The Secret Of Wealth

To the average American boy or young man no better counsel can be given than--"Keep your hands out of your pockets and your money in the bank."

It was Emerson who said "A man passes for what he is worth." He might have added--and not for what he appears to be worth by the money he throws away.

Suppose we let the other fellow pay his own way for a while and watch our own money accumulate. Let us particularly quit buying for chance acquaintances, distant relatives or even friends, things which they do not need and, perhaps, which they do not even want.

It is not necessary to overdo the thing and be called stingy or a "sponger," but we can decide that from today on, no one shall "sponge" on us.

In this particular we may well emulate the rich who are always thrifty for if they were not thrifty they would not long be rich.

Emerson said another thing which contains much food for serious reflection:

"The English are prosperous and peaceful, with their habits of considering that every man must take care of himself, and has himself to thank, if he does not maintain and improve his position in society."--Emerson. 

CHAPTER XV

"The taxes are indeed very heavy, and if those laid by the government were the only ones we had to pay, we might more easily discharge them; but we have many others, and much more grievous to some of us. We are taxed twice as much by our idleness, three times as much by our pride and four times as much by our folly; and from these taxes the commissioners cannot ease or deliver us by allowing an abatement."--Franklin.

WHO is there among us who has not complained of high taxes and yet how many of us can truthfully say that idleness, pride and folly are not costing us more than all of the other taxes that we pay--federal, state and local.

Taxes are a great burden but "Taxes are the sinews of the state."

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