Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-10-25
HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

Waverly, the prominent Iowa philan-
thropist, received letter from a
young mau in Kansas, asking him
how to shape his actions so as .omake
life success, to which Mr.. Simmer
replied in the following letter,
which contains so much good advice
that it has been reprinted by several
Iowa newspapers.
Waverly. Iowa, Aug. 20. 1902.
o. F., Esq. Fort Smith, Ark.
Dear Sir:
You stated that / have been success
full and as you are a young man
starting out in life, you would like to
know if could give you few sug-
gestions how to benefit yourself.
ANY person of mature age who went
through all the vicissitudes OF times
and conditions can fill volumes from
his experiences, and if he has profited
anything from such, can give more
advice than the average person can
follow or assimilate, but for all this to
mention few points in the line you
desire, can surely do no harm.
To make life success, q few car
dinal principles should be adopted and
strictly adhered to, and all other good
points will then follow in the wake
of such course without any further
efforts on YOUR part.
First of all, imbibe the principal
that nothing can be had for nothing
and to obtain something of value you
must give in all cases an equivalent
for the same. This principal will
carry the thought with itself that
you can fool no one, but If a person
believes himself smart enough to think
that he can fool many for any length
Of time, he will unexpectedly find to
have been fool enough to have fooled
no one but himself.
In choosing your course remember
the old adage that Birds of feather
flock together" to he an expression
of great truth verv much simplified,
AS it is Incompatible to mans nature
to associate with those who cannot
either rise to their lofty ideas of
life, or be degraded to their level.
Never hesitate to acquire an enemy
for cause as time servers have neither
true friends or real enemies. They
world condition, command no respect
and are but clay in the potter's hands
to be thown aside whenever their
further use is Of no more value to the
spoilates Of the human race, whose
willing tools they are.
Make punctuality to meet all yonr
obligations one of the most sacred of
duties, as no class of business can
withstand the injurious effect from in
difference to this rule.
To labor as long as we are able is
the mandate Of nature and by receiving
fair compensation for services
rendered we can accumulate enough
during the term Of our activity to pro-
vide for needs in old age. AS this is
all there is to life, the ceaseless
struggle to accumulate fortunes at the
expense Of either honor, health or hap
piness and perhaps at the risk of all,
should appear to the rational mind as
a species of insanity for which no
good reason can be given. In saving
your surplus remember that money is
created for use and not abuse, and
to live manly without the taint of
the miser's delight is the proper use of
such and will increase your prosperity
ALWAYS reciprocate for smallest
favors received for to wound every
fiber of human susceptibility with the
poisonous fangs of ingratitude is the
crime of all crimes and the exhibition
of such callousness to human senti-
ment on the part of the perpetrators
thereof stamps them as the lowest
grade of human depravity.
Be truthful at all times. Never use
policy to build up reputation or for
any other purpose whatsoever, but
simply do right because 1t is right to
do right, as snch is the only safe road
to reputation that will never tarnish.
Let your life of simplicity and moral
strength be the evidence of this course
and your sublime faith il the ultim-
ate triumph of every worthy cause.
Do no business under any circum-
stances with any one whom you have
known to have wronged others who
has earned reputation Of having to
be watched, as such persons are un-
scrupulous in their actions, aim to be
resourceful in their methods and re-
gardless of their most friendly pre-
tentions, will turn their weapons MP
on you when the opportunity offers.
For time even such persons may
prosper and to the fair-minded world
the eyes Of justice as to them NAV
seem shut, but sooner or later and
when least expected the search-light
of outraged Justice will turn upon
them. and with unrelenting efforts
overwhelm them with such fate as
their lives Justly deserve. When such
does take place, the visions of those
miscreants will always pierce the
immensity of space in the search of
those who were willingly deceived
but fiattered them for purpose when
fairly sailing the dangerous seas of
deception, but they will not find
their once pretended friend to shed
tears, when they now have to weep.
Locate wherever you will, engage
in any business you desire, you are
liable to be benefited to the extent
you will adhere to the afore mentioned.
Yours Truly,
Slimmar