Introduction

In the United States, where we have more land than people, it is not at all difficult for persons in good health to make money. In this comparatively new field there are so many avenues of success open, so many vocations which are not crowded, that any person of either sex who is willing, at least for the time being, to engage in any respectable occupation that offers, may find lucrative employment.

In the United States, where we have more land than people, people in good health can make money quite easily. In this relatively new country, there are so many paths to success and so many occupations that are not overcrowded. As a result, anyone, male or female, may find well-paying work if willing to take any respectable job available. They need only be willing to do so for the time being.

Those who really desire to attain an independence, have only to set their minds upon it, and adopt the proper means, as they do in regard to any other object which they wish to accomplish, and the thing is easily done. But however easy it may be found to make money, I have no doubt many of my hearers will agree it is the most difficult thing in the world to keep it. The road to wealth is, as Dr. Franklin truly says, "as plain as the road to the mill." It consists simply in expending less than we earn; that seems to be a very simple problem. Mr. Micawber, one of those happy creations of the genial Dickens, puts the case in a strong light when he says that to have annual income of twenty pounds per annum, and spend twenty pounds and sixpence, is to be the most miserable of men; whereas, to have an income of only twenty pounds, and spend but nineteen pounds and sixpence is to be the happiest of mortals. Many of my readers may say, "we understand this: this is economy, and we know economy is wealth; we know we can't eat our cake and keep it also." Yet I beg to say that perhaps more cases of failure arise from mistakes on this point than almost any other. The fact is, many people think they understand economy when they really do not.

Those who truly want financial independence need only set their minds to it and use the right methods. They should approach it as they would any other goal they want to achieve, and success comes easily. But however easy making money may be, I have no doubt many of my listeners will agree about keeping it. Keeping money is the hardest thing in the world. As Dr. Franklin rightly says, the road to wealth is "as plain as the road to the mill." Wealth comes simply from spending less than we earn. That seems simple enough. Mr. Micawber, one of the warmhearted Dickens's delightful creations, makes the point vividly. He says that earning twenty pounds a year and spending twenty pounds and sixpence makes a man utterly miserable. By contrast, earning only twenty pounds and spending just nineteen pounds and sixpence makes him the happiest person alive. Many of my readers may say, "we understand this: this is thrift, and we know thrift is wealth. We know we can't eat our cake and keep it too." Yet I must point out that perhaps more failures come from mistakes about thrift than almost anything else. The fact is, many people think they understand thrift when they really do not.

True economy is misapprehended, and people go through life without properly comprehending what that principle is. One says, "I have an income of so much, and here is my neighbor who has the same; yet every year he gets something ahead and I fall short; why is it? I know all about economy." He thinks he does, but he does not. There are men who think that economy consists in saving cheese-parings and candle-ends, in cutting off two pence from the laundress' bill and doing all sorts of little, mean, dirty things. Economy is not meanness. The misfortune is, also, that this class of persons let their economy apply in only one direction. They fancy they are so wonderfully economical in saving a half-penny where they ought to spend twopence, that they think they can afford to squander in other directions. A few years ago, before kerosene oil was discovered or thought of, one might stop overnight at almost any farmer's house in the agricultural districts and get a very good supper, but after supper he might attempt to read in the sitting-room, and would find it impossible with the inefficient light of one candle. The hostess, seeing his dilemma, would say: "It is rather difficult to read here evenings; the proverb says 'you must have a ship at sea in order to be able to burn two candles at once;' we never have an extra candle except on extra occasions." These extra occasions occur, perhaps, twice a year. In this way the good woman saves five, six, or ten dollars in that time: but the information which might be derived from having the extra light would, of course, far outweigh a ton of candles.

