The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-21
WHAT S HALL IT BIG?


don died several days ago. and it is said
that his death caused no regret to sin
gle human being. The reason is that he
was money-lender. He made advances
to these who were hard up and charged
them an eXorbitant rate of interest.
We have in mind a living American
who has accumulated a large fortune. has
heaped up millions upon millions, still
he is actively engaged in the large bust
ness affairs of the country and is Eeap-
ing up more money every day that he
lives.
NThere are those who condemn this man.
as there are those who condemn the
n,onev-Iender. aN-hy does not man stop
when he has made a million or two and
give somebody else a chance? This IS the
question that is frequently asked III CON
nection with millionaires who Keep on
working and accommodating. But what
is a mans duty? If he has the brain and
the energy to make q million. ought he
to quit work when he has gotten COM
potency. ought he 10 sell out his business
and convert the money into Gilt-edged
securities and lead q life OF ;dleness. iv-
ing on the interest Of the money which
he lends? Ought he to keep on working.
or ought HI: to retire and become a money
lender?
1t seems to us the clearest thing in the
world that it is best for society that such
a man shai: keep working, even though
in so doing he shall keep on adding to
his millions Love of work" says
writer on this subject, lis one of the
best and strongest of American traits.
and there is no escape from the conclu-
sion that much of our countrys pros
perity is directly due to our fondness
for work. It is a glorious thing for
this country that we have no leisure
class True there are a few idlerS who
spend their time at the summer resorts
and the winter resorts, and have no
purpose in life other than to amuse
themselves But they are too few to
constitute class. They are the Iramps
in high life and people generally are TOO
busy to pay much attention to them
Most of our wealthy men arc at work
ing institutions, and are among the bus
lest citizens of the country. They work,
not because it. is necessary for them to
work, but because they despise life OF
idleness. The rich men of America have
made their own fortunes by their own
wit and work, and in SO doing they have
acquired habits Of industry. If they re-
and finally miserable, for they cannot
find pleasure in life Of leisure
But these old chaps ought to get
out of the way" say some, land give
the young men q chance For our part,
re believe they are doing more for the
young men ky keeping at work ana car
rvins on extensive operations. these men
are very quick to recognize merit in the
Young and when they find young men
of brains and grit they are prompt TO
take hold Of them and put them in the
line of promotion. The young man who
joins himself to Il large corporation IN
these DAYS is sure to get as large sai6ry
as his services are worth. l: he IS worth
one hundred dollars year ne WILL set
one hundred dollars n year, but II he is
worth ten thousand dollars year he will
get ten thousand. Moreover, he will have
an opportunity to invest his savings IN
the company's stock and may thus be-
come a part owner and sharer in the
profits.
When a man has labored for forty or
fifty years and has accumulated COM
potency he is fairly entitled to retire from
business and take much-nceded rest.
But the Lord never intended that an ac-
five. vigorous man should quit work and
lead a life of idleness simply because he
had managed to scrape together enough
money to support him and his family.
It matters not whether man has thou-
, sand dollars or million dollars OF 'eH
million dollars. il he is strenuous man.
CAPABLE of doing good work and OF en-
plcying his millions in such a way as TO
, help others, TO give employment to men
and 10 carry or great works, he ought
to keep at it, and it is stupid to argue
that ii is right ana in the interest of So
ciety that suci Il man shall get out OF
the way. as they say. and give somebody
| else chance. \ bright. Industrious man
is never in the way, and he gives more
chances to others by Keeping UP his ac-
| tivities 1t is a distinct loss to trade
| whenever such a man retires-
! COMMON SENSE IN BUSINESS.
The Southern cotton-Yarn spinners'
Asst citation has decided to curtail produc-
ton for four months by about one-third