The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-07-13
CHARACTER AS CAPITAL.
William N. Thayer. In Yankee Blade.


 It has been said "When poverty Is your inner itance, virtue must be your capital" Many young men have learned the truth Of this maxim from personal experience. They have found that they started In business just about as well without money as they could have done with 1t. Some years ago youth of sixteen years was advised to sell bread on commission because 1t would be more profitable to him than to drive a bread cart on monthly wages. He had learned the business Of a baker, and had sold bread from e cart for several months
 "But I have no money to invest in horse and wagon" he replied; every dollar of my earnings have given to my mother for the support of the family.b
 "Buy horse and wagon on credit" advised the friend. "A dozen men in town will sell you an outfit on credit because they know you. Poverty, with such character as you have, is better capital than ten thousand dollars would be to some young men,"
 Encouraged by this counsel he found no diffi- culty in purchasing horse and wagon, for which he paid In less time than he promised. He suc- ceeed in business established business of his own became prominent citizen Of his town, represented 1t in the house of representatives, chairman of its school committee, subsequently, represented his senatorial district In the Massachusetts senate for twenty years presided over more political, tenn perance anti slavery and religious conventions than any other citizen of his county, because of his abi ity in that line was presidential elector to one of the most important national Republican conven- tions ever convened; more than twenty years ago was Massachusetts commissioner to the interna- tional expedition ct Paris, France. Character did it. It was better capital for him than money Had he possessed only money, he might never have got beyond the bake shop. It was capital that did even more for him out of his business than in It. Money could only have aided him in the bakery business: it would not have made him an enter prising, useful and honored citizen But character did all this and even more for him.
 Money capital will not secure confidence, or, at least not the confidence requite in the transaction of business. Enough money will beget confidence in the pecuniary ability of trader but that alone will not beget confidence in his moral ability. It forms of over reaching; but character Is. Hence, 1t is peculiar kind of capital, constantly increas- ing in vaue introducing the possessor to channels of influence and power he had not thought of. 1t was said of that famed New York merchant, Gideon Lee: "It was his misfortune (if indeed 1t be one) to be born poor. It was his merit, by industry and perseverance,, to acquire wealth. It was his mis- fortune to be deprived of an education when young; it was his merit to force 1t in mature age. early struggle, to aid him by their means and coun- sel it was his merit to win them in troops by a character that challenged all scrutiny"
 Dr. Franklin wrote to e young man. "Remem- Der that credit is money. The most trifing actions that affect mans credit are to be regarded. The sound of your hammer at five in the morning, or nine at night heard by creditor makes him easier six months longer but if he you at a billiard table hears your veice at . tavern when you should be at work he sends for his money the next day, demands 1t before he receive 1t In lump"
 It is not the sight of money that makes the cred itor feel easy but 1t Is the sight of character The "sound of the hammer at five in the morning" sat- ises him that industry is only one virtue of many in the heart of the toiler whose hammer is heard