Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-12-25
PRUDENCE IN THE YoUNG.


PRUDENCE IN THE YoUNG.
The elders in the community. who are of
course addicted to retrospection, as young
men are to drawing on the future, look al
most with envy on those who are lust en-
terning life; for men of experience can see
what they might have done, had they pos
sessed in youth the knowledge which they
have obtained by years of battling With the
world. The old are usually ready enough
With counsel; but good odvice is one of the
commodities which are more freely offered
than taken, Indeed, good advice is seldom
accepted by those to whom it is offered. We
suppose, therefore, that our homily will Sc
ink wasted and paper spoiled. But not
withstanding, here goes! We art at last
interested.
Young men do not see the need Of econo-
my, and place higher value on credit than
on capital. We do not advise meanness or
penurious habits, but do think that such
course as would give a young man on reach
ing his twenty fifth or thirtieth year some
actual property, however small in amount,
would be very much wiser than living up to
the total income Many clerks and sales
men command good salaries. Mauyiourneg-
men also draw very fair wages, and that, too,
while they are unineumbered with any
charges beyond their own maintenance.
Any young man is delighted with on ad-
vance in bis income, Now why can he not
secure an advance to himself? IT, for in
stance, he is tempted to an out lay of a hun
dred or two hundred dollars, or less. for
some superfuity, why not invest that money
in some mode that it would yield him an
income? which is, in effect, an increase Of
salary. 1t would be such an addition to
his means as would not depend upon any
body favor or caprice; and the habit once
begun would soon place him in position
above the danger ofwant or the fear of idle
ness
IfanybOdy asks what has turned our edito
rial pen in this direction, we will state a
case. It is a fact, by the way, and we Judge
one of many ike instances. Passing through
the public room of hotel the other dav,
we saw young fellow sitting there with the
air Of habitue of the place, and in cos
tune which indicated the shabby eenteel. -
We knew his story. A year or two ago he
was clerk, upon a salary which enabled
him to live, and he lived up to every dollar
of it. By the decease of relatives he came
IN possession Of a few thousand dollars; say
twelve, more or less, IF he had put this
in Government bonds, or any other security,
it would have added eight huudren dollars
to his anual income He might have re-
mained in his clerkship and have been
steadily aecumulatiDg money, not, to be
sure, at a rapid rate, but without any risk, /
and with a feeling of comfortable indepen-
dence which many a merchant might envy.
But to day he is not worth dollar and the
shabby suit he wears is not paid for, and
never viii be.
Legaeies ruin many one, but habits Of
improyidence ruin more. If the rising
youth Of our land, in whatever business they
may be, would, while they have living
secured, look to tie future in a judicious
manner, saving their surpluss, however
small, the business of the country would be
yet on a better basis than at present. There
would be more actual capital employed, and
less reliance put on credit Business talents
are of high value, even witout capital, but,
backed by ready money. aptness for business
is invaluable Most clerks do, and all
should, count on undertaking business for
themselves. If they could enter upon it
with habits of economy they would be sure
Of success.
Apropos to this subject IS the plan otmak-
ing employees partners, which has been in
troduced in England With . great flourish,
as if it were a new thing. Ii has been the
quiet custom iu thrifty New England for a
great many years, especially in tie mgnfae-
turing towns, The plan ofcondacti1g busi
ness By corporate companies largely prevails
in the New England States, And facilities
are always found for the Investment Of the
savings Of the operatives in The stock Of the
companies. Many large holder Of manu-
featuring stock commenced life as an EN-
ployee, perhaps at the very lowest rate Of
compensation. The same thing is done
everywhere IN the promotion Of clerks 70
partnerships in their employers business.
Now, if a clerk whose only capital is his
unsefalness, has few hundred or two or
threa thousand aollops 90 cd IA belsing lis
personal expenses, the sum, too small to be
offered as an investment in the firm, viii
enable him to leave e part Of his proportion
Of the profits in the business, and thus ad-
vance him from nominal TO an actual inter
est But the subject is endless, and We
pause here, hoping that some Of our young
er readers may follow out the line ofthought
in the arrangements soon TO be entered into
for another year. =. Worth AmTicaa.
| Ton3or = N have a daily in which the