Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-23
THRIFT
Man Who Saves Money Puts Himself
Where He May Make Money.

Man Who Saves Money Puts Himself
Where He May Make Money.
From the Philadelphia Inquirer.
1t is a mere trusm to say that thrift Is
the basis of civilization.
For centuries human beings, or beings
having in them the potentiality of human
ity eked out miserable existence in caves
and woods and holes in the ground, and, be-
ing no more than able to provide each day
for each days necessities, accumulated moth
ing. Under those conditions progress was
impossible and for uncounted centuries our
prehistoric ancestors were born and lived
and died like the beasts that perish.
Gradually, however, very gradually, ex-
perience developed their abilities. The wild
man who had previously used only his
hands in the daily conflicts he was forced to
wage with the beasts of the forest for his
daily food learned one day that he could
double his offensive power by the employ
ment of club. That made it easier for him
to supply his needs On days when he was
fairly fortunate he could gather in a two
days supply of the things he needed, and SO
the process Of accumulation was begun.
Presently he took another forward step.
He learned to kill his prey at distance by
the propulsion of a stone, and again the
conditions of his existence We're anchor
ated. Then he discovered how to frame
weapon by arming his club with a flint ana
hts advantage over the unreasoning brute to
which nature has denied the inestimable
gift Of prehensile hand and all opposing
thumb was further accentuated. Slowly
the long and wearisome ascent was made
and through the stone and iron ages, when
human beings hunted and killed the wild
beasts and each other, man at last arrived
at the age where written history hnds MIN,
the age of the shepherd and the husband
man.
The process of accumulation had now
been carried as far as the conditions In
operation permitted. Instead of living In
precarious way from hand to mouth on
the daily proceeds Of the chase, men had
in their flocks and herds an assurance OF
food for days or weeks or months to come.
The thrift which had set aside from the
store Of today something for the consump-
ton of tomorrow had laid the foundation
of all the civilization that was to come.
Everything that we see around US, all
the wonderful improvements which make
life so much easier and more agreeable, all
the material achievements of which the
age Is inclined to be so proud, have been
made possible by those who. through the
exercise Of prudence and self-denial. have
refrained from each day consuming the
daily income and through accumulations
resulting from their self-control and supe-
rior intelligence.
And yet in view of the great things which
have been accomplished through its instru-
mentality 1t Is astonishing to what linn
tied extent this great virtue, the virtue
of thrift. is practiced. At least, that is
the case in these United States There are
countries-France is pre-emnently one OF
them-where the habit of saving is practi-
cally universal. Every one saves GER
American is inclined to extravaganza:
With him it Is easy come easy go, and he
takes so little heed for the future that 1t
Is said not more than ten persons out of
a hundred when they die leave any estate
behind them.
Every one ought to lay by something, not
merely as a provision against a future
rainy day, but as foundation for better
fortunes. The man who has gathered to-
gether little capital. a thousand. even
hundred dollars has secured fulcrum upon
which to rest his lever and to him every
thing has become possible. Thus the most
important day in many mans life Is the
day on which he carried his first money
to savings bank and opened his first ac-
CT mt there.