New-York tribune., 1900-12-02
MR. CARNEGIE on THRIFT.
HE SAYS SAVING DIFFERENTIATEs CIV.
ILIzED LIFE FROM SAvAGERY

Andrew Carnegie wrote for THE Dundee Cscot-
land) Peoples Journal the following article which
was headed. Thrift AS a Duty-The Duties Of
Rich Men,
The importance of the subject is suggested by the
fact that the habit of thrift constitutes one of
the civilized One OF the fundamental differ
sence Of thrift the one. its presence in the
other. When millions of men each save a little
make an enormous amount. which IS called capital
about which so much is written If men consumed
each day or each week all they earned. does the
savage, OF course there could be no capital: that
see what capital does. in the world. We will cor
slider what the shipbuilders do when they have to
offer 10 build an ocean greyhound for, let say.
tS.1ooO TO De paid only when the ship is delivered
shipbuilders get this sum of money 10 pay the
facturer and all the people who furnish material
for the building OF that ship? They get it from
the savings OF civilized men. 1t is part OF the
money saved for Investment by the millions of
little puts the money in bank and the banks
lend II TO the shipbuilder, who pays interest for
costly; we could not have anything more than
mainly at the bottom of all Improvement. Without
~, ~ no 6 raroads, no GanaS; no shps no telegraphs
papers, nothing great or costly could have.
Man must exercise thrift and save before he
produce anything material of great value. There
was nothing built. no great progress made, as long
man has no clearer duty than from early life TO
keep steadily IN view the necessity for providing
upon him. There are few rules more salutary than
good men. namely. that expenses should always
6e less than income" In other words one should
savage. consuming every day all that which he
TO young says:
To s'5S,a catch Dame ans, Fort Fortunes mes golden smile.
That's Justified by honor;
Not for TO hide II in hedge,
Nor Tor a trained attendant;
But for the glorious privilege
OF being independent
That Is sound advice far as 1t goes and nope
the readers Of The Peoples Journal" will take 1t
10 heart and adopt It. No proud. self-respecting
person car, ever be happy. or even satisfied who
wants. lie who is dependent has not reached the
full measure Of manhood, and hardly be
The safety and progress of country depend not
upon the highly educated men, or the few million
poor; but upon the mass OF sober, intelligent in
very rich nor very poor AS a rule Won will Az
that the saving man Is temperate man good
husband and father L peaceful, lava abiding cit
zen: Nor need the savings lie great. 1t is sur
prising how itile 1t takes to provide for the real
necessaries OF life. A little home paid for and
few hundred pounds-a very few-make all the
people than you might suppose. Great wealth is
quite ANOTHER and far less desirable matter. 1t
acquire millions. 1t is in no respect a virtue TO
! set this before us as an end. Duty TO save ends
when just enough money has been put aside to pro
/ vide comfortably for those dependent upon MS
under our Industrial conditions it is inevitable tb
| few. very few. men will find moEey coming 10
/ them far beyond their
/ The accumulation of millions Is usually the re-
suit Of enterprise and Judgment and some exce1-
! from savings in the ordinary sense OF that word
| Men who in old strive only increase fheir
already too great boards usually slaves OF the
1 habit OF boarding formed In their youth AT frsr
| they own the money they have made and saved
Later IN life the money owns them. and they can
not help themselves, oVerpoweTing Is tine force
| OF habit. either for good evil II is the abuse
Of The civilized saving instinct and not its that
| produces this class OF men. No need be afraid
/ OF falling victim to this abuse OF the habit III he
always bears in mind that whate surplus wealth
may come 10 him is to be regarded as a sacred
| trust, which he Is bound to administer for the
! good OF his fellows The should ALWAYS be
| master He should keep money I'm the position OF
useful servant. he must never let IL be master and
| a competence ana be Independent. But his whole
duty does not end here II is his duty some
] thing for his needy neighbors who less IA
Nored than himself. IL is his duty 10 contribute
4 the general good OF the community in which ne
lives He has beer protected by its laws; because
he has protected iri his various enterprises
/ he has hcCn enabled 10 make money sufficient FOR
belongs in justice TO the protecting power thar
has fOstered him and enabled him win pecuniar ~
4 success To try 10 make the world in some wa =
better than you found IL is 10 have a noble motive
/ in life. Your surplus wealth should contribute
| 10 the development OF your Character ami
( place you in the ranks of natures nobemen IL is
no less than duty for YOU 20 understand how i'm
portant il IS and how clear your duty is TO form
I the habit OF thrift When you begin to earn al
/ ways part Of your earnings like a civ,
ilized man. instead of spending all. like the poor
/ savage.