Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-06-29
SMART MEN.


ness is questionable. A smart man is
often successful, for it is necessary, in
these keen competitive times, to be
sharp-witted, and to possess sound
business capabilities; but though he
may acquire the wealth he covets, he
frequently does 80 at the sacrifice of
his selfrespect and tho esteem OF his
fellows, The word smart" as we
Americans use it, implies more than
the mere quality Of briskness and pro.
cision. II smart men were those who
by straightforward, honest dealing
builded up fortune and fair fame,
they would be the most desirable of
this worlds citizens; but we imply by
the term those selfish, INSCRIPTIONS
individuals who never hesitate to take
mean advantage in order to get the
best of bargain, and who will seldom
hesitate at any trickery whereby they
can reach q desired end. How often
do we hear Of cruel and rascally ac.
tion described as smart and how
often is 30 smart man" little better
men Know every iJF' weak point in law,
and they are very careful not to com.
NIT themselves to any thing which
would render them amenable to Justice
yet they are none the less blameworthy.
In this very carefulness consists much
OF their smartness.
A little while since an author sub.
mitted to London publisher manu-.
script, with a view to publication.
The two were unable to agree as to
terms, and the publisher refused to re-
turn the manuscripts. The author
threatened legal proceedings, where
upon the man of paper and Of print
replied, "If you talk of proceedings
and damages I'll send your manu-.
scripts to America and have the book
produced there, and then where will
the value of your copyright be z" This
was, no doubt, an exceedingly smart
suggestion, and the law gave him pow
or to carry it out, but it would be
difficult to approve of its honesty. A
theatrical manager few months ago,
accepted and produced a play which
was praised by the critics, whose YER
dict was confirmed by the public. I'm.
der an agreement, the author was to
receive so much per night for the first
fifty nights and then reduced nightly
sum afterwards. After the first week,
the manager heard that tho author of
the piece was in ill.health and was re-
lying on the proceeds of this piece so
he thought he would do a smart thing.
He threatened to withdraw.the piece
(although it was an acknowledged
success) unless the author would con.
sent TO take, from that time forward,
the reduced nightly fec. In order to
put on further pressure he detained
tho money due for the performances
Of the past week. Had there been
sign of "bad business" the author
would have at once consented, but
there was none, and he replied that he
must hold them to the agreement.
The matter was referred to third
party, and the would.be smart mana.
gor oyerstopped himself by admitting,
in correspondence, that he intended to
bring the poor author TO his terms,
Tor, wrote be, "he is in hole--ill, and
hard up" Yet there are men who
will pronounce this shameful proceed.
ing as q very "smart" move on the
part Of manager The cases cited
here are not imaginary; they arc
well-known in literary circles and
have been constantly discussed. Hap.
PLY, in professional life such instances
are rare, but in the commercial world
they arc of daily occurrence. Busi.
ness, which is now given up to an al.
most incredible extent to speculative
gambling, causes smart men to carry
on their smart practices with impunity.
They never stay TO consider what ruin
they are bringing on others, so long
as they carry their point. Their ar
gument is that they must live, and, in
order TO do so, they must be smart
and cannot afford TO have conscien.
tious scruples Nevertheless there
are commercial qualities that in the
long run are safer TO trust TO for the
successful issue of enterprises. 1t Is
possible TO make n profit without
cheating your neighbor out of his just
due and in the end the men who find
themselves rich and respectable are
those who have conducted their bust
ness upon the rules of justice and Of
truth, rather than upon tho principle
Of smartness. In all relationships, po.
litioal, professional, commercial, and
social, iair-dealing men consider the
wishes and necessities of others but
such considerations, as a rule, are for.
eign to "smart' men. II is for us TO
choose whether we shall be honest or
smart If VIC are smart, let us bc
honeetlv 40 - EgSU Hours