Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-11-11
OUR SATURDAY NIGHT.

Ever, body would like be a banker.
There is glamour about the banking
business that often deceives people into
the idea that the banker has the touch
of gold aud does not have to work for
VIII 1T he gets. He is simply person
dealing with accumulated resources
He handles the stored forces of econ
omy. The savings of hundreds, the lit
tie surplus carvings of thousands, the
sacrifices of the mauy, are gathered to-
gether and placed in charge of certai'
Individuals who make a business
OF managing them to the best advan-
tage for others.
In smaller way each individual can
be banker. The moment you have b
surplus dollar you are banker. Bu'
there are other ways of banking than
saving money. Yet saving money is
one OF the best of deciplnes for the in
dividual from moral standpoint
Spending lavishly for ones self Is the
basis of materialism that leads to de
struction. 1t is seeking happiness 10y
gratifying the senses and suppressing
the spirit. Spending lavishly on others
involves obligation in return, just as
borrowing of others does. The individ
ual should set his face sternly against
anything but absolute solvency. That
means owe no man anything but love.
You can be banker or bankrupt.
The difference between banker and
bankrupt is the difference between
ninety-nine cents and a dollar. Yet it
is all the difference In the world. 1t is
the difference between prosperity and
distress. 1t is the difference between
personal freedom and being under obli-
cation. 1t Is the difference between be-
ing your own master and being in
bondage to another. The man or
woman who earns $4.00 week and
lays aside $1.00 must make sacrifices.
But the sacrifices make the individual.
Individuality is impossible amid bank
ruptcy,, The individual can only come
out in freedom and there is little free
dom 10 debt.
You can be banker by outstanding
your resources and saving your strength
In other ways. Moderate eating, alb
stlnence from all stimnlants, narcotics,
poisons, drugs, anything but the plain
est food and pure water, and not too
much of that, will give you bank ac-
count of hale old age to draw upon.
1t will be cheer and comfort to be
hearty and vigorous In the sixties and
seventies, instead of a decrepit helpless
being. A Salem gentleman who leads
quite an active life and is In the prime
Of health at almost seventy eats only
two meals day, one at 8 am. aud one
at p. m.
We should be bankers In our dlspos-
itions more than anything else. We
should saye as much of the fresh aud
sunny resources of our nature as posi-,
Dle TO draw upon for the dark and
cloudy weather of life. The bank sc-
count of good nature should always
have big balance on the credit side.
We cannot deposit too much nor too
often increase the store Of good humor,
the unclouded temper and unruffled
disposition that alone constitutes the
lady or gentleman. We need
to daw often on our fund of stored |
sweetness and gentleness of
heart.
In the older days we shall need all
the available funds of life. Oh, let us
not be bankrupt in any respect, Let
us save wisely in physical, moral and
intellectual powers, for the days to
come when we shall need all the cheer |
fulness, intelligence and philosophy I
possible. The moments and forces
wasted are sorely needed later on. We
know not what we shall be called to do.
Husband the natural resources, In
,rease the armor OF physical aud spirit
ial culture. The spendthrift becomes
he homeless, houseless tramp Sap
'ho's dying injunctlon: "Woman, be
mIser with thy love-" is the great
esson Of wasted resources, neglected
unfultilled ambitions.
Ne should be bankers in more ways
han one.