The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-12-16
Outside of the enormous business of

Outsiue OF tne enormous business c
lnman, Swami & CO., Mr.. Inman has
number of private enterprises. Anon
others he ia engaged in the guano an
fertilizer trade, the manufacture of whic
Is now great standard industry, som
idec of the magnitude of which NAV b
gathered rom the fac! that he had $525
0Oo 81 1is individual cash capit., invest
ed in II last season. From ono factor
ho took 10000 t0ns-from another 5000
aud 30 on through. The business bein,
&c satisfactory, he will the comm,
seas:h have $600,O00 in the same trade
controlling over $4,000 tons, chiefly O,
commission. With all this hc has every
thing so systematized and moves will
such pr,mp'ness and decision that h,
spends rom four to six months Of eacl
year with his family at the seaside O
some resort. 1t is cardinal part of bi
creed never to speculate or to take an,
speculative risk. In tho papers Of hi
hrm there are the strongest articles
Against speculation either az q frm. o
o. either Of the members as individuals
The profits. therefore, though immense
are perfectly legitimate, and come Ger
tain aud steadily. Mr.. Inman lives easil,
and comfortably, and having culture anc
taste finds that his wealth, instead O
Pulling. only opens ever.fresh vistas O
enjoyment. He devotes large sum an.
nually TO charity and philanthropy. The
handsome donation Of his firm to the
Hood children, the largest made by any
single firm. will be remembered. In q
quiet way he has done much more-as
for instance, lie has given over $4,000
Individually to the First Presbyteriun
Church of this city. In short, he pre-.
sents the interesting spectacle of n man
of fine instincts, excellent health and
felicitous relations, who has made II for.
tune while he isyoungi enough to enjoy
it to the fullest -and has 80 ordered
his habits that lie has not dullcd his
impulses, chilled the genial currents of
his soul or hardened his heart in the
struggle with tho world. For the next
ten years his income should average
$250, ,0CO II year, and from that time for
ward will BE- fully half a million q year,
il he remains ia business. What a life
OF usefulness and happiness is ahead OF
this man. With u happy Christian
home, loving wife, affectionate children,
q heart still fresh and nnturc yet un.
warpcd-with clear head, and cur
rent of strong old Presbyterian blood
cnursing through his 7rins-tTuiy mis-
lines arc cast iu pleasant places.
What an exemplar is here for our
young men. Wha. g brilliant promise
to draw them away from the arid woys OF
politics and the hardly less arid ways OF
professional life. Just look at the chap
ters in this one mans history. Az twen-
ty out Of the dust and heat of battle,
pcnniless and alone; at twenty. FIVE
worth $4,000, happily married. and at
the head of prosperous house at
thirty-six worth million and half, in
good health and heart, and with net
income of over 100000 year! Follow
the probabilities. At f0rty-six worth
FIVE million dollars and possessed of an
income Of over half million year, and
just in tho prime of well ordered life.
How this example should draw its fol-
lowers How completely it should teach
that in the wrangling Of public life and
the pretentious ways of the professions
there Is not all the honor or usefulness.
Ah but is it impossible to attain such
dizzy heights g this? To be sure, there
will be few who can hope for such success
ut nothing is surer than Tint young man
who starts with clean habits, a clear
head, a faithful soul, and works earnestly
aud devotedly can get far enough along
to come into the sunshine, while yet the
flowers on the wayside are vet with dew
and the air of the morning embalms the
earth.
AS for me, should he charged with
irreverence if wrote down how many
politicians. in I,y opinion, this one
yOunS merchant is worth. The mere
computation gives me some hint Of the
severe contempt with which solid men of
business look out from their world upon
the babbling orators who declare that
paralysis or prosperity waits alternately
upon the victory or defeat of g G.c::oi; &c
salary. y.mongers. should like to strike
balance between tho lives of John
Inman, merchant, and some one of our
eminent latter day statesmen, when both
arc dead, and see which had done the
most and THE better work. Then we
should see how much speeches counted
agatnst deeds-prophecy against perfor.
mance-bonsting against fulfilment. To
drop into metaphor, we may Say that the
farmer and mechanic create the blood
which enriches the body corporatc-the
merchant, stationed in tho heart supplies
the vital force that sends it c0ursing
through the veins-the professional man
iempers the flow, gauges its current and
defines limitations-whilet the politicians,
camped along its channels. fatten on its
exhalations and put the whole body in a
fever by swearing that the veinous is
superior to the nrterial blood, or vice
versa--not hesitating to spill either to
disprovc the excellence ofthe other.
II. w. G.