Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-06-04

euIife c'uniuSS ue VIII, Oh tio oh0 h@"",
contract the habits Of prodigality, with
its kindred vices, and, on the others, lose
those Of sound and judicious economy.
This being the phase of things as life
opens with him, his prospects for the fi-
ture are minus quantity. Life with him
will be a failure; mature years will be
marked by insignifcance and old age,
IL he lives to see it, will be loaded with
poverty. He is IN object Of charity at
the moment in which he ceases to be a
producer, having no reserve upon which
to draw in the day of adversely. Some
men seem to be doomed 10 this by necess-
ity, and in their case poverty and want
are not their fault; yet very large num-
Der make this condition their ctoice-and
hence, with them it is self-produced.
The great rule of good sense and Chris
tian virtue is not to spend more than one
earns, never to spend anything either
foolishly or viciously, and always spend
as much less than ones earnings as is
consistent with a reasonable degree of
personal comfort and proper sense OF
duty to God and man. This is the gene
raj thought which every one must apply
for himself. II is not meanness, but econ
omy 1t is not selishncss, but legiti-
mate self-love. 1t is far more likely TO
dwell in the bosom Of virtue than in that
of depravity. 1t Is, indeed, a form of
virtue, graded to the realities and necess-
tiles of this life, and not uniting its sub
jcct for the enjoyments and glories ofthe
next.
Now, in saving the first thousand dol
lars, the young man whom we have in
view practices this economy. He lives
within his means, audience owes no debts
he cannot pay he never spends money in
foolish or vicious way; and after a
proper attention to his own wants, and
the duties which bind him to others, OF
which questions he is the sole Judge, he
LAYS by, from month, to month, or year
to year, his surplus earnings as so much
accumulated capital. Atlength he reaches
the point, and is worth a thousand dol.
lars. The lesson thus acquired will al
most certainly last him for lifetime.
They are wrought into the very tissues
of his personal being. II fortune smile
upon him, rs it probably will, it will not
make him fool. He can stand prosper
ity without explosion. He understands
economy, for he has practiced 1t. II is
with him not an idea merely; but fact,
and fixed feature of character. The
outflow of his earnings may increase with
his increase of means; yet the law which
governed and the processes which secured
the saving of the first thousand dollars
will be likely TO stand by him in all time
10 come. Some men fail for the want OF
sufficient action 10 command success
others fail for the want of sufficient econ
omy in respect to the products of action.
Still Others fail for the want Of both.
Some have no discretion in prosperity.
and others have almost no energy and
force in the day of adversely. The trained
worker and the trained economist belongs
10 no one of these classes. His personal
qualities make him mana sensible,
prudent, forcible, practical, man in any
relation and at all times.
We select a thousand dollars as the
trial sum, because it is not too large to be
attainable in most cases, or so small asto
be of easy attainment. 1t is about suf-
fcient to put young man to the test
and bring out what there is in him. and
in this way give him practical education
for the business work of life.
1t is quite true that this article refers
mainly to a point in material civilization
development, and progress; and it is just
as true that humanity was designed, while
moving through this sphere, wisely and
we'll to do the things that belong to this
sphere. The present life has its laws and
its necessities; and to obey the former
and meet the latter IS as really duty as
it is to pray or sing psalms. There are
six days in every week for business as
we'll rs seventh for religious worship
Society rests on business. Productive in
dustry is the life-blood of the world. 1t
feeds and clothes the race. The surplus
earnings of humanity beyond immediate
consumption constitute the accumulated
wealth of mankind. 1t is first produced
by industry, and then saved by economy {;
and but for it the race would be herd
of paupers and savages. The man who
fools away this life in Incidence or pro-
digality is fool if there be no other life; !;
and he certainly is fool if there be an
other. The young man to whom it is a
matter Of no consequence whether he
works or plays, whether he saves or
spends, deserves workhouse to task him.
The father who, having an ample fortune
brings up his sons upon this shiftless the
ory is practically their enemy. and is as
inexcusable as he would be if he should
poison them with rum. To all such IA
theirs and all such sons we commend the
practical profit Of EARNING AND SAVING
THE FIRST THOUSAND DOLLARS.
SILENT INFLUENCE. Albert Barnes says:
at is the bubbling stream that flows
gently the little rivulet which runs day
and night by the farmhouse is useful,
- -. IL H. s,vo1la, AooJ ~, roor;,, =.