Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1869-05-29
HOW TO GET RICH.

uoWn any particular metnOu by WHICH
one may become rich, the ambition of
almost every one of us but there are a
few fundamental principles which must
be followed by any one who strives to
acquire wealth by honest means, and
which, if strictly adhered to, will, in
the majority of cases, enable him to
realize, If not absolute wealth, what is,
perhaps, in the long run, productive
of more general happiness, to ample
competence. Before we proceed to no.
tice these principles, we will say that
there is no more generally mistaken
theory, in our opinion, than to suppose
that in riches lies happiness, and that
being poor. one must necessarily be
miserable. The moderately poor have
at their command, and are able to en-
Joy, fully as we'll as the rich, all the
blessings ofyouth while it lasts--health,
appetite, good looks, cheerfulness, and
wisdom. With the growth of riches n
mans heart too often contracts and be-
comes selfish, and his tastes, and alb ill
ties are narrowed. To pass through
life contented with moderate compe-
tence sufficient for our wants and com
fort, to be rich in health, in cheerful
ness, in disposition, family and friends,
and to do all the good that we can in
the sphere of life in which our lot has
been cast, is indeed to be truly rich,
and not to be despised.
We are often told that fortune is a
tickle dame that she distributes her
fayors without any discrimination, and
that wealth is the result of mere ACCT
dent, or of favorable circumstances,
without the exercise of any skill or fore
sight. But still there are some princi-
pies, and without which she can never
be woed or won, by the help OF which
there are but few instances in which
we cannot be successful in at least at
tanning moderate degree of wealth.
First and foremost among these are
prominently honesty and the strictest
integrity in all our dealings and trans
actions with our fellow men. Without
these every other qualification which
We may possess, all our activity, indus
try, talent, must and will most assured
ly prove unavailing. Under no plea
whatever should we ever permit our
selves to deviate, even in the most in
direct manner, from the right path of
honor and uprightfair dealing, for when
once the faintest suspicion or faint has
fallen upon our character in this one
respect, all confidence in us is lost and
is hardly ever to be regained.
Punctuality and method are two 9th
er most essential elements of success in
life; punctuality in the exact and faith
full fulflment of engagements and prom
ises, and method and despatch in the
management and transaction of our
business. We have already mentioned
industry, and it is hardly necessary to
dilate upon the Importance of this prin-
ciple, as upon it hinges all the others.
If we are Industrious, persevering, con-
slant, regular and systematic, applying
ourselves steadily to our business, al
lowing nothing to distract our attention
from our duties, we cannot but attain
success in our undertakings, provided,
of course, that we are not deficient in
the other principles which we have
mentioned. 1t must lead us surely to
wealth, as idleness and inattendance to
business always lead to poverty. The
above are essentially the main princi-
pies which afford the true secret of sue
cess in attaining wealth. But there are
still others, which, although not per-
haps so absolutely necessary towards
the mere art of money making still in
the mind of every one who follow the
pursuit of wealth, not for the sake OF
the money itself, but for what it brings
with it, should ever be acted up to.
Frugality in our expenditure, polite
ness and affability in our department,
temperate and moderate habits, and &
generous and sef-denying disposition,
are all equally to be desired. Unless
we are frugal and practice economy, we
can never hope to become rich, and
most of the poverty which we see all
around us may be traced back to the
want of this very virtue. We need
hardly say anything as to the import
ance of agreeable and gentlemanly man
ners, for we all know how much they
alone contribute to mans success in
life, and how much the want of them
detracts from all other qualifications
which he may possess. We hope the
few remarks we have made will at least
show the leading principles by which a
man must be guided, and up to which
he must act: when once begun and per-
severed in, they will be easy to contin-
ne in, and success will assuredly at
tend his efforts 70 grow rich by honest
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