The bee., 1884-02-23
The Secrets of Success.

a mans comfort in life depends very
much upon his keeping little ahead in
his money affairs. If you once fall behind,
it may be very difficult to make up the
headway which is lost One who begins
with putting aside some part of his earn
mgs, however small, and keeps it up for q
number of years, is likely to become rich
before he dies. One who inherits property,
and goes on year by year spending little
more than his income, will become poor if
he lives long enough Living beyond their
means has brought multitudes of persons
to ruin in our generation. 1t is the cause
Of nine-tenths of all the defalcations which
have disgraced the age. Bankers and busi-
ness men in general do not often help
themselves to other peoples money until
their own funds begin to fall of, and their
expenditures exceed their receipts A man
who is in debt walks in the midst of perils.
Merchants who, in their prosperity,
would have scOrned the thought Of any
thing approaching to fraud have, when they
found themselves sinking, resorted to base
devices which would seem to be utterly
foreign to their nature. A drowning man
will clutch at the throat of his best friend
to save himself Debt in itself is dread
fully demoralizing. 1t may sometimes be
inevitable; but, even when there is no dis
honesty connected with it, the moral fibre
is liable to be injured by its influence. 1t
cannot but impair ones self-respect when
he feels that he is living upon money
which belongs to others. How much better,
whenever it is possible, to keep a little
ahead, even though we deny ourselves all
the luxuries and some of the comforts of
existence.
It is also very desirable that we should
keep somewhat ahead in our work. This
may not be possible in all cases; as, for in
stance, when mans work is assigned to
certain fixed hours, like that of the opera
tives in a mill. But there are certain classes
Of people who can choose their time for
the work which they are called to do, and
amongst them there are some who invaria-
bly, put off the task assigned them as long
as possible, and then come to its perform
ance hurried, perplexed, anxious, confused
in such state of mind as certainly
units them for doing their best work.
One secret Of success in life consists in
keeping ahead of other people in our plans
Society is divided into two classes-leaders
and followers-those who "go ahead" and
those who fall into line" How are great
fortunes made? Partly, as already said,
by saving, and also by striking out in ad-
vance of others. A thing once done, it may
be easy to copy and to multiply it; but it
is the pioneer who went ahead and first
broke the ground that deserves the praise.
1t is to men who open new paths, and dis
close to M regions that were unknown
before, that the world is most indebted.
It is the advanced idea of few men in
one generation which decides the destiny
of the generation that follows. Society is
always in need Of men who command re-
spect and reverence because of their ele-
waited character. We look up to certain
persons; we look down upon others; up
or down-because of the monotonous
level on which the multitude stand. If il
were not for the example Of few eminent
men, we should have low standard Of
character. In every village of thousand
or more inhabitants there are usually somo
four or five men and women whose in
huence would be sadly missed if they
should be taken away. They keep ahead
of other people-in enterprise as well as in
character. A handful of such persons may
elevate the whole tone of the community.
Alas for the town where all people are on
level! It is sure to be a pretty low level.
Let every young man who has soul In
him determine not only to get ahead, but to
keep ahead till he drops out of his place to
make way for some one else. In our day
those who are coming on the stage of ac-
ton find it particularly hard to get start
the roads are blocked, there is q crowd
of applicants for ever respectable station
or opening, and it is only the active and
vigiiant who stand much chance of getting
ahead. But remember for your comfort
that those who have succeeded best are
often such as had to stgiy hardest in the
beginning.
What special advantage have the great
majority of successful men had when they
started in their career? Only such as they
found within Themselves clear head, an
earnest purpose, and a strong will. They
made their fortunes-fortune did not make
| them.
Fight your own battle in life. Ask nc
favors of any one, and you will succeed
thousand times better than those who art
| always beseeching patronage. No one viii
ever help you as you can help yourself, be.
cause no one can be so heartily interested
in your welfare.
We went to the hotel, had dinner, and
then secured a livery team and drove out
getting through the whole business so thai
tween the rails of the fence. I could set
| ~ c,,oat hlus ewes and knew that she wa