The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-07-01
(Copyrleht, 1851

Among my intimate friends is man
who has nationwide reputation as
an executive and as a handler of men
and business. He is the responsible
head for an industry doing a business
OF millions of dollars annually. He Is
very fond of young men and is deeply
interested in their welfare.
While I was in his Office, the other
day. he showed me a letter which was
about to be mailed to one of his en-
ployes, a bright. splendid young fell
low of more than ordinary ability,
who had only one fault. that of ex-
travagance. A paragraph in this let
ter struck me so forcibly that I am
giving it to you.
The trouble with you is that you
eat up money as horse eats oats.
You think money is unlimited. ana
every cent you get hold of in any
way. shape, or manner you spend the
moment It gets into your fingers. Yes,
you go further than that-you speno
your income before you get it, and.
therefore, you never have any in
come. You discount your ability and
ruin your prospects. There is no rea-
son why you should not be a very
successful man, and rich one, too.
The saving of money is just as neces-
sary as the earning of it,"
I am sorry to say that the young
man in question is only one of hun
dreds of thousands, who do not ap-
preciate the value of money, but look
upon it as something which is to De
gotten rid Of at the slightest provoca-
ton.
II I cared to be personal, I could
mention the names of hundreds OF
men, many of them young, some of
them old. who have not progressed.
who are harassed, who get no pleas
ure out of life. simply because they
spend their energies in two direc-
tions: first. in the earning of money.
secondly. in the getting rid Of that
money. They are unprovided to meet
They are unprotected.
Pardon me if l seem harsh when I
say that the man who can save, and
does not save, is criminal, yes, as
much of a criminal as is he who robs
his employers oney-drawer. He IS
unfaithful to his family and danger
Gus to society. Sooner or later dis
does. he will become a pauper. de-
pendent upon his family and his
friends, or upon the town.
] am aware that many a man is un-
a BILE to save, and that he is not re-
sponsible for adverse conditions; but
a large proportion of those who -
down when disaster strikes them
would not have failed if they had
appreciated the value of saw
ing and had protected themselves
against the unforeseen.
l have in mind an acquaintance.
who drew a salary of exceeding five
thousand dollars for several years. He
lived extravagantly, and l do not be-
lieve that his bank balance averaged
more than two or three hundred dol
lars. Occasionally he had none at all.
He was a splendid worker and man
of great ability. The treasurer of his
company resigned. The directors were
a bout to appoint a successor. II NOM
mate Mr.. Smith," said one of them.
"waitw said the president Mr.. |
Smith is all that you have said he Is.
He is honest and trustworthy, and he
possesses sufficient ability properly to
fill the office. but / am not in favor
Of electing to the office OF treasurer
any man who cannot handle his own |
finances. The man who cannot save |
for himself will be extravagant for |
is"
Another man was elected.
Don't be a miser. Don't sacrifice |
your health and happiness for the
sake of holding your money, but re-
member that he who cannot save for |
himself cannot save for others, and |
ne who does not realize his own re- /
cannot assume Tespon-
sibilities.