The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-03-12
THERAGE TO GET RICH.
Those who Fail ana those who Sue
eeed--Charaeter the EeaEi OF Great
PrIee--VaIunbIe Remarks ior Young

Those who Fail ana those who Sue
oooS,--.Ch,raeter the Pearl of Great
p-,c.-.yaIuabIe Remarks for Young
Eoor he Philadelphia EpentH Telegraph.
NToney-getting is not, as some sup
nose, a matter of luck. Many believe
that to be born under certain planet
: favorable or fatal to life's prospects,;
that, like the tides, men are influenced
by the moon, sun, or some one of the
zodiacal signs; and that Fate, not in
dustry-Providence, not economy-fs
the great desideratum in life's long
| battle. This false notion has hung like
an incubus upon the necks of thou
sands, translating every misstep into a
frown OF some imaginary goddess, and
prophesying fatal future.
| %. We are aware that money-Retting de-
ponds much upon the mental organiza-
ton. The world of mind has its GENT
uses as well as its simpletons, and 1t
will not be difficult for the student of
character to fOretell the fate of some,
owing to the strong development OF
head. This one will make his mark as
a business man; he will succeed in
whatever he undertakes, and become
rich and influential. And Vice Uersd of
/
Simply the ability of some to acquire
and retain is greater than others. 1t
does not argue that fortune is the lot of
favorites, or that the intellectually weak
are necessarily the victims of poverty
What aysexperience2 Are the strong
noramuses? Have not the brightest
gems in the galaxy of literature per-
ished in squalid poverty? Is it not the
repeated boast of the sons of wealth
that they have fought their way up
from obscurity, and through circum-
stantial embarrassment? The progress
of some may be attended with greater
difficulty than others; all may not
reach the same elevation, or make the
same time; but with industry, temper
ance, economy, and last, though not
least, integrity, all, with few excep-
tons, may secure satisfactory indie
pendence.
1t is lamentable and discouragiug
truth, that the proportion of successes
to failures in mercantile life is but three
per cent. Ninety-SeUeE out of every
hundred fail from somr cause or anoth-
er. Why is this? There is, evidently,
some great general defect unnOticed by
Adventures upon the uncertain sea of
trade. Ereedley says, on the authority
| OF Hunts Merchants Magazine, ''rhat
but one eminent merchant, and his
death is recent, has ever continued in
active business, in the city of New
York, to the close of long life, with
out undergoing bankruptcy or a sus-
pension OF payment in some one of the
financial crisis of the country"
1t IS also asserted on good authority,
from records kept during the past forty
years, that of every hundred persons
who commence business in Boston,
ninety tfUe die poor.
The statistics of bankruptcy, under
I hkA lay nf NHyiII
inevitable fact:
Number of applicants for relIeE... 1896
GTedltors l,0I5,6O3
Property surrendered ~ ~ s62
In some districts but a quarter per
cent. was paid. on an average, for each
dollar due; and in some, nothing.
In commencing business we are too
| apt to look only upon the bright side OF
the future. Success is taken for grant
| ed, as sort of foreordained necessity,
based upon our unexceptionable abiii-
ty to secureit. Weare apt to look upon
failure as the exception instead of the
rule, and invariably consider such ex.
ceptions as the lot of others. To sup.
! pose that the consequential creature
self Is liable to such disaster is ont o.
, the question. This assurance, or con.
ceit, IS too often sort of decoy, leading
US upon the very shoals upon which
others have been wrecked.
! A haste to grow rich-an over-im.
patience to acquire, in n short space o.
time, what properly belongs to patient
years OF toll and rigid economy-is oft.
times vortex OF folly into which many
: fall. Better make haste slowly" aud
be sure in our getting. what i
worth doing is worth doing WELL" Tc
do all things well will require all ouI
time, and in proportion as we slight ouI
work we make work for the future. A
house poorly built is Outlines worse
. than none. Should it prove unsafe, anG
fall and crush its occupants, it is wors,
than labor lost. Fot only is the worl
to be recommended, but the edifice i!
again started. Thus, failure will
leave its victim worse off than in the
beginning. Not only is precious tim,
lost, but reputation-the sheet-anchol
of the business man-has received ,
L wound which may prove fatal.
The first and highest attainment o
the business man is n character tor in
I tegrity: 1t is the poor merchants capi
l tai. upe, industry, and constan
practice of righteousness in bushes.
transactions will alone achieve the pre-
;, cious boon. \ slight stain upon It i.
j hard TO remove. Like the blood on tn,
}: murderer's garments, it eats into tn,
very fabric, and stands an indelibl
witness of his guilt or weakness.
a The highway of trade has its outlaws
: ton to labor honestly, and an ayari
: cious desire which knows no restaint
rush into the circles of commerce. re
: solved upon a bold dash for fortune
= They Will use fair means, If convenient
u but foul, ii necessary. They are reck
less in all their movements, cut u grea
Inquire, make commotion, secure al
: unbounded credit, then suddenly stoI
and, by taking advantage of deficien
laws, and feeling base attorneys, swim
4 die themselves into affluence upon tn,
/ hard earnings of others. These ge
4 what they bargained for; yet, did they
but know it, they have bartered away
: with suicidal recklessness, a Jewel o
e greater value than mere gold-mor
3 precious and necessary to life's enjoy
ment than large estates.
treasures of integrity and virtue ar,
II more lasting than gold, and will sur
: vive the corroding effects of time anC
!. the stealth of avaricious marauder
me parent who, by industry and pru
: dence, secures to his child a lastin,
education of head and heart, bequeath!
l 20 Nun richer legacy than the wealth
of Rothschild.
. There Is n spurious wealth which
like spurious bank notes, is often takeI
for genuine, but which proves worth
4 less at the assumed place of issue-s
wealth which, purchased with dishonor
brings misery instead of happiness
! confusion instead of peace-heli insteaC
of heaven.
REV. SAMUEL CLAwsoN, Methods
preacher of eccentric manners, some
times called the "wild man." was very
popular in Western Virginia som,
twenty years ago. He was cross-eyed
, and wiry made and yarv SJorE--SI,i,noS