People misunderstand true economy and go through life without properly understanding the principle. One person says, "I earn a certain amount, and my neighbor earns the same. Yet every year he saves something, while I fall short. Why is that? I know all about economy." He thinks he does, but he does not. Some men think economy means saving cheese scraps and candle stubs, or cutting two pennies from the laundry woman's bill. They practice all sorts of petty, stingy, shabby tricks. Economy is not stinginess. Unfortunately, these people also practice economy in only one area. They think they are wonderfully economical when they save half a penny where they ought to spend two pennies. So they believe they can afford to waste money elsewhere. A few years ago, before kerosene oil was discovered or even thought of, travelers could find hospitality in farming areas. They could stay overnight at almost any farmer's house and get a very good supper. But afterward, a traveler might try to read in the sitting room and find the single candle too dim. Seeing his difficulty, the hostess would say: "It's rather difficult to read here in the evenings. As the proverb says, 'you must have a ship at sea to afford to burn two candles at once.' We never light an extra candle except on special occasions." These special occasions happen perhaps twice a year. In this way, the good woman saves five, six, or ten dollars during that time. But the knowledge someone could gain with the extra light would, of course, be worth far more than a ton of candles.

But the trouble does not end here. Feeling that she is so economical in tallow candies, she thinks she can afford to go frequently to the village and spend twenty or thirty dollars for ribbons and furbelows, many of which are not necessary. This false connote may frequently be seen in men of business, and in those instances it often runs to writing-paper. You find good businessmen who save all the old envelopes and scraps, and would not tear a new sheet of paper, if they could avoid it, for the world. This is all very well; they may in this way save five or ten dollars a year, but being so economical (only in note paper), they think they can afford to waste time; to have expensive parties, and to drive their carriages. This is an illustration of Dr. Franklin's "saving at the spigot and wasting at the bung-hole;" "penny wise and pound foolish." Punch in speaking of this "one idea" class of people says "they are like the man who bought a penny herring for his family's dinner and then hired a coach and four to take it home." I never knew a man to succeed by practising this kind of economy.

But the trouble does not end here. Because she saves so much on tallow candles, she thinks she can afford frequent trips to the village. There she spends twenty or thirty dollars on ribbons and fancy trimmings, many of which are unnecessary. This mistaken thinking is often seen in businessmen, who frequently focus their savings on writing paper. You find good businessmen who save all their old envelopes and scraps of paper. They would not tear a new sheet of paper for anything if they could avoid it. This is all very well. They may save five or ten dollars a year this way. But because they are so economical (only with writing paper), they think they can afford to waste time. They also think they can afford expensive parties and carriage rides. This illustrates Dr. Franklin's "saving at the spigot and wasting at the bung-hole." It is being "penny wise and pound foolish." Speaking of these people with their "one idea," Punch says, "they are like the man who bought a penny herring for his family's dinner and then hired a coach and four horses to take it home." I never knew a man to succeed by practicing this kind of economy.

True economy consists in always making the income exceed the out-go. Wear the old clothes a little longer if necessary; dispense with the new pair of gloves; mend the old dress: live on plainer food if need be; so that, under all circumstances, unless some unforeseen accident occurs, there will be a margin in favor of the income. A penny here, and a dollar there, placed at interest, goes on accumulating, and in this way the desired result is attained. It requires some training, perhaps, to accomplish this economy, but when once used to it, you will find there is more satisfaction in rational saving than in irrational spending. Here is a recipe which I recommend: I have found it to work an excellent cure for extravagance, and especially for mistaken economy: When you find that you have no surplus at the end of the year, and yet have a good income, I advise you to take a few sheets of paper and form them into a book and mark down every item of expenditure. Post it every day or week in two columns, one headed "necessaries" or even "comforts", and the other headed "luxuries," and you will find that the latter column will be double, treble, and frequently ten times greater than the former. The real comforts of life cost but a small portion of what most of us can earn. Dr. Franklin says "it is the eyes of others and not our own eyes which ruin us. If all the world were blind except myself I should not care for fine clothes or furniture." It is the fear of what Mrs. Grundy may say that keeps the noses of many worthy families to the grindstone. In America many persons like to repeat "we are all free and equal," but it is a great mistake in more senses than one.

