Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-10-22

no change In this apparent Jaw of
action. In earlier days, when money,
or the medium of exchange, was less
plentiful than now, and the labor of
man was held et rate surprising for
its smallness-wheni it required q huge
quantity of work or merchandise TO
purchase a piece of gold now valued
at dollar; there was small oppOr
tunity for one to amass a large sum.
The law of supply and demand
ruled then with all its severity, ard as
land, cattle and ordinary property
Were a drag IN the market, while gold
and silver were rare metals, the record
shows q general condition of what
would now .e called Dovery. A herds
man with a thousand cattle or sheep
was not worth more than an owner
of small farm now; perhaps a mar
ket gardner with bis TWO or three
acres could buy him out as to the
values in the market. Nor is this
condition OF lowneSs in value so very
remote; nor does the present genera
ton lack demonstrations of It's appli-
cability nov; for when a surplus Of g
useful article is piled upon the market
now rapidly prices ucCIluo.
Nor does the recent discovery of the
richest mines of gold and silver ever
known change this great fact. And
how few of all the adventures into
business of mining come out with
even a competence. It is a fact well
attested that of the men reported
worth their millions made in mining
nearly every one made his money by
fraud in manipulating the shares Of
mining companies, and oftentImes a
aillion gained were stripped from
hard working people in humble life,
not excepting the hostler and working
girl. And after all the fleeing and
stealing INDUCED In by these sharpers,
not bakers dozen have succeeded in
holding a fraction Of the wealth inn
puted to them.
Could we investigate the history of
all great fortunes we should be sur
prised TO find how few have been &C
cumulated without the incidental adj
vantage of some fortunate or fortui~
tous accident or incident. 10 tO51840
the two wonderful accumulations
we're those of Girard and Astor. Now
Glrard, though a wonderfully wise
and thrifty manager, had the good
luck to have amounted thousands
thrust into his hands by the Insured
ton of the negroes ia Hayti Or
Guadalupe, who slew number of
wealthy men who had deposited their
money and jewels on board Girard' S
vessel to bring them 10 the United
| States. Now this luck was not in
consequence Of Girard's shrewdness,
it was what we call an accident un-
usual. and perhaps never to be repeat
ed.
The pith of Astor's fortune was also
the result of an accident or several
accidents that have never Teen dupli~
Gated. So we may readily see that
what are called great fortunes result
ed more from fastidious circumstances
than from an Inherent ability of good
management. Yet it must not be for
gotten that these men held Oh to what
they got and increased their gains by
adhering closely to the rules of
economy and simplicity taught them
in the schools Of poverty.
While very rich men are scarce,
and the condition of the millions re-
Aialh JuSh dOoub DIS IL was MY years
ago, the people are slowly being edu~
Gated to better comprehension of the
true method of accumulation. Tt is
easily seen that the economy and
frugality that governed the lives of
those who have succeeded in gathering
large fortunes will give every man
competence in due time, while waste
and unthriftiness lead surely to pow
erty,
The royal road to wealth has never
changed, 1t lies through the vale of
self denial, saving smalls sums, invests
ing in living permanent property and
adding annually to the sum gained.
Misfortunes may sweep it all away,
but this chance must be taken in all
ventures.