Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-10-07
From the New York World.
Save and Have.


Every American working man. every
American business man, every American
capitalist--in fact every American man
and woman--needs TO understand and APP
preciate the admitted fact that it is not So
much what man earns as what he saves
that secures his prosperity. That is OF
course, truism but it is not sufficient to
be convinced of fact or a principle--it
is also necessary to act upon it in our daily
life. MIcawber perceived the Importance
of his celebrated formula which warned
him against spending more than he had,
but he failed to live up to it. 1t is not the
amount of mans income that leads to
riches. but his way of managing it. There
are a few who are unable to earn any in
come; these are cared for, more or less
humanely, by public or private charities.
There are others who are able to earn but
find no chance; these, although magni
fed TO an immense army, are really a
small fraction of our population. There
1iC WOIiNhy NuO
compelled to live upon what in this coun-
try may be called starvation wages; for
these there is much to be said and done by
the wise and benevolent. There are many
more who complain that the incomes they
are able to earn are insufficient to supper,
their families. The majority of these PEG
pie lose sight of two evident and impor-
tant truths-frs that the cost of living
has been greatly reduced of late second.
that they might live both cheaper and bet
ter than they do if they would set their
wits to work in the line of managing and
saving. Let us ask them one question
they saved money when they were receiv-
ing high wages in flush timesP If not,
how were they better off then than now
Did they not rather develop habits of ex-
travagance and debtP Are they not afllict-
ed now by the expensive ways of the rag
money era more than by the narrowness
Of their incomesp Should man who used
to be paid "a day complain that he can
now earn but 81, when he can get. if he
will, more for his 81 than he could then
get for his 81?
The general public of this city. TOR in
stance, including the poorer classes, are in
many respects better off than then. In
matters OF health, of cheap and comfortable
living, of transit and recreation, there
have been many Improvements. We will
be more truly prosperous than we were
then when we shall have taught ourselves
to use TO the best advantage what we
have. Up to 1873 we were as a people
living beyond our income; now we must
learn the salutary lesson OF living with
In it.
The truth is that we are a nation o
MASTERS. There are countries which
would be well fed on what we throw
away. What an example France sets tc
the world! Although so often desolatec
and dtcimated. she is iu sounder con
dition now than the nation which extort.
ed from her the five milliards. knock
down blow from which France rises will
greater energy than ever would destro,
England. Impoverishment for Franc,
results in developing her productiv,
capacity. In France, as a rule, every
body works. Everybody also saves, am
that is fact of vet greater impoi tlnce
The French Nottingham lives within hi
income, and his wife and children hel
him 10 do so. He also lives well aud en-
joys himself. The great difficulty wit
our people is that an increase of incom,
only furnishes an excuse for in
creased expense, and that tine ncreas
of expense is apt to surpa,s the in
crease of income. An eminent clergyman
once said that he had found it easier Il
live upon small salary than large one
because his enlarged expenses had throw