True economy means always keeping your income higher than your spending. Wear your old clothes a little longer if necessary. Go without the new gloves. Mend your old dress. Eat simpler food if you need to. Do these things so that, under all circumstances except an unforeseen accident, you have some income left over. A penny here and a dollar there, invested to earn interest, keep growing. In this way, you reach your goal. Perhaps saving this way takes some practice. But once you get used to saving, you will find sensible saving more satisfying than senseless spending. Here is a method I recommend. I have found it an excellent cure for overspending, especially for misguided attempts to save. If you have a good income but nothing left at the year's end, take a few sheets of paper. Make them into a notebook and record every expense. Update the notebook every day or week, using two columns. Label one "necessities" or even "comforts", and the other "luxuries,". You will find the luxury column totals twice, three times, and often ten times as much as the other. Life's real comforts cost only a small part of what most of us can earn. Dr. Franklin says, "it is other people's eyes, not our own, that ruin us. If everyone in the world were blind except me, I would not care about fine clothes or furniture." Fear of what Mrs. Grundy may say keeps many respectable families working endlessly to pay their bills. In America, many people like to repeat "we are all free and equal," but that is greatly mistaken in several ways.

That we are born "free and equal" is a glorious truth in one sense, yet we are not all born equally rich, and we never shall be. One may say; "there is a man who has an income of fifty thousand dollars per annum, while I have but one thousand dollars; I knew that fellow when he was poor like myself; now he is rich and thinks he is better than I am; I will show him that I am as good as he is; I will go and buy a horse and buggy; no, I cannot do that, but I will go and hire one and ride this afternoon on the same road that he does, and thus prove to him that I am as good as he is."

That we are born "free and equal" is a glorious truth in one sense. Yet we are not all born equally rich, and we never will be. Someone may say: "There is a man who earns fifty thousand dollars a year, while I earn only one thousand. I knew that fellow when he was poor like me. Now he is rich and thinks he is better than I am. I will show him that I am as good as he is. I will go and buy a horse and buggy. No, I cannot afford to buy one, but I will rent one. This afternoon, I will ride on the same road he does, proving to him that I am as good as he is."

My friend, you need not take that trouble; you can easily prove that you are "as good as he is;" you have only to behave as well as he does; but you cannot make anybody believe that you are rich as he is. Besides, if you put on these "airs," add waste your time and spend your money, your poor wife will be obliged to scrub her fingers off at home, and buy her tea two ounces at a time, and everything else in proportion, in order that you may keep up "appearances," and, after all, deceive nobody. On the other hand, Mrs. Smith may say that her next-door neighbor married Johnson for his money, and "everybody says so." She has a nice one-thousand dollar camel's hair shawl, and she will make Smith get her an imitation one, and she will sit in a pew right next to her neighbor in church, in order to prove that she is her equal.

My friend, you don't need to go to that trouble. You can easily prove that you are "as good as he is" by behaving as well as he does. But you cannot make anyone believe you are as rich as he is. Besides, if you put on these "airs," waste your time, and spend your money, your poor wife will suffer. She will have to scrub her fingers raw at home and buy her tea two ounces at a time. She will have to buy everything else in equally small amounts so you can keep up "appearances." And after all that, you will fool nobody. On the other hand, Mrs. Smith may say her next-door neighbor married Johnson for his money, and "everybody says so." Her neighbor has a lovely thousand-dollar camel's hair shawl, and Mrs. Smith will make Smith buy her an imitation. She will sit in a church pew right next to her neighbor to prove she is her neighbor's equal.

My good woman, you will not get ahead in the world, if your vanity and envy thus take the lead. In this country, where we believe the majority ought to rule, we ignore that principle in regard to fashion, and let a handful of people, calling themselves the aristocracy, run up a false standard of perfection, and in endeavoring to rise to that standard, we constantly keep ourselves poor; all the time digging away for the sake of outside appearances. How much wiser to be a "law unto ourselves" and say, "we will regulate our out-go by our income, and lay up something for a rainy day." People ought to be as sensible on the subject of money-getting as on any other subject. Like causes produces like effects. You cannot accumulate a fortune by taking the road that leads to poverty. It needs no prophet to tell us that those who live fully up to their means, without any thought of a reverse in this life, can never attain a pecuniary independence.

My dear woman, you will not get ahead in the world if you let vanity and envy lead you this way. In this country, we believe the majority should rule. Yet we ignore that principle when it comes to fashion. We let a handful of people who call themselves the aristocracy set a false standard of perfection. By trying to meet that standard, we constantly keep ourselves poor. We work away all the time just to keep up appearances. How much wiser to be a "law unto ourselves" and say, "we will keep our spending within our income and save something for a rainy day." People should be as sensible about making money as they are about anything else. The same causes produce the same effects. You cannot build a fortune by taking the road that leads to poverty. No prophet is needed to tell us what happens to people who spend their entire income without considering possible setbacks. Such people can never become financially independent.

