Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1837-10-14
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THE WAY TO WEALTH.
OR WEAR YouR OLD COAT 4 YEAR LONGER.

: OR WEAR YOUR OLD COAT YEAR LONGER.
"Wear your old coat year longer" said
gentleman Of my. acquaintance, several year
ago, when times were good, 10 young arts
IN hts employ, who had asked him for por
tioh OF the wages remaining in his hands, sta
ing that, as the Christmas holidays were ap
preaching. he wished to get hi,nselfa new
coat. Telling him to turn round, and exam
ming attentively the coat the Young man hat
on, and perceiving that, although somewha
worn, twas Still sound, decent coat, having
neither rent nor patch, the gentleman looket
him mcaningly in the face, and remarked a.
have related. .
Pretty good advice thought |, then; but how
tmnch more essential. absolutely indispcpsa
bic lsit at the present crisis, when every bo
dy not only knows, but actually feels the times
to be .hard---consequently, almost every body
IS ha'd-E-essed to get along without runningir
debt, not only that we wear our old coats, bu,
also our old hats, pants, shoes, and in fine
4 hunt up and bring into use all our old weara.
bles! And we must not even stop here---stric,
economy must be observed at home BY those
OF us who have them, in our families, by eve.
Try member. We should bewi!ling to dispense
with the delicacies and lGxuries, and be con-
tent with the necessaries of life, and none of
these sohuld be used with prodigalty or vast
ed. Such a course, know. will require a lit
tie se'i-denial, but our health will not suffer;
on the contrary it will be much better, and,
by making our spirits more lively, it will in
crease our happiness. We must, likewise,
torego taking any pleasure or amusement ex-
cept such as can be had without expense: the
times wont permit--l mean, taking our duties
and obligations to our families into consdcra-
tion---wil not justify us in spending foolshly
a single cent. should we be SO fortunate as to
own one. Now is the time to study, learn,
and practice economy, and ifpride, sfalse PRIDE
! do not prevent, many persons, who, all their
lifetime, have been grossly ignorant on this
subject, will take their first lessons in the most
essential branch ofall domestic sciences, name
ly. economy; which lessons will prove bcne-
fetal TO them ever afterwards. A person may
practice economy now, and be commended for
his or her prudence and foresight, who, had
he or she attempted il few months ago, would
have been laughed at and accused Of parsmo-
my.
| Perhaps the reader would like to know
something more concerning the gentleman al
ludcd to, and whether or not the young man
took his advice; if he did, what was the result
of his conduct! tits true, am pretty well ac-
quainted with the gentleman's history; but as
he is extensively and iavorably known in BAL
timore, as one of her most wealthy and useful
citizens, giving constant employment to near
lily one hundred workmen; and besides, as
know him to be reader Of the Monument, Of
course he will read this article, consequently
/ do not feel at liberty to enter into particulars
and give all the circumstances connected with
his life that have come to my knowledge
This much, will say, and it may afford a
clue to the source of his almost unexampled
prosperity. 1t is This: When he gave the ad-
vice, lie also remarked in relation to himself,
that when he commenced business, and for
number Of years afterwards, until his fortune
enabled him 10 alter his course, he acted
strictly upon the same principle he then re-
commended to him. namely, that Of wearing
his old coat year longer.
The young man, whom we shall hereafter
call Joe Willing. was an intimate acguain-
lance of mine, and we had made an engage
ment to visit, on Christmas day. an old friend
of ours, who had two excellent daughters. /
had just served ont my apprenticeship, and
had some reason for thinking myself man,
and consequently juslifable in what was do
ing; altho' ] must confess, it being the first
time in my life had ever ventured upon ST.
milar expedition, felt rather qncerly in view
of the awkward figure expected TO cut before
the ladies', having, in the ardor Of my pursuit
to gain thorough practical knowledge Of my
profession, entirely overlooked or forgotten 10
take single lesson in the artof polifcncss alias
dendyism.
And here beg permission to digress mo-
ment in order to express my abhonance and
detestation at seeing SO many hobble-de-li6ys
and boys make the most ridiculous caTicatures
of themselves by apeing the manners and Dig
nifty of men. As well might common mon
kew assume the air and carriage Of an ourang-
outang, and expect to escape detection on ac-
count Of being an ape, as for those apelsf gen
tlemen to think Of being taken for men, be-
cause they are Npeds.
Christmas eve arrived, and Joe, agreeable
70 appointment, met me at my room to talk O.
over matters and complete our arrangements
for the next days enterprise.
swell Joe,'' said 1, taking from my trunk,
which served alike the double purpose OF a
wardrobe and toilet, a new suit Of blue cloth
mot broad clotl) with large gilt buttons
sswhat do you think Of this for PRESENT."
"Think very highly Of it. You're lucky
dog, Ben; but who in the world could have
been 80 kind as to make you so substantial a
present." taking the coat and examining It
carefully --"splendid buttons, these; you'll cut
quite dash Tomorrow, my boy"
"It's my freedom suit" was the proud re-
|ply.
Never did poor sinful mortal feel more
happy this side Of the 'bourne whence no ira
Weller returns,'' than did on that occasion.
Not, however, because of the intrinsic value
Of my new suit, nor because OF It's being the
frst1 ever owned, though both these consl '1
tons were not then to be left out Of the ques-
ton; but on account Of the circumstances at
tending its reception: for with it | had receiv-
ed my masters unqualified APPRECIATION Of ny