheapness.  The law of competition seems to cheapen comforts and luxuries.

Both labor and capital are organizing, concentrating, competing.  The idealist may dream of what is attainable in the future, but our duty is plainly with what is practicable now.  My prayer is for wisdom and ability to administer wisely our wealth, during my life-time.  I am therefore resolved to act as follows:—­

  1st.  To retain for my family only what will provide modestly for them
  all.  I do not wish to leave much property for my relatives to use
  prodigally, or to quarrel over.

2nd.  I plan not to wait till I die and then leave behind for public purposes money which I cannot take with me.  I shall consider myself as an agent, or trustee, in charge of certain surplus funds to be expended in behalf of my poorer brethren.

On our return to America, Mrs. Harris and I will make our wills in accordance with the above.  It is our desire that, when you reach home, you both enter at once upon the development of your plans, of a cooperative manufacturing corporation, in accordance with the views which you have so frequently mentioned.  In the execution of these plans, you may use, if necessary, five millions.  With best wishes for your happiness.

  Your father,

  Reuben Harris.

The writing of this letter gave Colonel Harris more pleasure than any act of his life; in fact it was for him the beginning of a new life; a life for others.