Beware of "Outside Ventures"

We sometimes see men who have obtained fortunes, suddenly become poor. In many cases, this arises from intemperance, and often from gaming, and other bad habits. Frequently it occurs because a man has been engaged in "outside operations," of some sort. When he gets rich in his legitimate business, he is told of a grand speculation where he can make a score of thousands. He is constantly flattered by his friends, who tell him that he is born lucky, that everything he touches turns into gold. Now if he forgets that his economical habits, his rectitude of conduct and a personal attention to a business which he understood, caused his success in life, he will listen to the siren voices. He says:

We sometimes see men who have made fortunes suddenly become poor. In many cases, heavy drinking causes their downfall, and often gambling and other bad habits do too. Frequently, a man loses his fortune because he has taken on "outside ventures" of some kind. Once he gets rich in his regular business, someone tells him about a wonderful investment opportunity. He could make tens of thousands from it. His friends constantly flatter him, telling him he was born lucky and everything he touches turns to gold. Now suppose he forgets what brought him success: his careful spending, his honesty, and his personal attention to a business he understood. If he forgets these things, he will listen to those tempting voices. He says:

"I will put in twenty thousand dollars. I have been lucky, and my good luck will soon bring me back sixty thousand dollars."

"I'll invest twenty thousand dollars. I've been lucky, and my good luck will soon bring me back sixty thousand dollars."

A few days elapse and it is discovered he must put in ten thousand dollars more: soon after he is told "it is all right," but certain matters not foreseen, require an advance of twenty thousand dollars more, which will bring him a rich harvest; but before the time comes around to realize, the bubble bursts, he loses all he is possessed of, and then he learns what he ought to have known at the first, that however successful a man may be in his own business, if he turns from that and engages ill a business which he don't understand, he is like Samson when shorn of his locks his strength has departed, and he becomes like other men.

A few days pass, and he finds he must put in ten thousand dollars more. Soon afterward, he is told "it is all right," but unexpected problems require another twenty thousand dollars. This extra investment, he is told, will bring him a rich return. But before he can collect his profits, the bubble bursts, and he loses everything he owns. Only then does he learn what he should have known from the start. However successful a man may be in his own business, leaving it for a business he doesn't understand changes everything. If he does so, he is like Samson after his hair was cut off. His strength is gone, and he becomes like other men.

If a man has plenty of money, he ought to invest something in everything that appears to promise success, and that will probably benefit mankind; but let the sums thus invested be moderate in amount, and never let a man foolishly jeopardize a fortune that he has earned in a legitimate way, by investing it in things in which he has had no experience.

If a man has plenty of money, he should invest some in everything that looks promising and will probably benefit humanity. But he should keep these investments moderate. He should never foolishly risk a fortune earned honestly by investing in things he has no experience with.