Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-04-20

MoRAL AND lNTELLECruAL CULTURE OF
AM.R,cAS MrRcHANrs.-The following Is
extracted from Rev. George Pu,nam's leclnr"
before the b ,s,on Mercantile Library Asso-
ciation and may be found entire in The Mrr
chants Magazine ior AprIl, 1913;
ii canunt tell, and If ! knew as much of
business matters us the wlrcst of ny hearers,
suppose | could not tell, whnl IL the exact
INIT which Young man should sci 'n hi"'
self ln the acceptance of credit and the cX
oansIun OF enterprise. II depends much upon
he man and yet even here isa great so"rc'
nf error, for each one IL npt to think liimsrI'
capable of any thing ~ hls line (; 1t depends,
TOO, upon the merits aud circumstances o'
each pnrtlcnar case. But the great danger
IS of cXccsA. Worldly wisdom should re-
sric, man very clnsry; and moral wisdom
conscience shuuld restrict hIm stIIl more
Moral wisdom should forbid his going deeper
Than he can calmly aud moderately 20, with
The desire only OF regular gains. and without
intense or passionate cngfosStnent IN bus'
uess-wl,h industry, indeed, and inlr exer.
ilon OF his facn'ies. but without brond'ng,
exciting, cnslavlng soul absorption ~ wOrldIl
,tfars. lie should keep hls position such
that I've can contemplate n without beng be-.
wlldcrcd 10y its vaStneSs, aud mndc anxious or
oppressed by thc complcxity or amount at
The obligations IL involves such that The
worst times come Wlnu or how they may.
will not distract hun by difficulty, or offer
temptations tn drcrIt aud fraud, to breaches
of confidence mud trust. II seems best, that
a man, who has o line Ot business which hc
understands, aud winch will support hin.
however humbly, should continc hmsrlt io
that. and not be- drawn away Into operations
with which he is not fam liar--t"mp,ing paths
~ winch hr gocs blNdioldcd, or Gnzzled by
lntge aud uncertain hopes. There Is So murh
of chance and rl-k, o.! exciting hope nnd tear
~ tins, II parakcs SO much of the character
Of gaming, that II uusc,ilcs the mind, snd l.
lnornly unhealthy invariably and Ot necessity.
What proportion. do you suppose, of recent
disasters are attributable 10 some snch de
parurcs from mans regular wnIks oi bu-l
ncss-as nnprudcni ss they arc d"moralI2lng
-lurolving all tho moral evils of an excessive
extension of ones legitimate business, with
the added rvils oi life and death game oi
chance. Look to your principles. Make not
haste 10 be- rcl. Observe, aud aspire not To
ovcrlcap The bounds wi,Ici God aud nature
set ~ your ambition.
Devote yourselves to limited regularplans
Of business bc content with regular, modc-
rate gains. Indulge moderate expectations
is tho only safe ones. Reduce yuur wants
and ldeas oi competency and comforts. raih"r
than enlarge your plans aud aspirations b"
vond due mud sshcr bounds. Do not seek 4"
he immediately or very rlcb. or YOU Will be-
disappointed. or worse than disappointed =
b. satisfied io labor patiently through youth
aud mnnhood, with tho hop" of competency
Tor The decline ri lIfr. This hope may BE-
.omew whht more. or suincw hat lcss than grn'i.
fed NJ any rate. II - all that young man
ought m ui-dmn mud conscience - indulge
ln. aud uci upon B" moi idlc or ihrinlcs~ ~
your pursuits, noi hate = joi ri henr' or hope.
nui hc wisaly nndetaie. iuu viii thus br
moro likely tn prosper. IN tho worldly srn.e
II tho word and u viii BE- ircaicuatly bet
'et '"r y"ur mlnds mud hearts. your principles,
'igmty aud hapflnsss.'