Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1854-10-03

Waste neither time nor money in small
and useless pleasures and indulgences.
If the young can be induced to begin 10
saTe, the moment they enter upon the
paths OF life. the way will ever become
easier before them. and they will not fail
to attain competency, and that without
denying themselves any Of the real ne.
cessaries and comforts Of life. Our peo.
pie are certainly among the most cxtrav.
agant and improvident on the face Of tho
earth, 1t is enough TO mako the NOR.
chant Of the old school who looks back
and thinks what economy, prudence and
disc retion he had to bring to bear on his
own business, (and which are, in fact,
the bases Of all successful enterprise,
sialt back with astonishment 10 look at
the ruthless waste and extravaganza of
the Age and People. The highest test OF
respec.ability, with me, is honest indus.
,:y. Well.direc,ed industry makes men
happy. The really noble clsss-,he
class that was noble "when Adam delv.
| ed and Eve span," have preserved their
patent TO this day un,afnished, and are
the laborious aud industrious. Until men
have learned Ind. s,ry, Economy. and
Selfcontrol, they cannot safely be en-.
trusted with wealth.
II. To industry. and economy. add
seli.reliance. Do not take TOO much cd.
vice. The business maM must keep at
the helm, and steer his own ship. In
early life every one shonld be taught 10
think for himself A mans talents are
never brought out until he is thrown 10
some extent on his own resources. If in
every difficulty he has only to 80 to his
principal, and then implicitly obey the
directions he may receive. he will never
acquire that aptitude Of perception, and
that Promptness Of decision, and that
hrmness OF purpose which are absolutely
necessary to those who hold important
stations. A certain degree Of indepen.
dent feeling is essential 10 tie full devel.
opemcnt Of the intellectual character.
iii. Remember that punctuality is the
mother Of confidence. II is not enough
that the Merchant fulfls his engagements
he must do what he undertakes pre-.
cisely at the time, as we'll as in the way
he agreed 10. The mutual dependence
OF merchants is SO great, that their en-.
YaSements, like a chain, which, accord.
ing to law oil physics. is never Atronger
than its weakest link, are oitener broken
through the weakness OF Others than their
own. But a prompt fuI filment of en-.
gagements is not only Of the utmost i'm.
poriance because it enables others 10
meet their engagements promptly. 1t is
also the best evidence that the merch hant
has his affairs we'll ofdered--hls means OF
command, his forces maishalled, and ev.
erythlng ready Tor action in short that
he knows his own strength. This it is
which Inspires confidence, as mucn per.
haps as the meeting Of the engagement.
~. Attend to the minutie OF business,
small things as we'll as great. See that
the store is opened early, goods brushed
up. twine and nails picked up, and all
ready foI action. A young man should
consider capital, if he have it, or as he
may acquire it, merely as tools with
which he is to work, not as a substitute
Tor the necessity Of labor. 1t is ottsn
the case that diligence in employn.e,,ts
Of less consequence is the mast success.
Jul introduction to great enterprises.-
Those make the best officers who have
served in the ranks. We may say of la.
Dor. as Colerdge said Of Poetry, sit is
its own sweetest reward"
V. Lei the young merchant remember
that selfishness is the meanest Of vices,
and is the parent of thousand more
|. not only interferes both with the means
and with the end Of acquisition, not only
makes money mere difficult to get, and
not worth having when it is got, but it is
narrowing TO the mind and TO the heart.
SeI6ness "keeps shilling so close to the
eye that it cannot see dollar beyond"
Never be narrow and contracted in your
views. Life abounds in instances oil the
brilliant results Of generous policy.
Be frank. Say what you mean. Do
wha, you say. So shall your friends
l know and take it for granted that you
mean 10 do what is just and right.
vi. Accustom yourself 10 think vigor.
ously. Mental capital, like pecuniary
to be Of any worth, must be we'll invest
ed-must bs rightly adjusted and applied
and to this end, careful, deep, and in.
:ense thought is necessary, if great re,
suits are looked for.
! VII. Marry early. The man Of busi.
ness should marry as soom as possible
after twenty-five Or twenty. three years O
age. A woman Of mind will conform L
the necessities Of the day Of small begin
nings and in choosing a wife, mar
should look at. LIST. The heart, 2ndly
The mind 3lly. The person.
Everything, however remote, that ha.
any bearing upon success must be taker
advantage Of The business man should
be continually on the watch for informs
ton, and ideas that will throw light on hi
path, and lie should be an attentive read
er Of all practical works. especially thos,
relating to business. trade, &C., as vel
as a patron Of useful and enobling liter
ature.
OuR FlRsr MEN.-The only brother
Of Henry Clay was a cabinet maker
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