Men and women accustomed to gratify every whim and caprice, will find it hard, at first, to cut down their various unnecessary expenses, and will feel it a great self-denial to live in a smaller house than they have been accustomed to, with less expensive furniture, less company, less costly clothing, fewer servants, a less number of balls, parties, theater-goings, carriage-ridings, pleasure excursions, cigar-smokings, liquor-drinkings, and other extravagances; but, after all, if they will try the plan of laying by a "nest-egg," or, in other words, a small sum of money, at interest or judiciously invested in land, they will be surprised at the pleasure to be derived from constantly adding to their little "pile," as well as from all the economical habits which are engendered by this course.

Men and women used to satisfying every whim will find it hard at first to cut unnecessary expenses. Living in a smaller house than usual will feel like a great sacrifice. So will having cheaper furniture, fewer guests, less expensive clothes, and fewer servants. They will also miss attending as many balls, parties, and plays, and taking as many carriage rides and pleasure trips. Cutting back on cigar smoking, drinking alcohol, and other extravagances will feel like a sacrifice too. But suppose they try setting aside a "nest-egg," or a small sum of money, to earn interest or invest wisely in land. They will be surprised by the pleasure of steadily adding to their little "pile." They will also enjoy all the thrifty habits that grow from saving this way.

The old suit of clothes, and the old bonnet and dress, will answer for another season; the Croton or spring water taste better than champagne; a cold bath and a brisk walk will prove more exhilarating than a ride in the finest coach; a social chat, an evening's reading in the family circle, or an hour's play of "hunt the slipper" and "blind man's buff" will be far more pleasant than a fifty or five hundred dollar party, when the reflection on the difference in cost is indulged in by those who begin to know the pleasures of saving. Thousands of men are kept poor, and tens of thousands are made so after they have acquired quite sufficient to support them well through life, in consequence of laying their plans of living on too broad a platform. Some families expend twenty thousand dollars per annum, and some much more, and would scarcely know how to live on less, while others secure more solid enjoyment frequently on a twentieth part of that amount. Prosperity is a more severe ordeal than adversity, especially sudden prosperity. "Easy come, easy go," is an old and true proverb. A spirit of pride and vanity, when permitted to have full sway, is the undying canker-worm which gnaws the very vitals of a man's worldly possessions, let them be small or great, hundreds, or millions. Many persons, as they begin to prosper, immediately expand their ideas and commence expending for luxuries, until in a short time their expenses swallow up their income, and they become ruined in their ridiculous attempts to keep up appearances, and make a "sensation."

The old suit, bonnet, and dress will do for another season. Croton water or spring water tastes better than champagne. A cold bath and a brisk walk will be more refreshing than a ride in the finest carriage. A friendly chat, an evening reading with the family, or an hour playing "hunt the slipper" and "blind man's buff" will be far more enjoyable than a party costing fifty or five hundred dollars. That is how people beginning to enjoy saving will feel when they consider the difference in cost. Thousands of men remain poor because they plan to live too extravagantly. Tens of thousands become poor for the same reason, even after acquiring enough to live comfortably for the rest of their lives. Some families spend twenty thousand dollars a year, and some spend much more. These families would hardly know how to live on less. Others often find more genuine enjoyment on a twentieth of that amount. Prosperity is a harder test than hardship, especially sudden prosperity. "Easy come, easy go," is an old and true saying. When given free rein, pride and vanity are a tireless worm eating away at a man's wealth. No fortune is safe, whether small or large, worth hundreds or millions. Many people, as they begin to prosper, immediately raise their expectations and start spending on luxuries. Soon their expenses swallow up their income. They ruin themselves in their ridiculous efforts to keep up appearances and make a "sensation."

