Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-01-31
SUCCESS IN MERCANTILE LIFE.

Tho 1/;rro, a cIaverIv-conducted foil o of four,
nublished ut Bath in the State of Maine furnishes
the following illustration of that perseverance and
industry which is generally pretty sure to command
success -
There is nothing more true than that success in
life is sure to follow any well-directed efforts, which
do not clash with the immutable laws OF nature.
Luck is a word that has no place IN the voca-
bularv of the successful man, and is used only by
those who are so blind or ignorant as to be unable
to trace effects back to causes. We do propose
an argument from this text to-day, but merely
wish to present the idea to our readers for them 10
discuss There are feelings of dependency preVa-
lent among mankind, which the consideration OF
the subject will disspate, and many who believe
themselves doomed to poverty and toll, by giving
earnest heed to the faith which this truth will Gre
ate, will find themselves rising at once from the mis-
erv thew so much fear. Fear of bad luck operates
as a continual check many, brushes enterprls...
es and prostrates energies. tbs the conscience
that
"doth make towards of US ALL
and only by taking rational and common-sense
view of the opening causes that change our posi-
ton and affect our well-being, are enabled to
profit by them, and shake off the chains that our
weakness and irresoution have permitted us to be-
come ensaved with.
The luck doctrine places an estimate on exer-
ton, and consigns success to the care Of the
divinity that shapes our ends,'
and makes a machine of mans immortal nature.
We have seen many poor devil resigned to the
hopelessness of his poverty, sit for hours with his
pipe, cursing the tardy divinity that should enrich
him, and wasting the moments which alone could do
it. CAS- We SOW, shall We reap" is as true to-day
as ever it was, and he who would succeed in be-
coming wealthy, learned or moral must labor, stu
! dy, watch.
We are every day reminded by forcible illustra-
tons of the power of exertion. In this city Bath)
there are many examples of proof. We have be-
fore us one remarkable case, where, unaided save
by their own hands and the friends their own en-
ergies naturally drew around them as their bust
ness increased, two poor men in a very few years
amassed one of the largest fortunes in the city.
Their ships are in every sea, and at home their
houses and stores line svery street, and the busy
hum of scores of mechanics speak their increasing
wealth. Unable to obtain a liberal education, and
with talents no than ordinary, they bad moth
ING to boast but the determination to succeed. 1t
was not luck but common sense which told them
that dollar put at interest would be worth more
at the end of the year than it would be if eXpend
ed Tor rum and cigars, military parades dancing.
| 1t was not luck but natural accumulation of the
investment that, in few years made the one dol
lar two dollars, the first hundred two hundred and
! the first ten thousand twenty thousand. 1t was as
natural for the ple to grow is for grain to take
root. There was no chance about tit must be so
Industry and economy their only aids to obtain
the first few thousands, the last few obtained by
the first. There is nothing marvellous in all this
nor any thing which any person of common sense
might not avail himself of. 1t is plain matter-of
fact business, and no god Of fortune can rub 1t out
and no god Of i'll fortune can overstep proper
guards erected to you in possession of what
you have thus got your hand upon.
We might give innumerable instances, but leave
that labor to the reader, contenting oursef with
having called his attention to the subject
Hunts Magazine.