The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-04-18
Why Millionaires DO Not Stop Working,

became ne gets rlch is no reason why
he should quit working There is
nothing that is so demoralizlng, either
in the young or the old, as idleness,
and the man who lays down his burd-
en- when he is still able to carry it
does a great injury not alone to him
self, but to the world at large. All
men who have ever amounted to any
| thing ha ,e labored 10 the las. in the
field where they found their greatest
usefulness. 1t is setting very per-
nicious example to the coming gen.
Grafton 10 advocate, as is so often
done, that man, after reaching GER
tain age, should stand for the rest of
his lite with folded hands. 1t is my
hope that shall be able to work, and
work hard, to the very last. All my
life have been at it, early and late,
and l have found nothing that has
tended so much to my happiness as
this activity.
The thing that is most valuable in
life is experience. A man who, hav-
ing experience, puts it to no use, is al
most criminal. The ripper the years
the ripper the wisdom, or SO it should
be; and so it is with a msn who has
been content with plain living, hard
work and honest effort. How wrong
it is, then, not to use this wisdom 1t
is as if man, having broa | acres and
much seed, were to allow the acres TO
lie waste and the seed to rot. 1t is
his duty to cultivate the land and
bring forth crops which viii, enrich the
world and add TO his own store. The
theory that would relieve a man of re-
sponsibllity at the age OF SO, 90, 10,
50, 90, or even 100, ii he is still cap,
able of doing business, is the most
harmful theory ever advanced. 1t
lnterfercs with the scheme of God and
nature. "In the sweat of thy face
shalt thou eat bread" was written for
the man of 10 as well as for the youth
Of 20.
1t is specially incumbent on a rich
man to remain at work. As our busi-
ness system is constituted, it is rarely
possible for man to become very
rich unless he uses the money of others
as well as his own. The moment he
does this he becomes the trustee for
this outside money and it is his most
sacred duty to do tor the owners Of
this money the best that is in him
The longer he acts as such trustee the
more depends on him, on his know
ledge, on his experience, on his con-
servatsm, on his interest. How wrong,
then, to throw of this trusteeship al
the very time which his experience has
made it most valuable. 1t is distinct
calamity when death calls away man
who through his strong mental make
| up and his capacity for work has built
| up large fortune. The possession
OF this shows that he is an important
factor in the worlds progress,
| Death none of US can fight off,
When it comes we must lie down. but
to anticipate death by voluntarily re.
firing from active pursuits is as wrong
as it would be to hobble around on
one leg when God has given US two.
| Of course, to the man who has been
active all his life there is also selfish
qualification in continuing work. To
him vino is properly constituted, work
is as essential as meat and drink. and
more important and extensive is the
work, the more qualification there is
in doing it. | can understand that the
man who has dug trenches all his life
would hail with JOY the arrival of the
time when his savings would permit
HIM to lay by the shovel and pick.
He has no sense of responsibility to
urge him 10 continued effort A
young man can probably manipulate
the shovel and the pick more effective
y than he can.
But when the man who works in a
larger field, and who directs the EN-
ployment of others, it is different. He
is responsible for the continued act
ivity of those who are dependent upon
him for employment, and he has the
stimulus of wider interest. He mus,
have a wrong kink somewhere in his
makeup if he voluntarily relinquishes
his post. 1t is one of the most hope
/ fu signs of our country that oul
= prominent men of affairs generally die
at the helm. | cannot at this time
recall any one who had been known al
$ an industrial leader who was living il
, idle retirement when death summoned
! him.
t There are many who look upon tn,
= continued efforts OF rich men as a
mere pursuit of wealth. A create
h mistake has never been made. Th,
J. mere possession of money. Money
e simply measures achievement.
: mans fortune is the monument of hi
value as a citizen provided he employ