I know a gentleman of fortune who says, that when he first began to prosper, his wife would have a new and elegant sofa. "That sofa," he says, "cost me thirty thousand dollars!" When the sofa reached the house, it was found necessary to get chairs to match; then side-boards, carpets and tables "to correspond" with them, and so on through the entire stock of furniture; when at last it was found that the house itself was quite too small and old-fashioned for the furniture, and a new one was built to correspond with the new purchases; "thus," added my friend, "summing up an outlay of thirty thousand dollars, caused by that single sofa, and saddling on me, in the shape of servants, equipage, and the necessary expenses attendant upon keeping up a fine 'establishment,' a yearly outlay of eleven thousand dollars, and a tight pinch at that: whereas, ten years ago, we lived with much more real comfort, because with much less care, on as many hundreds. The truth is," he continued, "that sofa would have brought me to inevitable bankruptcy, had not a most unexampled title to prosperity kept me above it, and had I not checked the natural desire to 'cut a dash'."

I know a wealthy gentleman whose wife insisted on a new, elegant sofa when he first began to prosper. "That sofa," he says, "cost me thirty thousand dollars!" When the sofa arrived, they found they needed matching chairs. Then they needed sideboards, carpets, and tables "to match" the chairs, and so on until they had replaced every piece of furniture. Finally, they found the house itself too small and old-fashioned for the furniture. So they built a new house to match their new purchases. "As a result," my friend added, "that single sofa led to a total expense of thirty thousand dollars. It also saddled me with servants, carriages, and all the expenses needed to maintain a fine 'household.' Those expenses cost me eleven thousand dollars a year, and paying them is a real strain. Yet ten years ago, we lived much more comfortably on eleven hundred dollars, because we had far fewer worries. The truth is," he continued, "that sofa would certainly have bankrupted me without my extraordinarily good fortune. I also had to curb my natural desire to 'show off'."

The foundation of success in life is good health: that is the substratum fortune; it is also the basis of happiness. A person cannot accumulate a fortune very well when he is sick. He has no ambition; no incentive; no force. Of course, there are those who have bad health and cannot help it: you cannot expect that such persons can accumulate wealth, but there are a great many in poor health who need not be so.

Good health is the foundation of success in life. It is the basis of wealth and happiness. A person cannot easily build a fortune when sick. They have no ambition, motivation, or energy. Of course, some people have poor health and cannot help it. You cannot expect those people to build wealth, but many people in poor health need not be.

If, then, sound health is the foundation of success and happiness in life, how important it is that we should study the laws of health, which is but another expression for the laws of nature! The nearer we keep to the laws of nature, the nearer we are to good health, and yet how many persons there are who pay no attention to natural laws, but absolutely transgress them, even against their own natural inclination. We ought to know that the "sin of ignorance" is never winked at in regard to the violation of nature's laws; their infraction always brings the penalty. A child may thrust its finger into the flames without knowing it will burn, and so suffers, repentance, even, will not stop the smart. Many of our ancestors knew very little about the principle of ventilation. They did not know much about oxygen, whatever other "gin" they might have been acquainted with; and consequently they built their houses with little seven-by-nine feet bedrooms, and these good old pious Puritans would lock themselves up in one of these cells, say their prayers and go to bed. In the morning they would devoutly return thanks for the "preservation of their lives," during the night, and nobody had better reason to be thankful. Probably some big crack in the window, or in the door, let in a little fresh air, and thus saved them.

If good health is the foundation of success and happiness in life, how important it is to study health’s laws! These are simply the laws of nature. The more closely we follow nature’s laws, the closer we come to good health. Yet how many people ignore these laws and actually break them, even against their own natural instincts. We should know that the "sin of ignorance" is never excused when we break nature’s laws. Breaking them always brings a penalty. A child may stick a finger into a flame without knowing it will burn, and suffer for it. Even repentance will not stop the pain. Many of our ancestors knew very little about ventilation. They knew little about oxygen, whatever other "gin" they might have known. As a result, they built houses with tiny bedrooms measuring seven feet by nine feet. These good old devout Puritans would shut themselves inside one of these cells, say their prayers, and go to bed. In the morning, they would devoutly give thanks for the "preservation of their lives" during the night. And nobody had better reason to be thankful. Probably some large crack in the window or door let in a little fresh air and saved them.

