The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-04-16

be extricated by any ingenuity Of your
own, or any help from others, and the
tides will roll over you as they have
over many. When Pompey, the warrior,
wanted to take possession OF Q city, ana
they would not open the gates, he, per-
suaded them to admit sick soldier.
But the sick soldier after awhile got
we'll and strong, and he threw open the
gates and letthe devastating army come
in. One wrong admitted into the soul
may gain in strength until, after awhile,
1t fings open all tho avenues OF the I'M
mortal nature, and the surrender is COM
plete. i
Again, business men are sometimes
tempted to throw of personal RESPONSE
bility upon the monied institution TO
which they belong. Directors In banks
and railroad and insurance companies
sometimes shirk personal responsibility
underneath the action Of the corpora
tion. And how often, when some bank
ing house or financial institution ex-
plodes through fraud, respectable men
in the board OF directors say, "Why
thought all was going on in an honest
way, and am utterly confounded with
this misdemeanor" The banks and tho
| fire and lfe and marine insurance COM
panies, and tho railroad companies, will
not stand up for Judgment in the last
day, but those who in them acted
righteously will receive, each for him
self, reward, and those who acted the
part OF neglect or trickerv will, each for
himself, receive condemnation. I'm
lawful dividends are not clean before
God because there are those associated
with you who grab just as big a pile as
YOU do. lie who countenances the dis
honesty OF the firm, or Of the corpora
ton, or OF the association, takes upon
himself all the moral liabilities. II the
financial institution steals, he steals.
II thoy 90 into wild speculations, he
himself is gambler. II they needless
ly embarrass creditor, he himself Is
guilty OF cruelty. II they swindle the
uninitated, he himself is defrauder.
No financial institution ever had a
money vault strong enough, or credit
stanch enough. or dividends large
enough. or policy acute enough TO hide
the individual sins Of its members. The
old adage, that corporations have no
souls, is misleading. Every corporation
has as many souls as it has members.
Again, many business men have been
tempted to postpone their enjoyments
and duties TO future season OF entire
leisure. What sedative the Christian
religion would be TO all our business
men II instead Of postponing Its uses
to old age or death, they would take 1t
into the store or factory or worldly en-
gagements now! It is folly to go amid
the uncertainties OF business life with
no God to help. A merchant in New
England village was standing by q
horse, and the horse lifted his foot
to stamp 1t in pool OF water,
and the merchant to escape the splash,
stepped into the door OF an insurance
agent, and the agent said ~ suppose
you have come to renew your fire insnr
ance. 90" said the merchant, 81 ha6
forgotten that" The insurance was re
newed, and the next day the house tha
, had been insured was burned. Was 4
all accidental that the merchant to es
cape splash from the horses foot
! stepped into the insurance office? No
It was providential. And what might,
solace for business man to feel tina
things are providential! What peac'
and equilibrium in such considera
, tion, and what grand thing II all bust
ness men could realize 1t!
Many, although now comparativel.
, Strengthened in worldly circumstances
/ have goodly establishment in tn
! future planned out. They have in i'm
agination built about twonty year
| ahead house in the country not diff
cult OF access from the great town, 10
3 they will often have business, or old &C
, counts to settle, and investments to loo
, after. The house is large enough to &C
commodate all their friends. The hall
| are wide, and hung with pictures Q
r hunting-scenes and branch Of antlert
D and are comfortable with chairs tina
can be rolled out on the verand
4 when the weather is inviting, or Sc
: out under some OF the oaks tha
3 stand sentinel about the house, an
. rustling in the cool breeze, and songfu
l with the robins. There Is just Ian
enough TO keep them interested, and II
I crops Of almost fabulous richness spring
s ing up under application Of the bes
1 theories TO be found in the agriculturs
T Journals. The farm is we'll Stoke
y with cattle and horses and sheep tbs
= know the voice and have a kindly blef
d when one goes forth TO look at then
It In this blissful abode their children wi
II be instructed In art and science an
i religion. This shall be the old hom'
% stead to which the boys at college wi
d direct their letters, and the hill Q
y which the house stands will be calle
1t oakwood or Ivy Hin or Pleasant Retrei
1t or Eagle Eyrie. May the future have 4
IT every business man here all that ar
D. more besidel Butare you postponing yol
8 happiness to that time? Are you adiourl
,e ing your joys to that contamination
D. Suppose that you achieve all you .
y pect-and the vision mention is not I
70 TO the reality, because the fountaii
,e will be brighter, the house grander. ai
8, the scenery more picturesque--the mi
W take Is none the less fatal. What char
10 will there be In rural quiet for q mi
ID who has thirty or forty years been COZ
n forming his entire nature 10 the excit
" ments Of business? Wilihoclx and her
TO with their bleat and moan be sble,to
II lence the Unsuitable spirit Of acquisitis
ID ness which has for years had full swiI
Lll In the aoulY VIII the hum Of the bree