Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-09-05
The Value of Money.

wisdom glveth life to them that nave INC
cleS1asteS. vii, II.
There is a word to be said to young
men; not harsh word, but word OF
friendly and kindly counsel.
And here is the reason for it-name-
ly, because a good start goes long way
toward good ending. If the bullet
| leaves the rifle barrel with only a slight
divergence from the right direction, 1T
may never hit the target at all, for the
| further it goes the more wide of the
mark it is; but if it leaves the barrel
perfectly aimed for the centre of the
target, it is safe to predict good shot.
If a young man is equipped with the
| right ideas the chances are in favor of
his being of some value to the world;
bnt if when he stands on the threshold
of life he has no controlling moral prin-
ciple, he is like chip on the surface of
freshet-that is, he may, if he has
rare good fortune. reach the sea, or he
may be thrown on the bank at any turn
of the current.
1t is impossible, therefore, to exag-
gerate the necessity of fine equip
ment. because the fate of the soul, long
after this life has ended, may depend
Oh it. While it is possible for a boy
with a mind full of mistaken ideas to
throw them aside one after the other
as he proceeds on his journey, it is also
true that he runs great risks and will
probably end his career with an armtul
of regrets and a handful of real happi-
ness.
Now, there is no subject on which
there are more false notions than on
the subject of money. 1t is good
thing to have money and good thing
to work for it, but you must be careful
not to pay too large a price for it. AS
| the servant of noble man money is
exceedingly valuable, for it furnishes
opportunities to enlarge the scope of
charity and benevolence. AS the mas
ter of niggardly man it develops the
meaner qualities of human nature and
makes its possessOr a mere carlcature.
The world is all wrong in this matter
! and you will require deal OF indepen-
dence to put yourself right. There IS
| in the community an Overestlmate OF
wealth which is very demoralizing
| The Preacher makes a catalogue in
which wisdom stands at the head and
money follows as of secondary impor
lance; but modern society reverses the
order and puts money first, with wis
dom far below it. We doff our hats to
one who has wealth butsno character,
and hardly recognize one who has an
honest character but no money. The
result is that we work too hard for
money and have too light an opinion
of character.
If truth be told it is, after all, the
men of character and not the men of
money who have made the world what
it is. That fact stands in the foreground
of all thoughtful observation like a
towering monument against the sky.
If we were compelled to do without the
one or the other it would be sheer in
sanity to dispense with men of charac-
ter and retain the men of money.
Let us be clear on this point. The
clergy are apt to talk about filthy
lucre." But do not be led astray.
Money is never filthy unless it makes
the soul that seeks it filthy. 1t is your
right to labor for it and your right to
get it if you can. You are justified in
laying plans for its acquisition, because
there is a glorious satisfaction in the
thought that you will want for nothing
in your old age and your dear ones will
be amply provided for. But have a
care that you do not come TO think that
yonr happiness depends on it, because,
after all is said, there are more happy
poor men than happy rich men. For
that matter, it is a grave error to sup
pose that money can itself make you
happy without the possession of other
qualities which will enable you to en-
joy it and do good with it.
The business of the world is closely
related to the progress of the world. 1t
is noble calling that of the business
man, and one which God looks upon
with tender regard. Money and phi
llanthropy are twins, born of the same
good mother, two children of beauty
and grace. The merchants work is
just as Providential as that of the
clergymen, and his mission, if he right
ly understands it, is just as important.
If the consecrating hands of the Holy
Spirit are laid on the head of the
preacher and he is thus devoted to
special task so are the same hands laid
in equal conservation on the head of
the young man who starts on bust
ness career, and he is laid under solemn
obligations to be useful to his fellows.
That is a truth which cannot be too
keenly appreciated. We cannot get
along without money-making, and the
one thing we insist on, therefore, is
that the mOney-makers shall be honest
in their dealings and keep their con
sciences in good trim.
More than that, the business man
breaches the gospel of rectitude more
effectively than the clergy can do it. A
noble deed is better than noble word |
The word may incite to the deed, but |
when we get to heaven the merchant |
who has led pure life will occupy as
high place as the minister who told |
him how to do it. George Peabody's |
life out weighs the sermons of a cen
fury. Such man talks to the whole i
race, and his voice is not hushed when
he dies. AS the light of distant star
floods the earth long after the star it.
self has been extinguished, SO the up
and integrity of the merchant
exert untold influence long after a sor-
rowing people have laid him in his rest
ing place.
This, then, is the advice we Offer
Let your ambition run high and seek
its realization by hard work, but re-
member that it is mans soul and not
his pocketbook which goes to heaven.
You can get on without riches if need
be, but you cannot get on without
clean conscience. Make money, but
do not worship it. Pay good price
for it, but not more than it is worth.
Honest dollars hurt no one, but dis
honest gains are consuming fire-N.
Y Herald