The morning call., 1891-01-02
THE WAY no GROW RICH

~ hopter. John p. Trevor
~ Nv Yarl, who has left LOT turo 9
oral millions inspires the W" - -;
,;tb soma reflections on "F",'
,th o,.a curious If not uniformly accurate.
", ~ vor. like his partner, James Is. Col
20 who died n few years ago, was bap-
fisf, He belonged TO the strait sect which
includes among its members the Rockefellers
and which in former days-the rule has
been relaxed in our time-eschewed worldly
pleasures of all kinds-theaters, balls and
ostentation in any form. Young BaptistS
were brought up to dress plainly, to spend
no money on show or luxurious living; to
eat plain food. and drink little or no WINE,
and to indulge in no expenditures OF conse-
ouence except for the building OF churches,
the founding Of schools and the establish
ment of libraries The Sun argues that the
accumulation of vast fortunes by members
of the Baptist-and the MethOdist-faiths,
which inculcate abstemious and fru gal liv-
inc GOES far TO demonstrate that the true
way to grow rich is to save.
There is so much truth in this proposition
that no observer of current life will care to
controyert it. Among the richest men Of
to-day are those who in their youth saved
something out of meager salaries, and kept
on increasing their savings as their income
grew. But the rule is not uniform, nor is it
true TO assert as an absolute doctrine that
the miSer necessarily becomes millionaire
1t is essential TO the aspirant after wealth
to be able to save money; but it is also es-
sential that he should know how to make
it. The mere savings of an industrious life
time spent in pursuits not largely remunera-
tive may amount in a series nf years TO a
respectable competency; out it is only in
exceptional cases that they lead TO what is
called a fortune. The very case to which
tine sun refers as an Illustration of its theory
that of John b. Trevor-tells against that
theory. Mr.. Trevor was for many years
the head of the leading money changers
office in New York. and was sure, under
any circumstance, 10 die rich. But he
made his great fortune by obtaining early
information from Samuel J. Tilden of the
intention of the Pennsylvania Central to
absorb the Pittsburg and Fort Wayne Rail
! road and buying large blocks of the securi-
! ties of the latter conf any. BE realized
/ some three or four millions by that opera
ton. while Jay Gould made not far from
fifteen.
| Success in money getting, like success in
any other pursuit. depends upon the pos
| session of a variety of attrltdtes which are
not often united in the same individual
clear head, quick perception sound reason
Ing, foresight, perseverance and a correct
! understanding of men. Even these rare
qualities are not sure TO win their reward if
they are not coupled with the resoute de-
termination which enables man to recover
| from failures and to rise superior to dsap-
polntments. The world knows little of the
failures of those who are called successful
men. ct 1t is perhaps safe to say that the
most successful of ali have failed oftener
than they have succeeded in their ventures
The bonanza firm rad tOilel patiently for
twenty years with the usual vicssitudes of
mining life before they drew their immense
prize. The syndicate which built the Pa
ciiic Railroad believed befors the work was
completed that it would not prove profitable,
hence they drew all OF the money out of the
enterprise possible, which went into their
private estates. So with other millionaires
whose opulence inspires envy.
The Sun says that of the great fortunes
which were noted in New York sixty years
ago none now survive but that of the Astors
That is likely enough. 1t is the tendency
| OF acquired wealth TO distribute ITSELF For
time, under the stress of a powerful will
1t will accumulate in one place; when the
| Will is withdrawn the riches flow back
whence they came. The vast fortune of the
Earrings is pouring through the chan
neis of trade into the sources whence it
sprang; in another generation il will be a
memory only. And this Is IN accordance
with the law of compensation, which rem
ders life beaTable. If here were in This
country law of entail which forbade tho
distribution of fortunes, the great stimulus
to ambition would be cut off. 1t is the hope
that he, in his turn. may grow to be an As
tor or a Vanderbilt which rouses the young
man to sharpen his wits aud educate his
mind for the supreme struggle of life