The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1894-10-11
The Value of Money.
From the New York Herald.


For wisdom is defence. and money is de-
fence: but the excellence of knowledge is,
that wisdom giveth life to them that have it,
-EcclGslastes vii, IL.
There is word to be said to young
men; not harsh word, but q word of
friendly and kindly counsel.
And here is the reason for it
namely. because good start goes
long way toward good ending. If
the bullet leaves the rifle barrel with
only slight divergence from the right
direction, it may never hit the target
at all, for the further itgoes the more
wide OF the mark it is ; but if it leaves
the barrel perfectly aimed for the CEN
tire of the target, it is safe to predict
a good shot.
If young man is equipped with
the right ideas the chances are in
favor of his being of some value to
the world buf if when he stands on
the threshold of life he has no con-
trolling moral principle, he is like a
chip on the surface of freshet-that
is, he may, if he has rare good for
tune, reach the sea, or he may be
thrown on the bank at any turn of
the current.
1t is impossible, therefore, to exag-
crate the necessity of a fine equip
ment, because the fate of the soul,
long after this life has ended, may
depend on it. While it is possible
for boy with a mind full of mistaken
ideas to throw them aside one after
the other as he proceeds on his jour-
ney, it is Also true that he runs great
risks and will probably end his career
with an armful of regrets and a hand
full of real happiness.
Now, there is no subject on which
there are more false notions than on
the subject of money. 1t is a good
thing to have money and good thing
to work for it, but you must be care
ful not to pay too large price for it.
AS the servant of a noble man money
is exceedingly valuable, for it furnish.
es opportunities to enlarge the scope
of charity and benevolence. As the
master of niggardly man it devel.
ops the meaner' qualities of human
nature and makes its possessor g
mere caricature.
| The world is all wrong in this mat
ter and you will require a deal o.
Independence to put yourself right
There is in the community an over
estimate of wealth which is very
demoralizing. The Preacher make:
a catalogue in which wisdom stands
at the head and money follows as o
secondary Importance; but modern
society reverses the order and putt
money first, with wisdom far below it
We doff our hats to one who ha
wealth but no character, and hardl,
recognize one who has an honest char
acter but no money. The result i
that we. work too hard for money an(
have too light an opinion of character
| If truth be told it is, after all, tn,
! men of character and not the men O
money who have made the worlt
what it is. That fact stands in tn
foreground of all thoughtful observa
ton like a towering monumen
against the sky. If we were com
PEELED to do without the one or tn
other it would be sheer insanity t.
dispense with men of character an,
retain the men of money.
| Let us be clear on this point. Th
clergy are apt to talk about "filth
lucre." But do not be led astray
Money is never filthy unless it make
the soul that seeks it filthy. It
your right to labor for it and you
right to get it if you can. You az
justified in laying plans for its acqu
; sition, because there is gloriou
satisfaction in the thought that 70