Many persons knowingly violate the laws of nature against their better impulses, for the sake of fashion. For instance, there is one thing that nothing living except a vile worm ever naturally loved, and that is tobacco; yet how many persons there are who deliberately train an unnatural appetite, and overcome this implanted aversion for tobacco, to such a degree that they get to love it. They have got hold of a poisonous, filthy weed, or rather that takes a firm hold of them. Here are married men who run about spitting tobacco juice on the carpet and floors, and sometimes even upon their wives besides. They do not kick their wives out of doors like drunken men, but their wives, I have no doubt, often wish they were outside of the house. Another perilous feature is that this artificial appetite, like jealousy, "grows by what it feeds on;" when you love that which is unnatural, a stronger appetite is created for the hurtful thing than the natural desire for what is harmless. There is an old proverb which says that "habit is second nature," but an artificial habit is stronger than nature. Take for instance, an old tobacco-chewer; his love for the "quid" is stronger than his love for any particular kind of food. He can give up roast beef easier than give up the weed.

Many people knowingly violate nature’s laws against their better instincts just to follow fashion. Take tobacco, for example. No living thing except a vile worm ever naturally loved it. Yet how many people deliberately develop an unnatural appetite for tobacco and overcome their natural dislike until they love it. They have taken hold of a poisonous, filthy weed. Or rather, the weed has taken a firm hold of them. Here are married men who go around spitting tobacco juice on carpets and floors, sometimes even on their wives. They do not kick their wives out of the house like drunken men. But I have no doubt their wives often wish these husbands were outside. Another danger is that this artificial appetite, like jealousy, "grows by what it feeds on." When you love something unnatural, your appetite for that harmful thing grows stronger than your natural desire for harmless things. An old proverb says that "habit is second nature," but an artificial habit is stronger than nature. Take a longtime tobacco chewer, for instance. His love for the "quid," or wad of chewing tobacco, is stronger than his love for any particular food. He can give up roast beef more easily than he can give up tobacco.

Young lads regret that they are not men; they would like to go to bed boys and wake up men; and to accomplish this they copy the bad habits of their seniors. Little Tommy and Johnny see their fathers or uncles smoke a pipe, and they say, "If I could only do that, I would be a man too; uncle John has gone out and left his pipe of tobacco, let us try it." They take a match and light it, and then puff away. "We will learn to smoke; do you like it Johnny?" That lad dolefully replies: "Not very much; it tastes bitter;" by and by he grows pale, but he persists and he soon offers up a sacrifice on the altar of fashion; but the boys stick to it and persevere until at last they conquer their natural appetites and become the victims of acquired tastes.

Young boys wish they were men. They would like to go to bed as boys and wake up as men. To make this happen, they copy the bad habits of older people. Little Tommy and Johnny see their fathers or uncles smoking a pipe, and they say, "If I could only do that, I would be a man too. Uncle John has gone out and left his pipe full of tobacco. Let us try it." They strike a match, light the pipe, and start puffing. "We will learn to smoke. Do you like it, Johnny?" Johnny replies sadly: "Not very much. It tastes bitter." Before long, Johnny grows pale, but he keeps smoking. Soon he throws up, making his sacrifice at the altar of fashion. But the boys stick with smoking until they finally overcome their natural tastes and become victims of tastes they have learned.

I speak "by the book," for I have noticed its effects on myself, having gone so far as to smoke ten or fifteen cigars a day; although I have not used the weed during the last fourteen years, and never shall again. The more a man smokes, the more he craves smoking; the last cigar smoked simply excites the desire for another, and so on incessantly.

I speak "from experience," because I have seen the effects of smoking on myself. I once smoked as many as ten or fifteen cigars a day. But I have not used tobacco for the past fourteen years, and I never will again. The more a man smokes, the more he craves smoking. Each cigar he smokes only makes him want another, and so it goes without end.

Take the tobacco-chewer. In the morning, when he gets up, he puts a quid in his mouth and keeps it there all day, never taking it out except to exchange it for a fresh one, or when he is going to eat; oh! yes, at intervals during the day and evening, many a chewer takes out the quid and holds it in his hand long enough to take a drink, and then pop it goes back again. This simply proves that the appetite for rum is even stronger than that for tobacco. When the tobacco-chewer goes to your country seat and you show him your grapery and fruit house, and the beauties of your garden, when you offer him some fresh, ripe fruit, and say, "My friend, I have got here the most delicious apples, and pears, and peaches, and apricots; I have imported them from Spain, France and Italy—just see those luscious grapes; there is nothing more delicious nor more healthy than ripe fruit, so help yourself; I want to see you delight yourself with these things;" he will roll the dear quid under his tongue and answer, "No, I thank you, I have got tobacco in my mouth." His palate has become narcotized by the noxious weed, and he has lost, in a great measure, the delicate and enviable taste for fruits. This shows what expensive, useless and injurious habits men will get into. I speak from experience. I have smoked until I trembled like an aspen leaf, the blood rushed to my head, and I had a palpitation of the heart which I thought was heart disease, till I was almost killed with fright. When I consulted my physician, he said "break off tobacco using." I was not only injuring my health and spending a great deal of money, but I was setting a bad example. I obeyed his counsel. No young man in the world ever looked so beautiful, as he thought he did, behind a fifteen cent cigar or a meerschaum!

