REAL VALUE OF MONEY
He knows nothing of the real value of money, having never earned
any; but he knows all about the "golden spoon" business. At college, he
invites his poor fellow-students to his room, where he "wines and dines" them.
He is cajoled and caressed, and called a glorious good follow,
because he is so lavish of his money. He gives his game suppers, drives
his fast horses, invites his chums to fetes and parties, determined to
have lots of "good times."
He spends the night in frolics and debauchery, and leads off his companions
with the familiar song, "we won't go home till morning." He gets them to join
him in pulling down signs, taking gates from their hinges and throwing them
into back yards and horse-ponds.
If the police arrest them, he knocks them down, is taken to the lockup, and
joyfully foots the bills.
"Ah! my boys," he cries, "what is the use of being rich, if you can't
enjoy yourself?"
He might more truly say, "if you can't make a fool of yourself;" but he
is "fast," hates slow things, and doesn't "see it." Young men loaded
down with other people's money are almost sure to lose all they inherit,
and they acquire all sorts of bad habits which, in the majority of
cases, ruin them in health, purse and character.
In this country, one generation follows another, and the poor of to-day
are rich in the next generation, or the third. Their experience leads them on,
and they become rich, and they leave vast riches to their young children.
These children, having been reared in luxury, are inexperienced and get poor;
and after long experience another generation comes on and gathers up
riches again in turn. And thus "history repeats itself," and happy is he
who by listening to the experience of others avoids the rocks and shoals
on which so many have been wrecked.
"In England, the business makes the man." If a man in that country is a
mechanic or working-man, he is not recognized as a gentleman. On the
occasion of my first appearance before Queen Victoria, the Duke of
Wellington asked me what sphere in life General Tom Thumb's parents were in.
"His father is a carpenter," I replied.
"Oh! I had heard he was a gentleman," was the response of His Grace.
In this Republican country, the man makes the business. No matter
whether he is a blacksmith, a shoemaker, a farmer, banker or lawyer, so
long as his business is legitimate, he may be a gentleman.
So any "legitimate" business is a double blessing it helps the man engaged in
it, and also helps others. The Farmer supports his own family, but he
also benefits the merchant or mechanic who needs the products of his farm.
The tailor not only makes a living by his trade, but he also
benefits the farmer, the clergyman and others who cannot make their own
clothing. But all these classes often may be gentlemen.
The great ambition should be to excel all others engaged in the same
occupation.
The college-student who was about graduating, said to an old lawyer:
"I have not yet decided which profession I will follow. Is your
profession full?"
"The basement is much crowded, but there is plenty of room up-stairs,"
was the witty and truthful reply.
No profession, trade, or calling, is overcrowded in the upper story.
Wherever you find the most honest and intelligent merchant or banker, or
the best lawyer, the best doctor, the best clergyman, the best
shoemaker, carpenter, or anything else, that man is most sought for, and
has always enough to do.
As a nation, Americans are too superficial-- they are striving to get rich quickly,
and do not generally do their business as substantially and thoroughly as they should,
but whoever excels all others in his own line, if his habits are good and his
integrity undoubted, cannot fail to secure abundant patronage, and the wealth that
naturally follows.
Let your motto then always be "Excelsior," for by living up to it there is no such word as fail.
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