The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-05-31
@. W. FOSTERS Failure.

/ have had many regrets and shocks in my |
life; but never yet encountered one that made
me feel so sorry as the failure of that noble man
among men. Hewas public spirited, generous,
kind, liberal, honest, and was what is called |
well educated. He was a few years younger |
than the writer, but we we're boys, associates, |
school-felows together have for near 90 years
known and respected each other. And oh
how sad to see such lifelong friend in such
fix. and be unable TO help him. But if his
creditors knew and respected him as do. he
would not be where he is; fol, give him a chance
and little help. and he would be all right.
The writer took occasion to look into the ex-
Governors business relations in the Autumn of
manager OF Business College, and was then
very much astonshed, and forced to conclude
that the present failure was only mere matter
of time. But the high social political, mercan-
tile and monied standing of the wealthy mer-
chant, made it very improbable that advice from
a poor unnoticed inventor of entire new.
short, easy, successful, practical system of edu-
cation, and a system of Bookkeeping and Bu-
sness that would avoid such distressing bank
ruptcies, would or could avail anything at that
stage of the then impending disaster. But such
disasters have never Been attributed to the real
cause. But there must be some unseen, unknown
real cause for the bankruptcy of about eo4 or 5
out of every 600 men in the mercantile busi-
ness, as well as in other business occupations.
During each year there are not less than TO-
COO merchants who fail in business in the United
States, and failures this year will be greater.
But failure in mercantile life is very like death,
and quite as certain. Merchants make assign
ments sngly and alone, then commit suicide
go tn the insane asylum, or die of grief anc
soon are forgotten in the busy, thoughtless whir
!. of life. But there has never been, is not now
and never will be any escape from it till people
+ are educated on an entire different system. L
c. w. Foster had been allowed or made tc
study Bookkeeping, Commercial Law and Bu
siness, in all their bearings and connections
during the time he studied geography, history
e algebra and other studies that he has forgotten
! and never had any use for, community woulC
not today be so shocked, and glieved. and in
!. jured by his failure; neither would he and hi
L be so overcome with regret and heart sorrow
= But the very things that we would have beel
taught to make life success, were neglectet
n and crowded out to commit out geography les
sons, about 1000 rules, etc., in arithmetic, tn
same number in grammar, many more in al
zebra, and many more in Latin, etc. Thus W
were forced and led to spend our preparator
days in memory lessons for which we never ha
: : any use, only to forget them. just the masse
! always. have been and are served in schoc
: and college. OIL When will absurdities, fol
r. lies cruelties, etc., be driven from school an
n college, and their places filled with reason an
8 common sense, and children dealt with as i'm
mortal beings having never dying souls. and b
: taught first, at least,) the very things that ar
:. SO important to success in after life: First, tn
development of that God-like nature found i
' every child, instead of that tyrannical, falss
Q 4 brute, selfish nature, found there also. Second
. Develop the reasoning faculties, and thus pre-
pare the soil of the intellect for the growth
such knowledge as is needed in after bushes
1t life, and then bend all energies to knowledg
of ourselves and children, the laws of health,
y government of nations, and the part they 500
would have to take and would have to obey AN
then knowledge of business and its laws, etc
1T and how to make life success, and avoid sue
calling disasters. A. KELLY.