Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-10-23
Making Money.
Taunton Mass, J Gazette

II uOSS not neeC 10 De Asserted That
money making in a topic of universal
interest snd acceptance with the
classes of people from the self-asser-
tive Itch to the humblest poor. Money
is god universally worshiped. IT'S
affairs are on every hilltop and valley;
at every hamlet and treside. Money
is the euphuism of synonym of all
human comfort, luxury or advantage:
the possession or 1t stamps its holder
as man of power in tae community,
and has become an essential in the
organization of business. 1t is topic
always discussed; never laid aside,
ever present and of enlarged interest
day by day, in the factory and field,
in the church and forum. 1t has ever
been so since the civilization, and
must ever remain so long as civiliza-
ton lasts.
Money is the solvent of trouble, the
charm for the hungry, the solace of
him that is ready TO die; for the
troubled soul feels that with money he
could remove disquietude; the hnugry
knows he could buy food; the man
just gong into the unknown feels
that his grave will be paid for, and
not in the Potter's field. And as long
as ''earth has is price for what it
gives up" and ''the beggar must pay
for q corner TO die in, we may expect
no change III this apparent law OF
action. In earlier days, when money,
or the medium of exchange, was less
plentiful than now, and The labor Of
man was held at rate surprising for
its smallness-wheni II required huge
quantity of work or merchandise TO
purchase piece of gold now valued
at dollar; there was small oppor
tunity for one to amaSS large sum.
The law of supply and demand
ruled then with all its severity, and as
land, cattle and ordinary property
were drug in the market, while gold
and silver were rare metals, the record
shows a general condition of what
would now ae called Novery. A herds
man with a thousand cattle or sheep
was not worth more than an owner
of small farm now; perhaps 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 loNness in value SO very
remote; nor does the present genera
ton lack demonstrations of lis appll-
cability now; for when a surplus OF a
useful article is piled uton the market
how rapidly prices decline.
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 adventurers into
business of mining come out with
even competence. 1t is 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 oftentlmes a
million gained were stripped from
hard working people III humble life,
not excepting the hostler and working
girl. And after all the fleeing and
stealing INDUCED III by these sharpers,
not bakers dozen have succeeded in
holding 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. Up to,1S40
the two wonderful accumulations
were those of Girard and Astor. Now
Girard, though q wonderfully wise
and thrifty manager, had the good
luck to have uncounted thousands
thrust into his hands by the iRsurrec-
ton of the negroes in HaytI or
Guadaloupe, who slew a number of
wealthy men who had deposited their
money and jewels on board Girard's
vessel to bring them 20 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 Ceen dupll~
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 on 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-
main just about as it was fifty years
ago, the people are slowly being edu-
Gated to better comprehension Of the
true method of accumulation. 1t 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, invest
ing in living permanent property and
adding annually to the sum gained.
Misfortunes may sweep it all away,
but this chance must De taken in all
ventures.