Consider the tobacco chewer. When he gets up in the morning, he puts a wad of tobacco in his mouth and keeps it there all day. He takes it out only to replace it with a fresh wad or to eat. Oh, yes! Many a chewer also takes the wad out now and then during the day and evening. He holds it in his hand just long enough to take a drink, then pops it back in. This simply proves that his appetite for rum is even stronger than his appetite for tobacco. Suppose the tobacco chewer visits your country home. You show him your grapevines, your fruit house, and the beauty of your garden. You offer him some fresh, ripe fruit and say, "My friend, I have the most delicious apples, pears, peaches, and apricots here. I have imported them from Spain, France and Italy. Just look at those luscious grapes. Nothing is more delicious or healthier than ripe fruit, so help yourself. I want to see you enjoy these things." He rolls his beloved wad under his tongue and answers, "No, thank you, I have tobacco in my mouth." The harmful plant has numbed his sense of taste. He has largely lost that delicate, enviable ability to enjoy fruit. This shows what expensive, useless, and harmful habits men fall into. I speak from experience. I have smoked until I shook like an aspen leaf, blood rushed to my head, and my heart pounded. I thought the pounding meant I had heart disease, and I was nearly scared to death. When I consulted my doctor, he said, "Stop using tobacco." I was not only harming my health and spending a great deal of money, but also setting a bad example. I followed his advice. No young man ever looked as handsome as he thought he did behind a fifteen-cent cigar or a meerschaum pipe!

These remarks apply with tenfold force to the use of intoxicating drinks. To make money, requires a clear brain. A man has got to see that two and two make four; he must lay all his plans with reflection and forethought, and closely examine all the details and the ins and outs of business. As no man can succeed in business unless he has a brain to enable him to lay his plans, and reason to guide him in their execution, so, no matter how bountifully a man may be blessed with intelligence, if the brain is muddled, and his judgment warped by intoxicating drinks, it is impossible for him to carry on business successfully. How many good opportunities have passed, never to return, while a man was sipping a "social glass," with his friend! How many foolish bargains have been made under the influence of the "nervine," which temporarily makes its victim think he is rich. How many important chances have been put off until to-morrow, and then forever, because the wine cup has thrown the system into a state of lassitude, neutralizing the energies so essential to success in business. Verily, "wine is a mocker." The use of intoxicating drinks as a beverage, is as much an infatuation, as is the smoking of opium by the Chinese, and the former is quite as destructive to the success of the business man as the latter. It is an unmitigated evil, utterly indefensible in the light of philosophy; religion or good sense. It is the parent of nearly every other evil in our country.

These remarks apply with ten times more force to drinking alcohol. Making money requires a clear head. A man must see that two and two make four. He must make all his plans carefully and think ahead. He must examine every detail and all the ins and outs of business. No man can succeed in business without the intelligence to make plans and the judgment to carry them out. So, however intelligent a man may be, he cannot run a business successfully if alcohol clouds his mind and judgment. How many good opportunities have slipped away forever while a man sipped a "social glass" with his friend! How many foolish deals have been made under the influence of the "nervine," a drink that briefly makes its victim feel rich! How many important opportunities have been put off until tomorrow, and then forever, because wine has left the body sluggish! That sluggishness drains the energy so essential to business success. Truly, "wine is a mocker." Drinking alcohol is as much an obsession as smoking opium is among the Chinese. And drinking is just as destructive to a businessman's success as smoking opium. Drinking is an absolute evil, utterly indefensible by philosophy, religion, or common sense. It is the source of nearly every other evil in our country.