Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-01-07
Hints to Young Men About Com
mencirg Business.
By JOHN GRIGG, ESQ.

/. Be Industrious and economical
Waste neither time nor money in smduand
useless pleasures and iu~dulgences. # the
young can be induced to beoin 10 sdue 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 competen-
cy, and that without denying themselves
any of the real necessaries and comforts of
lite. Our people are certainly among the
most improvident ard exirav agant on the
face OF the earth. 1t is enough to make
the merchant of the old school, who loots
back and thinks what economy. prudence
and di: erection he had to bring to bear on
lis own business, (and which are in fact
the basis of all successful enterprise,) start
back in astonishmen, to look at the ruth
less waste and extravaganza of the age and
people. The highest test of responsibility,
with me, is honest industry. Well-direct-
ed industry makes men happy. The really
noble clsss-the class that was noble when
adam 1elv'd and Eve spun," aud have
preserved their patent to this day unfair
nished-is the laborious and industrious.
Until men have learned industry, economy
and ~sPlf-contr,l. they cannot be safely in
trusted with wealth.
Ii. TO industry and economy, add self
reliance. Do not take too much adUics -
The business man must keep at the hem
and steer his own ship In early life, every
one should be taught to think for himself
A mans talents are never brought out I'M
til he is thrown to some extent upon his
own resources. If in every difficulty he
has only to run to his principal, and then
implicitly obey the directions he NAV re-
ceiye, he will never acquire that aptitude
Of perception, and that pronptnfss of de,
cision. and that frmness of purpose. which
are absolutely necessary to those who hold
important stations. A certain degree of in
dependent feeling is essential to the FIJI
deve !opment of the intellectual character.
Iii. Remember that punctuality is the
mother OF confidence. 1t is not enough
that the mercb; Mt fulflls his engagements;
he must do what he undertakes precisely a.
The time, as we'll as in the nj he agreed
to. TIE mutual dependence of merchants
is So great, that their engagements like a
chain, which according TO the law of phv-
sizes, is never stronger than its weakest link
are oiiener bfoke through the weakness o.
others than their owl. But a prompt full
fllmeHt of engagements is not only of the
utmost importance, because it enables
,thn., - -n-&t ls
promptly. 1t IS also the hes: evidence that
the merchant has his affairs well ordered
his means at Command, his forces marshal,
ed, and "every thing ready for. action"--in
short. that he knows his own strength
This it is which inspires confidence, as
much perhaps as the neeting of the engage.
Inent
~. Attend to the minufie-of the bust,
ness, small things as we'll as great. S e
that lhe'store is openfsfarly, goods brush
ed up, twine and nails picked up, and oil
re sdy for action. A young man should con-
sider capital, if he have it, or as he may
acquire it, merely as tools with which he
is to work, not as Il substitute for the ne
10Y VI AutNi- IL - 'itSIi ~ SHSC ina
diligence in employment is of less cons--
quence is the most successful introduction
to great enterprise. Those make the beS'
officers who have served IN the ranks. We
may sayof l"bor, as Colpridge said of poetry
it is its own sweetest reward. Il is the
best of physic.
" Lei Ii e young merchant remember
that seifshness is the meanest Of vices, ant
il is the parent OF a thousand more. 1t ne
only interteres with the means and witt
the end of acquisiiion-not only make:
money more d ficult to get, and not worth
having when it is got, but it IS narrowing
tn the mind and to the heart Selfshnes,
"keeps a shilling SO close to the eye that
il; canLot see a dollar beyond" Never ne
narrow and contracted in your views. Lite
abounds in Instances of the brilliant results
of a generous policy.
Be frank. Say what you mean. Be
what you say. So shall your friends kno~
and take it Tor granted that you mean to &C
what is just and right.
vi. Accuslom yourself TO think v'gor
ously. Mental capital. lie p, %cuaiary, &c
be worth anything, must be well invested
must be rightly adjusted and applied, and
to this end, careful, deep, and intens,
thought is necessary. if great results are
looked ,or.
VII. Marry early. The man of bust
mss should marry as ea,ly as possib e. afteI
twen'y-two or three wears of are. A wo
man Di mind will conform to the neccssi.
ties Of the day OF small beginnings; and il
che osing a wife a man should look at, LIST
The heart; I'd, The mind; Sd, The per
soa.
VIII. Everything, however remote, thai
has any bearing upon success must be taker
advantage of. The busine S man shou {
be continually on :he watch for information
and ideas that will throw light upon hi.
path, and he should be an attentive readel
Of all practical books, especially those re
isting 10 business, trade, &C., as well as 1
patrun OF useful and ennubiing literature
TX, Never forget a favor, for ingratItude
is The basest trait OF nuns heart. Away:
honor your country, and remember that ouI
country is the very hest poor mans country
in the world.
CARLYLE. Friend Ayer:-ln this age o