Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 November 1874 — The First Thousand Hollars. [ARTICLE]

The First Thousand Hollars.

The first thousand dollars that a young man after going out into the world for himself earns and saves will generally settle the question of business life with him. There may be exceptions to this statement; yet, for a rule, we think it will hold true. ———s=— The first condition is that the young man naturally earns the thousand dollars in question. He does not inherit this sum. It does not come to him by a*streak of good luck, as the result of a fortunate venture in the purchase and sale of a hundred shares of stock. It is the fruit of personai industry. He gives his time and labor for it. While he is thus earning and saving it, he lfiust earn two or three, or perhaps four, times as much to pay his current expenses. He is consequently held sternly to the task of industry for a considerable period. The direct consequence to him is steady, continuous and solid discipline in the habits of industry—in patient, persistent, forecasting and self-denying effort, breaking up- all the tendencies .to.-indolence and frivolity, and making him an earnest and watchful economist of time. He not only learns how to work, but he also acquires the love of work; and, moreover, he learns the value of the sum which lie has thus saved out of his earnings. He lias toiled for it ; he has observed its slow* increase from time to time; and in his estimate it represents so many years of practical labor. His ideas of life are shaped by his own experience. These natural effects of earning the first thousand dollars we hold to large benefits. They are just the qualities of mind and body which , are likely to secure business success in after years. They constitute the best practical education which man can have as a worker in this working world. They are gained in season lor life’s purposes, at the opening period, just when they are wanted, when foolish notions are most likely to mislead an inexperienced brain, and when, too, there is a full opportunity for ex* pansion and development in latter years. Men have but one life to live; and hence they start from opening manhood but once. And the manner in which theystart, the purpose which they have in view, and the habits they form will ordinarily determine the entire sequel of their career on earth. To succeed, men must have the elements of success within themselves. One great reason why there are so many useless, inefficient and poverty-stricken men on earth —or, rather, boys seeming to be men—consists in the simple fact that they did not start right. A prominent reason why the children of the rich so frequently amount to nothing may be found in luxury, ease and indolence which mark the commencement of their lives. It is the law of God that we should be workers on earth; and no one so well consults the best development of this being as when he confirms his practice to this law. The workers in some suitable sphere are the only really strong men in this world. — Exchange.