Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-01-02
BE DI i. m BUSINESS.

F
We do not know that;ve could perform a more
acceptable service to some Of our readers, at this
time, the beginning Of new year, than to copy for
their perusal and reflection the following article
from the Philadelphia Ledger.
We often hear the expression, s'he is business
man, and will succeed" The term is plain, but
q strong and comprehensive one. 1t implies ener-
gy, attention, accuracy, and forethought in man,
in whatever department of labor or enterprise it
may be his choice or his lot to be engaged With
out energy, one may expect to be surpassed and
thrown in the shade; without attention to Details
al well as to general rules of business, one may
well apprehend that after time, he may be I'M
dermlned by slow degrees and at last fail entirely
IN accomplishing his purposes; without accuracy,
both OF memory and judgment, it may be expected
that persons will show a want Of reliability, which
in business men is the next thing to a crime and
without forethought, one will not be able to pro-
vide against contingencies, but will be at times like
ship at sea, without stars to guide the means of
reckoning upon safe course. A business man P"
possessed of these qualities rarely if ever fails He
may encounter reverses, but he never despairs.
His very reverses impart new strength to his facu-
ties, and hope and fear alike, and both, strive in
him for the mastery over all difficulties. There is
often much and as sublime heroism displayed
under reverses by " a business man as there is by
the trained warrior on fields of mortal strife
The article which copy below we commend
especially to young men just commencing business
and to those who, having encountered reverses, are
again taking start in the world. Put your
trust in Providence, and keep your powder dry"
was the injunction to the soldier uttered, on IA
nous occasion; put your trust an Providence, and
labor aoh energy and consistency, is the advice given
to beginners-to those who would acquire COM
potency in this worlds goods, or who would make
name among their fellows by intellectual effort.
Nothing is surer than that energy, accuracy, and
perseverance in ones calling will command success.
This declaration is golden one, and stands fast.
1t has been illustrated in nnumerablc cases, and
will be until the end Of time. Diligence in 6usi-
ness "-remenber the words! Act them out, and
you will succeed; neglect them, and you will have
to deplore the consequences when it is, perhaps
too late:
"BE Du1GENr IN Business" -Franklin has some
where SAID that he owed considerable share of his
success in life to the impression made upon him
while yet boy at home, by passage in the Book
of Kings that those who diligent in business"
should stand in the presence of princes. 1t is well
known that lew men We're more lnOuSLflOuS IL Is
equally we'll known that, while he began his
as poor boy he lived to be an honored Ambassador
the Court of the proulcst monarch i'll christen-
dom. He example, therefore, Of the literal
fulfilment OF the text.
But he was not the only man who realized its
truth. We doubt indeed if any man ever succeeded
in life who Mas not dligent in business The sup
posed instances to the contrary. often popularity
quoted invariably prove fallacious when rigdly
amined Curran, the great Irish orator, was said to
have had eoquence native born but the
trary he has left record that he took the great
est pains perfect his elocuton, his gestures, and
his knowledge of law.-Burke, the British Cicero,
built up the cdice of his fame by slow, persevering,
laborious effort. The late Stephen Grard amassed
his colossal fortune by assiduous attention to bust
ness Clay, Webster. and Calhoun all worked hard.
And Napoleon the First, who born genius if
ever was, achieved most of what he did by un
ceasing labor often debating to several secretaries
at once, and always tiring out every body about
him.
If these great men achieved distinction only by
their diligence in business, even if this mono
deny, the principal cause of their success,
how can those of inferior abilities expect prosper
unless they follow the same example! He who neg
lects his business will find his business neg
lectng him. Ability, without industry, will not do.
Men who think to succeed by doing half days
work must later go to the wall. There is
but way rise it is to be dgent, always dill
&c It, The merchant who leaves his store to take
IS ociable drink )" the mechanic who stops work to
have a blue Monday, the professional man who
goes off on parties of pleasure, and misses the
chances of clients or patients cang-all these Ell
Their fail utterly in life at last is the in nine
examples out of ten, fall short of that complete
success which they might otherwise have obtained.
The old fable of the tortoise who beat the hare to
the goal because the latter stopped oten is realiz
ed every day and hour in life. The old adagc,
slow but sure" is verified continually by cxper.
fence. Even genius itself has been said by no less
thinker than Sir James Mcintosh to be only ano-
Their name for industry Go and ask Of the Of
beggared old men, who once prosperous, now cat
the bread of dependence what it was that ruined
them, and they will answer, if honest, because we
were not diligent."
1t is young men just starting out in life who should
especially lay this truth to heart They must not
foolishly suppose, because they their rich em-
ploycrs dining in fine houses, dressing extensively,
doing little hard work, or lavishing time money
| in other ways that they also may do the same. If
their superiors had not been digent in early life
they would never have earned the means to live
luxurously. A clerk is not the head of firm
an apprentice master mechanic By Z" diligence
in business" thousands of poor lads have risen to
opulence, and come at last to have all the leisure
they desired but tens Of thousands who could not
wait to enjoy life till they had won the right to it
by diligence in business" have gone hopeessly
down in the full meridian of existence, like the crew
Of leaky ship sinking in sight Of harbor, because
they ate and drank and made merry when they
should have oeen working at the pumps
az writer in the Richmond Enquirer argues
to show that some Southern is entitled to the
nomination for the Presidency. He refers to Presi-
dent Pierce, General Cass, Judge Douglas, Mr..
| Buchanan, and others, spoken of from the North,
and Gov. Wise, Mr. Hunter, of Va, and Gen. Rusk,
from the South. The National Convention will set