, 1843-05-20

it to paroni=e uoa.!!r
Moral NJ INTELLECTUAL CUL-
TURF OF AMERICAN MERCHANTS. The
following is extracted from Rev.
George Pu,nam's lecture before the
Boston Mercantile Library Associa-
ton, and may be found entire in the
Merchants Magazine for April, lS45:
81 cannot tell, and if ] knew as
much Of business matters as the Wis
est of my hearers, suppose could
not tell, what is the exact limit which
a Young man should set to himself in
the acceptance of credit and the ex-
pansion of enterprise. 1t depends
much upon the man; and yet even
here is a great source of error, for
which ore is apt TO think himself a
pable of anything in his line: it de-
ponds. too, upon the merits and cir
cumstances of each particular case.
But the great danger is of excess
Worldly wisdom should restrict a
man very closely; and moral wisdom
.-conscience--should restrict him
still more. Moral wisdom should for
bid his going deeper than he can calm
ly aHd moderately 60, with the de-
sire only of regular gains, and with
out intense or passionate en.ross-
ment in business--with the industry,
indeed and q fair exertion Of his fac
%ulties, but without broodlng, excited,
enslaving soul absorption in worldly
affairs. He should keep his position
such that he can contemplate it with
out being bewildered by its vastness,
and made anxious or oppressed by
the complexity or amount Of the OBJ
legations il involves; such that the
worst times, come when or how :hey
may, will moi distract him by difficult
ty, or offer temptations to deceit and
fraud, to breaches Of confidence and
trust. 1t seems best, that q man, who
has a line Of business which he uI-
derstands, and will support him how
ever humbly, should conine himself
TO that, and not be drawn away into
operations with which he is not IA
mlliar-tempting paths in which he
goes blindfolded, or dazzeled by large
and uncertain hopes. There is SO
much of chance and risk, of exciting
hope and fear in this, it partakes so
much Of each character of gaming,
that it unsettles the mind. and is NOR
ally unhealthy, invariably and of ne
cessity. What proportion, do you
suppose, Of recent disasters are at
tributed to some such departures from
a mans regular walks to business-as
~imprudent as they are demoralizing
involving all the evils of an excess
sive extension of ones legitimate bus
with the added evils Of a life
and death game or chance. Look to
your principles. Make not haste to
be rich. Observe, and aspire not to
overlap the bounds which God and
nature set to your ambition.
Devote yourselves to limited, regu-
lar plans OF business; be content with
moderate gains. Indulge
moderate expectations as the only
safe ones. Reduce your wants and
ideas of competency and comforts.
than enlarge your plans and
aspirations beyond due and sober
Do not seek to be immedi-
ately or very rich, or YOU will be dis
appointed! Be satisfied 10 labor pa
through youth and manhood.
with the hope Of competency for the
of life. This hope may be
some what more, or some what less
than gratiied; at any rate, it is all
that young man ought in wisdom
and conscience to indulge in, and act
upon. Be not idle or thriftless in
Your pursuits, nor bate a jot OF heart
or hope, but be wisely moderate.
You will thus be more likely to pros
per in the worldly sense of the word;
and it will be intellectually better for
your minds and hearts, your princi-
pies, dignity and happiness"
TEMPERANCE AMONG Salons
'Tbrea shinS- the Tamerlane. the