The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-05-26
HOW NOT TO FAIL.

Edwin P. Whipple, in his new VOL
ume .of essays, asserts that very many of
those who fail in business are cursed
with yielding dispositions, too prone to
ollow the instincts of generosity; now
obliging this friend by indorsing an
unsafe note, and then pleasing that
neighbor by sharing his risk in hopeless
speculation; and who, after all the cap
ital they have carmel by their Industry
and sagacity has been sunk in benevo-
lent attempts to assist laundering or
plundering incapacity, are doomed in
their bankruptcy to he the marx of bit
ter taunts from growing creditors, and
insolent pity from a gossipping public.
Mr.. Whipple goes on to say that the
business man, to be successful, must ev-
er be ready to face the fact that he will
be called 'fcuPmudgeon" If he will not
ruin himself to please others. Many
fortune has melted away in the hesita-
ting utterance of the placable Eyes,
which might have been saved by the
pnhesitatiHg ntterance OF the lmPiS-
cable mo"
These observations are unquestion-
ably sound, as thousands have learned
from bitter experience. Probably more
men are ruined by friends than by enc
mics. OF those who have been compel
led to suspend business, seven out of
ten will probably testify that misplaced
confidence, based upon friendship, caus-
ed their failure. This acquaintance
was allowed bill of goods on long
time, that one was permitted TO pur-
chase on credit much larger stock
than you believed he could manage, be-
cause you did not have the nerve to re-
fuse his request. A third has loaned
a large sum of money when his affairs
were evidently much involved. You
Endorsed the paper of a fourth to Q hea-
w extent, because he was your friend,
and asked you to do SO.
While the business man should not
be Influenced by purely selfish motives,
it is one of the conditions of success
that he look at his own interest before
those of others, and never permit his
judgment to be oyerrEled by considera-
tons of friendship. "NO friend in
trade" ia a correct maxim, however
harshly it may CRATE upon the ear. II
man accumulates money, and devotes
it to good purposes, he can afford to be
called penurious and tight-fisted, by
those who act upon the principle that
the world owes them living; or by
those who are generous with not only
their own, but other peoples money.
1t IL these men who, without belonging
to the old Scroage or der, are yet care
lions, who keep the wheels of trade in
motion, aud offer a wall of opposition
to the financial reyulsions which every
few years threaten to sweep over
the country, involving every business
man in ruin.
Abiding to the panic of 1887, Mr..
Whipple says: ain invigorating contrast
to the panic-smitten, we had the priye-
lege of Witnessing many an example of
the grit inspired, Then it was that the
grouty, taeiturn, obstinate tradeE SO IN
! popular in ordinary times, showed the
| stuff he was made of. Then his bearing
upon him. How he girded himself for
the fight, resolved if he died to die hard
How he tugged with obstacles as
though they were personal affronts,
and hurled them tothe right and to the
| left Never losing heart, and never los
| ing head, with as strong grip OH his
honor as on his property, detesting eY-
cry thought of failure, knowing that he
might be broken to pieecsi bat deter
mined that he would not weakly 20 to
pieces-he performed the greatest SER
vice to the community as well as him.
self, by resolutely, at any sacrifice, pay
ing his debts when they become due
Such men are the sheet-anchors in q
financial storm. They are the beacon
lights to which the countless fleets OF
small business craft tlrn through the
darkness and gloom. AS long as the
day can be seen, hope keeps the upper
most of despair: Instead of regarding
such individuals as avaricious aud GOV
etous, those who would avoid the in
Vulnerable breakers which beset every
business mans course, must to certain
extent pattern after their habits OF econ
omy and close dealing.-Hearth GPC
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