The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-10-30

DO not laugh, but wish to urge upon
MI young people, whose habits are yet
to be formed-aOtthe duty OF enterprise,
nor Of frugality, nor OF Temperance, nor
Of industry and thrift but the duty OF
keeping careful accounts
This is not performed by simply Gu.
tering every penny spent, but Of so
balancing receipts and expenditures that
one may know every day precisely how
he stands with the world. CredH may
be helpful in an organized business.
But when young men or women are
Just beginning to earn little money, it
il wise for them never to owe penny,
not even for day. II is better to 60
without n hundred needed things than
to be in debt and the poorer you are,
the more tyrannical will debt prove to
be. A rich man may venture to go in
debt he has resources which have only
to be collected to meet il. But n poor
man in debt has only his scant earnings,
which often barely suffice to pay his
daily necessities, and leave tho debt,
with accumulating interest, to worry
him, md TO tempt him to dishonesty.
1t is wise for every young man to re-
fuse TO incur debt, and to oblige himself
to keep clear and minute account OF
every cent gained and spent. The habit
once formed, il will be as easy TO be
methodical i'll money matters us to be
careless.
Small Ms this may seem, il will really
exert 4 momliuhuence upon ones whole
life 1t is the foundation of business.
Ii one bcginS to get on in life, he will
have become 80 wontcd to method aud
TO clear understanding Of his nj.
iairs, that nothing will be left to change.
He will see every day Just the road he is
on, and how lar along lie is.
1t may seem supertluous to exhOlt
business men to pursue the SAME course.
But it is probable that not one half OF
the business men in America keep their
accounts in such q manner that they
themselves, or any one for them, could
tell, without weeks and months OF inves.
tigation, whit their real standing is.
The settling OF estates is melancholy
business. All values seem to shrink (;
hundreds Of things important to the es.
tate, when kept only in the mans head,
and he dying, the record is then lost, or
is recovered only by long search. Two
partners may get along smoothly while
they are alive. Several instances have
come to orr knowledge of miserable re-
suits following the death Of business
men, arising from the want Of thorough
account keeping. .I ,.
It ought not to be left question Of
busiRess prudence. A careful record of
all affairs should be part Of business
morality. II IS n part OF right living TO
leave ones affairs so that they can be
settled without misunderstanding or
quarrel. No one has right to roll
over on his heirs load Of difficulties.
II is n part Of a good preparation for
death, to have ones affairs so That no
one will be injured, and no one per-
picked and burdened.
Parents should bring up both boys
and girls to keep accounts, II should
be impressed upon them, early and late,
that business cannot be safely carried on
without minute and accurate record.
After habit of accounts is once formed,
system in nffairs md method in accounts
become easy. Instead Of hindcring
they facilitate business, economize time,
give clearness to ones course, prevent
complication, enable one at any mo.
ment to know his actual condition, and
keep his estate so that il called to leave
it, he can do so without liability Of
tormonting his family or heirs with \
wretched tnnglc of ye1ations and dis
appointments.
Therefore. keen accounts l-Becehr.