Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-22
laoLp FAST TO WHAT YOU HAVE

vyl -
4 II there is anything more pathetic
than the man who never had a home,
or friends, or money, it is the man
twho had a home and did not appreci-
ate It; friends and couldn't keep them,
money and lost It.
The world is full of derelicts, and
every town has its has beens' VINO
once were had and could not keep.
It Is a sad con mentary on human lie
that men must york and sacr1hce ana
save; practice thrift for years; &C.
cumulate competence, and for one
reason or another lose it all, and begin
over again worse by far, except Tor
the experience.
Men who were once citizens OF at
fluence will be found in the bread linz,
sleeping in the parks at night, liv'l &
on relatives, in the poorhouse, selling
shoestrings on Broadway, when by
better management they might have
been in comfortable circumstances.
There are two principal reasons
why men lose what they have &C.
Y tired:
-st, by being an "easy mark"
lend. < to friends and relatives and
unable 20 say mo" to request for
help or an alluring proposition. Sec
ond, the desire to make money fast
not by gambling, but by trying to get
a large income from small principal.
JThe stories Of men who have acquired
transferable money, and in the desire
kh make it grow fast have lost 1t all
TX ould fiji book, and no caution is
H bre opportune than this: Hold fast
Etc what you have. t..< ..
A few basic and common sense rules
will, il persistently followed, save
those who heed them many a pang OF
regret:
First: Do not lend your friends.
Friendship loans are bad; it is deli
cate matter to ask for your money.
Second: Never endorse a note for
anybody Mcce losses and usiness
disasters have come about through
lending ones name to prom1ssory
notes than perhaps any single cause.
II you want to help friend and have
the money to spare better make gift
outright and forget it than try to de-
ceive yourself that it is a loan. II
you cart keep your friends without
lending them money better lose them;
friends are easier made than money.
Third: Put your money in a good
bank and leave it there. Experience
has proven that the average man can
do no better than bank his money, for
IN making private investments risk at
tends and loss often follows. There
are good banks in this city and bank
books are mighty good investments.
Fourth: If you accumulate enough
IN warrant private investment be sat
sSned with six per cent. Danger lies
flSyond six per cent.
IL Fifth: Experience has again prov
In the country over that first mort
dgages on improved property at not
gover so per cent Of a fair market value
IS the most satisfactory form of in
vestment and yields the highest re-
turns compatible with safety. Savings
banks specialize in mortgage, loans,
and you can follow their lead with
safety.
Sixth, Before making any invest
ment ask your banker if it is legal
for him and If he would make it; and
il not legal question it carefully, and
il he turns it down refuse it.
Seventh: Never buy land you have
not seen. Millions have been lost in
buying lots on the installment plan,
particularly in large cities. The pro-
moter will make the profit, not you.
These rules are simple, safe and
easily followed You won't go wrong
IL you heed them. They come out of
bitter experience. and why should you
paw the same price for knowledge
other men have paid? Get all you can
honestly, and keep it when once it
i Ic YOURS