The Hawaiian gazette., 1886-03-02
The Profit of Abstinence.


letter from Barnum has been published re
Gently in an English newspaper. in which he SAYS
that twenty years ago, when he began the manage
meut Of his travelling show with 500 persons, il
vzs inside condition that they should be dis
charged and forfeit $500 If they were not total
ahstainers fron strong drink ulrInc the season of
seven months. Nearly every one complied and at
the end of thst time he offered TO invest their saw
ings and guarantee them the principal with inter
est at per cent of they would continue to abstain
Over 400 of them accepted the offer, and most of
them to-day have several thousand dollars safely
invested. Here is an idea for those whose incomes
are small, and men on wages By wise economy.
BY ahstaininc frou all use of liquor which physi-
cians are coming more aud more to tell Us is only
waste something, If only little might be saved
from necessary expenses and laid aside. There
are ssvings-hanks connected with both our banks
in Houolnlu, where small deposits can be safely
placed and draw a small rate of interest believe
there was time when one of the substantial busi-
ness houses here vo1ld take small sums on loan,
giving their note, and paying good rate of inter
est. II those who can only make small deposits
wish for higher rate Of interest than that paid by
the ssvincs-bsnks, il would seem TO be feasible
idea for men, say of the same craft to Join their
savings and make a sum large enough for loan,
which, when occasion offered might be let out on
good security att good rate Of interest each share
holder in the loan, to have Of course his proper
tonaie share OF the interest II would not tie the
mans savings up too much, because he ooGld sell
If necessity pressed
There is here, one must say, a want Of facilities
and encouragement for the deposit of small saw
incs- as well as want of confidence. Indeed want
of confidence Is the principal hindrance, on one
side, to making small deposits. If men had sufh-
cient confidence in the government to take up
small bonds Of Sl00 500 or $500, at a rate which
Is now offered. Per cent. lis iis) without tax.
that would answer every purpose on one side. But,
II must be confessed, we are not saving commu-
nifty. There Is disposition manifested by the
majority, especially since the reciprocity treaty
live up 10 the last margin of income. We might
be one OF the most thrifty Of nations If were
individually more economical and saving. OF
course The principal object in life Is not to
money, that know, bat II Is not unworthy ut any
man 10 endeavur to be in sickness or old age be
yond the need OF pecuniSTy assistance from friends
There are probably very few who have incomes of
tive, three or four dollars day who could not out
of this save little, even If II be not more than
what the majority Of them spend on tobacco and
far too many on beer and liquor. ! suppose the
drinker who does not spend more than enc hund-
ned dollars wear for drink. would be considered
very moderate one. How much better for such
one TO abstain from even this moderate use Of
that which does him no good and deposit the
money IN ssvincS-banks, or how much better TO
take Up . small bond, and add as he can to his
savings When We begin to think of practising
economy we naturally ask what we can best give
up. When any man who uses liquor wishes TO
begin to economic and save, there is surely moth
Inc which he can give Up with so much benefit 10
himself and the community as liquor Let those
who now indulge IN this poison give II up. and
learn with Barnums S Company the profit of abstin-
ance. ECONOMIST.