Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-03-04
WINS THE SECOND PRIZE
IN A CONTEST OF sA ESSAYS
Miss Tena WllaIen, of the WinneSheik
County State Bank. Writes Second
Best Essay on The Advantages
of Saving and How
TO Save"

| A month ago the Royal Trust Com
pany. of Chicago, advertised to give
six prizes, ranging from $5 to $50 for
the six best essays on "The Advan-
tages of Saving and How to Save. -
Miss Tena Whalen, stenographer for
the Winnesheik County State Bank,
of this city, decided to enter the con-
test, and submitted an essay. To her
surprise she was awarded second prize
in contest in which 541 essays were
filed. 1t is a prize of $50, and she
may be Justly proud of it, not for the
amount of money, but because of the
excellency of her composition, and for
the high place given it among so
many contestants. The Chicago Sun
day Tribune published the essay in
full, and the Royal Trust Company
will publish an edition of 100000
booklets, containing the first three
prize essays We congratulate Miss
Whalen upon her splendid essay and
her good fortune. We reprint the
essay in full below:
He that would be wealthy or inde-
pendent, must save. No fortune ever
was nor ever can be made, that Lad
not it's beginning in savings. Specu-
latiOn, sometimes, results in wealth
but the foundation of every fortune
is made by some ones savings.
To unaccustomed ears the word,
Savings" brings chill sensation of
cheerlessness, suggests penury, depri-
walton, and discomfort, but it gives
this feeling to those that know it
not
Saving does not, necessarily, mean
discomfort, but it insures continued
comfort. A man earning a salary
which he spends on everything he
fancies, has nothing ahead, the graft
fication of each passing desire. after a
bit, becomes habitual, requiring in
creased expenditure and, if his salary
does not keep pace with his acquired
wants, which have an irresistible ten
dency to increase, he is forced to
sacrifice the desires which leaves him
in the same position as the man that
gives up, in the first place with this
difference in the result, that the Sc
cond man has some money saved, has
become used to not having his wishes
gratified, while the first has left be-
hind him valuable time, has no capit-
al aud has desires th.t he cannot
satisfy.
We're he, instead, to allow himself
a sufficient amount to cover his legit-
innate expenses. and save the rest, he
would, soon, have q little capital laid
by. Then, should opportunity come
to him, he would have the necessary
money to seize it. His possession Of
capital establishes. his credit, and
reputation for thrift increases his
credit. We have greater confidence in
the continued integrity of him that
Saves as he goes than of him that
spends, and depend more on him that
has made his capital than him to
whom capital is gift.
Also, indirectly, the saving habit
tends to better ones moral condition
for it teaches moderation and restricts
the expenditures. 1t is one Of the
lessons in self mastery that yields a
return, in actual cash.
Once started, it becomes pleasure
~ W0VOSA . oOVAA60 oSOOuAo 64OV oAu
the things one goes without, in order
to build fortune, gradually seem
less desirable, as compared with the
money they represent. The dollar
saved this year, earns a little for next
year, the dollar needlessly spent, il
gone. It has lost, for you, its earning
power. Next wear, the thing pur.
chased is worn and useless. Not only
that but the purchase, by use, from
luxury has become q necessity, that
means the spending Of another dollar,
etc.
All You need do, commence to save,
persevere for little time till habit,
that wonderful conservator of nerve,
force and energy, takes the matter in
hand, and the victory is won, the
foundation Of your future is laid and
the ingenious figuring necessary tC
make one dollar do the work of two,
becomes q pleasure. for the natural
pride IN q thing we'll done applies
Just as surely to saving money as tC
writing.a book.
There is but one way to save-spend
less than your income Learn your
necessities, and spend what will
cover them. Lay aside the rest. Be
your income ever SO small, your ex-
penses may be less.