The Secret Of Wealth

Mankind today retains the results of his labor and thought in two ways--the money he gains he puts into the bank; the ideas and experience he gains he puts into the heads of the youngsters who are growing up.

It is the thrift of individuals which makes a nation strong or weak. "So that every thrifty person may be regarded as a public benefactor, and every thriftless person as a public enemy."

"The capitalist is merely a man who does not spend all that is earned by work!' 

CHAPTER III

"Waste is worse than loss. The time is coming when every person who lays claim to ability will keep the question of waste before him constantly, the scope of thrift is limitless."--Edison.

PERHAPS the most misunderstood word in the English language is the word "Economy." Almost every one will tell you that economy consists of keeping your money instead of spending it. That isn't economy at all because, if you did not spend something for food you would starve to death, if you did not go properly clad you would freeze to death and if you did not provide proper shelter for yourself you would die of exposure or disease. It is surely clear that economy is something besides keeping your money instead of spending it.

Some one has said that the people of America have grown rich through their extravagances, which, in a broad sense, is true. Americans have grown rich because they have spent their money and in the spending they may have appeared extravagant to other people, while as a matter of fact they were frequently not extravagant at all but were spending their own money, spending it wisely and growing richer in the operation.

Penuriousness is a sure road to failure and want; a nation composed of penurious people is decadent and will soon be no nation at all.

The silly sounding old English proverb "Penny wise is pound foolish" is not silly but is a very wise saying. Many people spend so much time holding onto a penny that a dollar rolls by the door unseen. How many people we can call to mind who have skimped and slaved all their lives only to die poor.

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