Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-07-31
BORN TO MAKE MONEY.
BY HARLEY HARKER.
New York Weekly.

at Isl gift. Nature be2tows it on some
and denies its to others" sail front-stoop
philosopher, the other night, as we were
talking of a rich neighbor's luck.
That's So echoed another. I'm
school, as boy. our neighbor over there
was always ON the swap. and always got
the best of the bargain. He was not very
studious in books But he seemed to be
studying all the while how to make trade
Now. that | recall that chaps brown
studies, think that's the entire secret.
the fellows cast of thought always was on
comparative values. He would ask.
Which kind of knife do you think is
best? Would you rather be good swim
mer or good skater?' Is there more
fun IN ball or tag?' and other similar ques-
lions of comparison.
If you will examine closely, you Will OBJ
serve that keen and successful trader,
when alone, evidently runs to comparing
things mentally. He is forever COM
pairing the growth of towns, cost of this
house and that, the value of one horse with
another. In his talk he shows this; COM
parsons abound, He puts comparisons
into figures. He will whip out an envelope
and figure, "Now, here's what that sold
for last year This is what tits this year :"
While other men looking at a dwelling
would simply take in its beauty or defects,
he the born money-maker Is thinking
'Would prefer this to my place? If yes,
how much and why? If not, why not,
and how much Of the why not?"
The born moneyn2aker thinks of every
thing as moving up or down a scale of
values. He always has starting point,
and then Jackknlfe or piece of land is
off or ION so many points from that
His mind works unconsciously just like
one of those thermlc measures which in
dlcates the maximum degree of tempera-
ture by halttng bead of red. Tell him
the highest or lowest price of a lot or a
stock, he never fOrgets it; 1t sticks in his
| head like burr in sleeps wool. He re-
members prices as naturally as some re-
member faces and Others remember hocali-
| ties. There is no accounting for this ex-
cept, as | say, by confessing that it is born
| IN a man. Why can one man always
| tell which way is north and another, when
out of his own street, is always turned
round?
| Whycan one man remember tune and
! whistle it on once hearing it, and another
can scarce pound it into himself? These
are gifts of nature And the money
makers ability to cling to prices and
quote fluctuations is the same singular,
natural endowment.
Other men may acquire partial facility
| by study; but no man can compete with
your born mOneymakerr
Your mOney-maker sees ore thing
money. Almost always Ire is deficient
everywhere else. His affections are small;
not that he means to be cold hearted, but
that he is simply not bonn to love or be
loved. He is not Intentionally cruel, but
he does not feel other men s woes; mercv
is not one of his attributes, any more than
a fiddle bow is in plumbers bag. He is
not fond OF amusement; nothing
anuses him so much as making money.
He does not generally joke much; if he
tells good story it is only that he may
put you in good humor for a trade and
threw you off your guard. You feel,
while you are laughing, that it is danger
Gus, and you look up quickly, to see his
cold'eyes paus'ng on you with a shrewd
CLEAN, like sunbeams from ice. He is ne
great eater, and rarely drunkard, though
he may treat whole crowd often enough.
He belongs to few things; may be. as q
boy, he joined some fraternity because he
thought it might boost him into adyant-
age; but he soon tires of the lodge-room.
and especially of the continual calls of
sweet charity. IF he goes TO church he
means to make it pay; otthat he really
is merGhenary in his religion, but that
| he cannot help making the church pay.
Everything pays with him for he was
made that way.
He cares nothing for Office; could get
along just as we'll if not elected; but if he
is elected there is money in it for him
where other men were all out of pocket.
Nor do now describe the political shyster
or Jobber; | am speaking of a reasonable
| honest man who is born to make .oney
| say he will make it out of an office that
no other man dare touch.
| Your born money-maker forgets his love
| OF flowers and books, pictures and horses
These natural functions, if he had them,
wlther and die because he gives them lit
tie and less exercise. When he has become
| very rich, probably he builds a fine resi-
dence. But it is his wife and daughter
who plat the grounds by the aid of a land
scape gardener.
His family nave their own way about the
structure, by the help of an architect: on
the internal fittings, by the wisdom of the
most extensive decorator. The money king.
poor soul. does not find time or pleasure In
such use of his money.
my dear" he says to his wife. I'm
getting quite pile together. | want to
use it some way. Build place. Fit it
up"
"Will you stop to enjoy it with us?' she
asks.
He promises but he never performs; his
enjoyment Is net in his library, reading
IennySOn and taking in the fine viaw
Rather down In his musty office getting
more money He is made that way. and
can t hel p it. A sleeping car FIVE nights
its glorious view. Instead of his spacious
bathroom, with costly perfumed woods
he uses the humping end of Pullman
two hundred and fifty mornings in the
year. His houses he knows he has. and
that they are said to be fine; he paid
enough for them, Jupiter knows; and he
is the mere treasurer of the family, the
doIlar-fnder The boy at college tries to
love him. and the father is going to let
him-next year.
Next year is the money-getter's great
year. He IL be out of his press next
year, have more leisure next year. Poor,
self deceived fellow! He would die if not
making money or attempting it. He is
made for 1t. He is fit for nothing else.
He ought to know himself better than to
ever so much as dream of stopping. Other
men envy him. The more fools they. There
is but one cure for his slavery. That
j. to begin to give away. As |
fast as he makes let him give, and even he |
can be happy.