The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1856-03-01
Business affairs.
The Philosophy Of Advertising

Were group of genuine philosophers as
sembled for the purpose of investi eating the
means whereby they derived their various
requirements, the grand corollary of their
deliberations would be, that The universal and
only possible means Of communicating knouledge,
is ADVERTISING. And when we regard the
fact that the vast domain Of science and art
is indebted to this luminary for light and
vitality, that by its cf'ulgence was cspied
the subtle clue to natures law ofgravitati0n;
| and divine revelation was reflected upon the
human soul, it sweIls into prolific theme of
momcntous importance. Volumes mi ght be
| filled with an enumeration of its advantages.
| Indeed, the same arguments might be ad-
duced in its favor as are advanced for the
diffusion of knowledge.
BY long observation and experience has
| it been discovered that to accomplish the
merchants object at the present day, it is
indispcnsably necessary for him to read the
newspapers, and to advertise extensively an
account and description of his merchandise.
His main object is to procure good articles
at reasonable prices, and then to dispose Of
them soon AS possible at fair profit. To do
this he must know what others have for sale,
and make known to them what salcabe
articles he has on hand. Thus precisely as
he was attracted to his particular mart for
the purchase of his stock, he will attract
customers to call and buy.
Power is but halfpower unless intelligence
guides it. The physical discoveries of the
age are somewhat in the condition of raw
material, until mental ingenuity adapts them
to useful and beautiful ends. Unless the
mental part of our civilization keeps pace
with the material portion, We cannot have half
our lower of success. progress, or social ell
joyment. The agency of steam has enlarged
the storehouse, to speak, Of q mans
business and individual influence; and the
power which enabl him to me ct his enlarged
opportunities is, confcsscdly in the Press.
The policy of every man in business, and
WHO must live by the public, is to let the
public hear of him. His best speaking
trumpet is the newspaper advertisements
In populous community and rapid age
heard and known, otherwise he will fall
behind the progress Of his ncighbors. He
may be up carly in the morning and late al
night, and tax highly his physical energies,
and eat the bread of carcfulncss, with honest
intentions and steady brain, yet he is ever
open to chances Of failure for want of that
intellectual sagac ity-those uMe riers of
things without which no man can have a safe
basis for his business. OF two ships crossing
the Atlantic. one will struggle with battling
brcezes and get along slowly; whereas, the
other, with Il he lmsman at the wheel who
knows the uhoIe chart Of his calling, is
knowingly stecrcd into the track of the
hodc-minds and, while the former is working
heavily in the Gulf.Strcam, or perhaps
going down in it, the latter has its sail
happily furled in port.
In thus helping his excrtions by prudent
skill. a man will secure success; inst as a
temperate man who lives regularly and takes
proper precaution, will escape a bed of sick
ness. This is true of human nature and
society, in the broad average. Most Of
those ailments and losses that affect mans
condition, are palpably owing to his own
ignorance or neglect. In the general econo-
my OF the world like causes produce like
results, uniformly, cverywllerc; and where
proper means are taken to an end, that end
is inial!ibly reached. To talk of chance or
fate, is a supersttious absurlity. Canot,
'he French minister, used to organize
victory for the armies of France, from his
bureau; he adopted the right means and the
right results followed. Frederick the Great
was not very far from the truth when he sad
that in the business OLA campaign Providence
was generally found on the side Of the bost
disciplied greladicrs.
Archimcdcs,, in the oldcn time, wanted
nut fulcrum, he said, to be able to move
the world. What he want ed, we have; to
wit, the Press. The press is destined to set
all things in motion, in the most ehcctual
manner. And tn ere is no need in our time
and generation, to prove so sclf-cvident
truth. At this time of day, in fact, every
man may become his own Archimedes and
move the world; or, more himself mifh respect
10 H-which amounts to just the same thing.
y. B. Palmer.