The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-10-28
The Too Heavy Load.

Somewhere I'm New England there
lives a farmer who trains oxen to
draw heavy loads. He Is an artist
at training oxen to draw heavy loads.
and the oxen he trains usually take
first prize in the pulling contests at
the county fairs. He claims to have
secret process, but 1t is simply a
logical plan for developing palling
strength. While young, he bitches
the oxen to a light sled, witch they
can draw with ease. The load is in
creased as they get accustomed to
dragging the sled. but until they are
two years old he doesn't work, but
Just exercises them. When they are
two years old he works them evers
day. Once day he bitches them to
a heavy stone in the barnyard and
let's them draw it a few feet. Heavier
stones are used and longer pulls al
lowed as they become stronger, and
the peculiar fact is, he never bitches
to something he knows they can't
drag, and they expect to move what
ever he bitches them to. He never
overloads.
There's whole lot Of common
sense in the farmers ox-trainlng
process that applies to human be-
tnss. Business failures are due in
the main to attempting too much;
In hitching up to something you can't
pull; in acquiring q load Of debt
that is staggering; IN living beyond
ones means; in overbuying, over
trading, overtrusting.
Thirty per cent Of the business fail
ures are due to lack of capital, which
in other words, simply means that
little man has hitched himself to
a big proposition.
Down on Long Island a builder
was particularly successful in build
ing a certain type of house, cheap
but good. He knew to a cent how
much 1T would cost to build, and
could sell as fast as he built. He
made money. Not satisfied with be-.
ing a cheap and prosperous builder.
and wanting to be In the flour hun
dred" of the builders. he started e.
dozen elaborate and costly dwellings.
Here he fell down. He was out OF
his element. hey ond his strength. He
had hitched himself to load heavier
than he could move and load he
was not accustomed to. It almost
made him a bankrupt. Now he has
gone back to his first type Of house
sadder but wiser builder.
Another business man had very
good year. He made money. Sat
isf1ed that he had struck his gait,
he rented an expensive suite of Offices
moved into fashionable neighbor.
hood, and spent his money freely.
The depression of 1913 came on and
after 1t the war. He has had two
years Of constant worry, and has
barely saved himself from failure.
He too, hitched himself to more than
he could draws for when you under
takeAto. pull a load, lyoutnust not only
reckon on the smooth asphalt, but
the hills and the mud holes.
What these men should have
learned-what every man needs to
learn, Is to properly gauge his
strength. Thrift is good manage.
ment. 1T is not only a matter OF
saving money, but spending It wise.
Ily. advantageously, looking ahead, be-
ing satisfied with modest things un-
til you can afford more expensive
ones. You can be. as happy in a
fifty dollar fiat as Id a Ave thousand
dollar apartment.
Some kinds OF debt IRE desirable.
helpful and necessary. Some kinds
of, debt are nerve racking and costly.
Buy home on the installment plan,
but don't buy an automobile that
way. Take out n life insurance DO
Icy, but don't buy more than you
can comfortably pay for. Dress we'll,
but pay your tailor; live well, but
pay your grocer; don't "hang-up's
one to pay the other-they need the
money as much as you. Earn largely.
spend thoughtfully, and save consist
emily, so that you may have some