M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1858-03-11

w.. - = - ..
I. BE industrious and economical.
Waste neither time nor money in
small and useless pleasures and in
dulgencies. II the young can be in
duced to begin TO Save, the moment
they enter on the paths of life, the way
will ever become easier before them,
and they will not fail to attain a com.
potency, and that without denying
themselves any Of the real necessaries
and comforts of lite. Our people are
certainly among the most improvident
and extravagant on the face Of the
earth. 1t is enough to make the mer-
chant fthe old school, who looks
back and thinks what economy, pru.
dence and discretion he had to bring
to bear on his own business, land
which are in fact the basis Of all sue
cessipl enterprises, } start back in as
tonishmeut to look at the ruthless
waste and extravaganza ofthe age and
people. The highest test Of respecta-
Ibilty, with me, is honest industry -
Well-directed industry makes men
happy, The really noble class-the
class that was noble when "ADAM
delv'd and EVE spun," and have pre-
served their patent to this day untar.
nished-is the laborious aud industri-
Gus. Until men have learned industry,
economy and selfcontrol, they cannot
be safely intruSted with wealth.
II. To industry and economy, add
Set-reItGnce. Do not take too much
advice. The business man must keep
at the helm ofhis own ship. In early
life, every one should be taught TO
think for himself. A mans talents
are never brought out until he is
thrown to some extent upon his own
resources. Ii in every difficulty he
has only to run to his principal, and
then implicitly obey the Instructions
he may receive, he will never acquire
that aptitude Of perception, and that
promptness of decision, and that firm
ness Of purpose, which are absolutely
necessary to those who hold impor-
tant stations. A certain degree of
independent feeling is essential to the
full development of the intellectual
character.
III. Remember that punctuality Is
the mother of confidence. 1t is not
enough that the merchant fplflls his
engagements; he must do what he
undertakes precisely at the time, as
well as in the way he agreed to. The
mutual dependence OF merchants is so
great, that their engagements, like a
chain, which, according to the law OF
physics, is never stronger than its weak
est links, are oftener broke through by
the weakness of Others than their own.
But q prompt tultillment of engage
ments is not only Of the utmost i'm
portance, because it enables others to
meet their own engagements prompt
Ily. 1t is also the best evidence that
the merchant has his affairs we'll Or
dered-hiS means at command, his
forces marshaIed, and Everything
ready for action"-in short, that he
knows his own strength. This it is
which inspires confidence, as much,
perhaps, as the meeting Of the en-
gagrment.
". Attend to the minut;a Ofthe
business, small things as well as great
Sec that the store is opened early,
goods brushed up, twine and nails
picked up, and all ready tor 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 for the ne.
cessity of labor. 1t is often the case
that diligence in employments OF
less consequence is the most success
ful Introduction to great enterprise
Those make the best officers who baye
served in the ranks. We may say OF
labor, as Coleridge said Of poetry, it
is its own sweetest reward. 1t is the
best Of physic.
V. Let the young merchant re-
member that se.fshness as the moan
est Of ViceS, and 1t IS the parent Of a
thousand more. 1t not only inter.
feres both with the means and with
the end ofacquisition only makes
money more difficult to get, and no:
worth having when it is got, but it is
narrowing to the mind and heart
Selfshness "keeps a shilling SO close
to the eye that it cannot see 2 dollar
beyond" Never be narrow and con-
tracted in your views. Life sbounds
in instances of the brilliant results Of
a generous policy. @