The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-11-14
From HUNTS Magazine.
Rules for Getting Rich:

IL utcS IuF ut'tlIIE hHus
Oh, Hints for Merchants and Buaness Men.
Almost every merchant has been
rich, Or at least prosperous, at some
poin of his life; and if he is poor now,
he can see very well how he might
have avoided the disaster which over
threw his hopes. He will probably
see that his misfortunes arose from me-
glec,ing some ofth following rules:
Be industrious. Every body knows
that industry is fundamental virtue
in the man Of business. But it is not
every sort OF industry which tends TO-
wealth. Many men work hard to do
4 great deal OF business, and, after all.
make less money than they would if
they did less. Industry should be ex-
pended in seeing to all the details of
business-n the careful finishing up of
each separate undertaking, and in the
maintenance Of such system as will
keep everything under control.
Be economical. This rule, also, is
familiar to every body. Econ omy is
virtue to be practised every hour IN
great city. 1t is to be practised in
pence as much as in pounds. A shil-
ling day saved, amounts to an estate
in the course of life. Economy is
especially important in the outset OF
life, until the foundations of an estate
are laid. Many men are poor all their
days, because, when their necessary
expenses were small, they did not seize
the opportunity to save small capital,
which would have changed their for
tunes for the whole of their lives.
Stick to the business in which you
are regularly employed. Let specula-
tors make their thousands in year or
a day; mind your own regular trade,
never turning from Ito the right hand
or the left. If you are merchant,
professional man, or mechanic, nev-
er buy lots or stocks unless you have
surplus money which you wish to in-
vest. Your own business you under-
stand as well as other men; but other
peoples business you do not UNDER
stand. Let your business be some one
which is useful to the community. All
such occupations possess the elements
of profit in themselves, while mere spec-
ulation has no such element.
Never take great hazards. Such
hazards are seldom well balanced by
the prospects of proft;and if they were
the habit of mind which is induced is
unfavorable, and generally the result is
bad. To keep what you have, should be
the first rule; to get what you can fair
y,the second.
DO mol be in hurry to get rich.-
Gradual gains are the only natural
gains, and they who are in haste to be
rich, break over sound rules, fall into
tenn mptatons and distress Of various sorts
and generally fail OF their object
There is no use in getting rich sudden
ly. The man who keeps his business
under his control, and saves something
from year to year, is always rich. At
any rate, he possesses the highest en-
joyment which riches are able to afford.
Never do business for the sake Of
doing it, and being counted 6, eat mer-
chant. There is often more money to
be made by small business than large
one; and that business will IN the end
be most respectable which is most sue
cessful. DO not get deeply in debt;
I but SO manage as always, if possible,
to have your financial position easy, so
that you can turn any way you please.
DO not love money extravagantly.
| We speak here merely with reference
to getting rich. In morals, the inor-
dinate love OF money is one of the most
degrading vices. But the extravagant
desire of accumulation induces an ca.
lgerness,many times, which is imprudent
and SO misses its object from too much
haste to grasp it.