The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1891-04-04
HIS FIRST THOUSAND DOLLARS.
Emory Storrs Believed a Young Man
Should Spend It in Travel.

While Luther Latin Mills was
going through some old papers the
other day he found an interesting
document from the pen of the la
mented Emory A. Storrs, which is
reproduced below.
do not know exactly what
called forth these utterances from
Mr.. Storrs," said Mr.. Mills, "but l
apprehend that they were in reply
to some young man who wrote the
brilliant lawyer for advice as to the
best way of investing sum of
money which he had in his pos
session."
The manuscript is as follows:
"There are several answers to
your question
"One boy takes his 81 900, spends
it either in foreign travel or in the
cultivation and improvement of his
mind and manners at home. At
the age of 81, if he is consistent in
this course, he has laid the founda-
ton for long career Of usefulness
and honor, and, whatever at his
death his bank account may be, he
has achieved something for the
good of mankind for which the
world will always gratefully remem-
Der him. The high spirit, the clear
head, the sharp intellectual discrim-
ination between right and wrong
which travel, culture and education
have given him is capital as much
better than bank stock as gold is
better than brass. No reverses of
fortune can take it from him. No
financial panics can rob him of it.
1t is his and his children's forever.
"The other boy lays up bis 81 900;
he doubles it, he triples it. What
of it? What kind of man is he at
the age of 81? The mere money
getter is the sadest spectacle on
Gods green earth. Leisure is dread
full to him. He leaves nothing be-
hind him but money, and that his
children waste. The glory of the
world is not in corner lots nor bank
stocks. No great man whom the
world to-day reverences is remem-
bered because he was rich. The
saddest spectacle on this earth is
that Of man dying on his pile of
greenbracks, which he cannot carry
with him, while his legatees are
counting his coin even as the breath
escapes from his body.
But suppose that your saving
boy loses his stock; suppose, as
often happens, through no fault of
his values are melted away. Where
is he then? A bankrupt, hopelessly
and irretrievably ruined.
Which shall the rich mans
daughter marry? l answer that the
man of cultured mind and that
broad and liberal spirit which travel
and education give cares but little
about it. If the father desires to
sell his daughter, that is his busi-
nees and his daughters. She may
start by marrying the compound
interest chap in palace, but sta
tistics show that in ninety-nine
cases out of one hundred she will
wind up in hovel. This father of
this daughter can take his choice.
Finally, no men recognize the
worth, value and splendor of strong
native business genius half so much
as educated men. Don't despise
nor underrate it. 1t will always
help you. 1t will never hurt you.
Stocks and cash and corner lots
are we'll, but they are not all that
there is of this world, nor nearly
all. Our great men have lived with
out them and died without them, but
the world loves them still. Cresus
was very rich, but the generations
of 5000 years have despised him.
Socrates was wretchedly poor, but
for 1000 years the world has loved
him. You buy and sell cattle
and are at liberty to do SO because
of what he taught 1000 years ago."
Evening News.