The Morgantown monitor. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1863-1864, 1863-12-05
'ss 81 AZ any fooifs6 things.
Maxims to Live and Thrive by.

MaX1mS TO Live ana 1nI1Ve w.
One Of the wealthiest men in Phil.
adelphia, as assuredly least proud OF
his wealth, as wealth, is our respect
ed and benevolent fellow.citizen,
John Grigg, Esq, founder of the
great book-selling and publishing
house of Grigg & Elliott, (now j. b.
Lippincett & Co., } which by the bold
ness, extent, and success of its busi-
ness, gave an immense advance to
the sale and publication of books in
the United States. He has made his
way to fortune by following a few
plain and practical business rules,
which in fact, constitute q moral
code for all who desire to gain sue
cess, by deserving it. These rules,
which we copy from the american
Publishers Circular are as fol-
lows:
|. Be industrious and economical.
Waste neither time nor money in
small and useless pleasures and lndul-
gences. If the young can be induced
to begin to save the moment they en-
ter on the paths of life, the way will
ever be easier before them, and they
will not fail to attain competency,
and that without denying themselves
any of the real necesaries and COM
forts of life. Our people are certain
ly among the most improvident and
extravagant on the face of the earth.
1t is enough to make the merchant
of the old school, who looks back and
thinks what economy, prudence, and
discretion he had to bring to bear on
his own business (and which are in
fact the basis of all enterprise start
back in astenishment to look at the
ruthless waste and extravaganza of
the age and people. The highest
test of respectability sdth me is hon
est industry. Well-directed indus
try makes men happy. The really
noble class, the class that was noble
when "Adam delv' d and Eve spun,
and have preserved their patent to
this day untarnished, is the laborl-
Gus and industrious. Until men have
learned industry, economy and self
control, they cannot be safely intrust-
ed with wealth.
2. To industry and economy add
self-reliance. Do not take too much
advice. The business man must keep
at the helm and steer his own ship.
In early life every one should betaught
to think for himself. A mans tai
ents are never brought out until be
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 direc-
tions he may receive, he will never
require that aptitude Of perception,
that promptness Of decision, and that
frmness of purpose which are abso-
lutely necessary to those who hold
important stations. A certain degree
Of Independent feeling is essential to
the full development of the intellec-
tual character.
8. Remember that punctuality is
the mother of confidence. 1t is not
enough that the merchant ful6lls his
engagements he must do " hat he
undertakes precisely at the time, as
we'll as in the way agreed to. The
mutual dependence of merchants is
so great, that their engagements,
like chain, which, according to the
law of physics is never stronger than
it's weakest link, are oftener broken
through the weakness Of others than
their ewn. But prompt fulflment
of their engagements is not only Of
the utmost Importance, because iten-
ables others to meet their own en-
gagements promptly; it is also the
best evidence that the merchant has
his affairsewell ordered, his means at
command, his force marsballed, and
"everything ready for action - in
short that be knows his own strength.
This it is which inspires confidence,
as much perhaps as the meeting of
the engagement.
a. Attend to the minutie Of the
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 fpr
business. A young man should con-
slider capital, if lie has it, or ss be
may acquire it, merely as tosls with
which he is to work, not as . substl-
tute for the necessity Of labor. 1t is
often the case that diligence in en-
ployments Of less consequences is the
most successful Introduction to great
enterprises. Those make the best
officers who have served in the ranks.
We may say Of labor, as Coleridge