Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-01-16
PROSPERITY AND SPECULATION.

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canvas ready for close hauling, even
when the skies are fair and favoring
breeze are behind his ship.
The wise man or woman, in everv-
day affairs, uses the heyday of pros
perity to provide for rainy day.
The greater the prosperity, in given
year or month, the more does the pru-
dent citizen lay by for the future use.
Thrift is not always Unborn, but it's
requirement is a necessary part of
average education, says the Chicago
Journal
The year 1905 was the most pros
porous, in material. sense, that this
country has ever known. Drippings
from the cup of prosperity have fallen
into vast majority of American
homes. Surplus wealth has not been
evenly distributed. by any means.
but there is scarcely an American
family, however humble, that has not
had some share in the past years pros
perity.
Last years crops were vast, and all
farm produce sold high. Mine out
puts were enormous. Building ac-
tivity surpassed the wonderful record
of 1905 Foreign trade, bank clear
ings and railway earnings all made
new hlgh-water records. Employ
ment sought labor and could not find
it. Commodities of all sorts reached
war-ievel prices, and failed even then
to supply the demand.
This is national prosperity written
large. Its effect upon individuals has
been better living, more money for
luxuries, and in some cases the IL
quidation of past obligations. In too
many cases ii has kindled false hopes
of quicker riches through speculation.
An era of prosperity breeds the
speculation microbe. Last year the
fever broke out in wildcat mining
enterprises. Legitimate .lining,
never more prosperous, was badly
handicapped by the food of reckless
stock issues, intended only to cheat.
If prosperity continues or increases
there will be hundreds of other devices
for separating the untutored from
their surplus wealth. The moths will
get singed, as they always have. when
Wall street manipulators think it
worth while. The "get-rich.quick"
promoters will find their victims with
out trouble.
The prudent wage Garner should re-
member that speculation is not thrift.
If he wants to gamble away his SUBJ
stance, and possibly his family's fu.
ture comfort, he can become specu-
lator. But he must not try to salve
his conscience by calling it thrift.
Real thrift, for persons Of small in
comes. means the saving habit. 1t
means that in times of extra pros
perity like the present, the savings ac-
counts will grow larger. 1t means
that the owners of savings deposits
will not give up good security
and safe investment for speculative
ventures.
With the turn of the year every
holder of surplus wealth will adjust
investments according to his best
Judgment. 1t is far better to have a
safe investment at small interest than
a risky one at large interest.
A fraction of speculative ventures
will prove lucky. large majority
of those who pass sober thrift by to
become spectators will go broke
Prosperity will mean nothing to them
in the end.
Real thrift is more sluggish on the
surface than speculation. but in the
end it brings independence, freedom
from care and moral as we'll as ma
terial blessings.
Toll is healthful. Even excessive
labor can long be endured. But
worry is corrosive that speedily
eats out the nerves and tissues of life.
He who frets about his work burns
life's candle at both ends. 1t is the
friction rather than the revolution of
the wheels that wearssthe machinery.
He who knows how to do his level
best and leave the result with God has
learned one of the chief secrets of
life. But he who is always worrying
about how things are coming is most
foolish. Some people constantly
complain and protest. Thew imagine
that their lot is so much harder than
that of their neighbor They are al
ways regretting that they did not do
things some other way. Such persons
will have nerves set ON edge, will
have chronic Indigestion, gloomy
disposition and diseased brain.
Sunshine and health are good friends.
Do the best you can and stew not.
Work hard. Work very hard. There
is much that no one can do as we'll as
you. But do not bear two burdens,
both work aud worry. All the fret
Iting in the world will not change mat