Laugh and Live Part 6

Getting out of debt means a revision of our code to the extent of ceasing to live beyond our means and saving something with which to pay off what we owe. Some men can do this successfully--others fail while seemingly trying their best to succeed--and still others do nothing to stem the tide. With these it is a matter of how the tide serves. If favoring winds should drive them to opulence they would more than likely pay up, particularly those imbued with _sufficient personal honor_ to "make good."

Such are the exigencies of life, we may as well concede that a vast majority at some time or other find it necessary to owe more than they can readily pay. Emergencies arise which force us into expenses that require credit, and if we have so ordered our lives that when the pinch comes _we have no credit established_ the fact that we pay out our last dollar and go hungry to bed does not bring us much sympathy. Thus it would seem that to be able to say: "I pay as I go," or, "I owe no man a dollar," or, "I never live beyond my means" is not much of a boast, when, after a death in the family, or other unforeseen circ.u.mstances, we find ourselves broke and nowhere to turn for accommodation.

It has been aptly said that "_People can save themselves to death._" In other words, one may develop the saving habit to such an extent that "Laugh and Live" can find no room beside us on the perch of our existence. We must admit that the systematic saver of pennies misses a lot as he goes along, and, with time, degenerates into a sort of "Kill Joy." In the matter of regulating his family to his way of thinking he usually has an uphill job. Sons leave home as soon as they can; daughters marry and breathe a sigh of relief, leaving mother behind to slave on _in order that the h.o.a.rd may grow_.

While all of this is true it only represents extreme cases, therefore it should not be construed that this chapter is launched against _the habit of saving_. Rather, its purpose is to suggest the thought of not "_over-saving_" at the expense of _personal welfare_. Our best plan would be to save in reason, not forgetting that life is here to enjoy as we go along. Then, too, we must have a _credit rating_ among our fellow mortals, just the same as a business person must have credit rating among financial inst.i.tutions.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _Squaring Things With Sister--From "The Habit of Happiness"_]

Credit in business is worth more than money because it allows for expansion whereas money in the bank is only good _as far as it goes_.

Many a merchant who bought and sold for cash all his life found when he came to enlarge his business that one thing was lacking--_credit_. The fact that he had always paid cash threw a doubt upon his financial condition when he proposed to borrow. He had neglected to build up a credit as he went along. The business world only knew him as a man who paid cash and exacted cash. Taken at his fullest inventory he had "scalped" a living out of the world for which he had done but little to make happier or better. One calamity might easily scuttle his prospects forever--for instance, a fire, or a bank failure. And without credit it would be difficult to start over again.

By all means we must save something for the "rainy day" as we go along--and our savings can be made up of other things than actual cash in bank. One item of our savings is the habit of _keeping up our appearances_. Living beyond our means does not incorporate the thought that, in order to save every possible cent, we should become slipshod and shabby. Carelessness in dress takes away from our rating as nothing else will for it has to do with first impressions of those with whom we come in contact. Gentility pays dividends of the highest order, being, as it is, a badge of character. Neatness _bespeaks character_, and it is just as cheap in dollars and cents to keep ourselves respectably clothed as to indulge in shoddy apparel under the delusion that we have saved money on the purchase price. Good clothing, costing more at the start, lasts long _and looks well as long as it lasts_. Shoddy apparel never is anything else but shoddy, and well might it proclaim the shoddy man.

When we throw away our opportunity to present a genteel appearance, just for the sake of the bank roll, we doom ourselves to defeat in the pursuit of knowledge. We cannot get all we want to know by the mere reading of books. We must mingle with people; we must interchange thought that we may crystallize what we know into practical knowledge so it can be made into tools to work with. While a man of brains is welcome everywhere the matter of his appearance has a lot to do with how he is received and with whom he may fraternize.

"Isn't it a pity," we hear people say, "that, with all his brains, he hasn't sense enough to make himself presentable?" But the worst phase of the situation is that the unkempt man sooner or later loses faith in himself and either ceases to h.o.a.rd at the expense of his gentility or he gives up his opportunity to mingle with others and lapses into habits consistent with miserly thoughts.

The phrase "_a happy medium_" is well known and decidedly applicable to the subject of saving as we go along so that we may avert the sorrows which follow in the wake of _living beyond our means_. It suggests a desirable middle course which permits us to adopt a sane policy, rather than flying to an extreme.

It cannot be said that we are living beyond our means when by reason of our a.s.sociation with men of affairs we need to spend more money and thereby save less in preparing ourselves for the larger opportunities which will naturally follow. Young men often go through college on their "uppers," so to speak. There is not a cent which they could honestly save as they went along without cheating themselves. The point is that their situations in life force them to spend rather than to save money.

But in so doing the real saving was in the spending thereof. _They enlarged their knowledge and decreased their bank accounts for the time being._ What man parts with in an emergency is no license, however, for him to fall back into profligacy. Never should a man entirely lose the idea of putting something by. The college boy in this case has simply invested his money in an education instead of a bank account.

Once on the highroad of life with a plan of action well defined and a regular income _the habit of putting money away should become a fixed procedure_. In no other way do we acc.u.mulate except by investment, and investment means putting away money at interest or in some project which promises better returns.

If we were to interview a thousand men on the subject of saving and draw upon their experiences we would find that by investing money at interest we pursue the safest course, far safer, in fact, than the seeking of outside investments that _promise_ greater returns. The latter invites the mind away from the regular avocation and educates it in time to _take chances_ that are likely to turn into _setbacks_. The mind, instead of applying itself to the duty of making the most out of its regular employment, allows its interest to become scattered over too broad a field.

It is not within the province of all men to become wealthy and, after all, wealth is not the only desideratum; the happiest of mortals are found in the middle walks of life and not in the extremes. The struggle should be to escape the life which saps our strength, keeps our nerves on edge and drives us away from the _green pastures_.

CHAPTER XV

INITIATIVE AND SELF-RELIANCE

The late Elbert Hubbard defined the man with initiative as the one who did the right thing at the right time without being told. At this point it may be definitely stated that such a man would naturally be _self-reliant._ Such a man would not lean on his friends. He would _stand up_ with them.... He would be found fighting his own battles without crying for help.

Once a cub reporter was ordered by his city editor to go and interview a certain man. After an awkward pause the youngster inquired: "Where can I find him?" Smiling scornfully into his eyes the city editor replied: "Wherever he is."

This would seem to have been the start and finish of this youngster's newspaper career, but quite the reverse was true. He took the lesson well to heart, thus starting himself on the road to self-reliance. If he had repeated the offense it is likely he would have lost his job and also _his nerve_--thereby spoiling his chances for a successful career.

The fact that he did not, but went on and made of himself a famous newspaper man, proves that he lost no time in developing _initiative and self-reliance_.

There is no questioning the vast importance these two words mean to all of us. Many a man who did not grasp the significance of initiative became a "_leaner_" for the rest of his life. Many a man also missed his chances by doing _just as he was told_ and nothing more. His work ended there. In due course it is inevitable that such a man should become part of the great army of discontented ne'er-do-wells who help to block the pavements in front of the loafing places.

Hesitation, vacillation and growing diffidence take the place of self-reliance. He falls to the bottom like a stone. And there he rests--a drag anchor in the mire. His job gets the best of him because he lacks initiative. Once stranded he becomes an arrant coward--_afraid of his own shadow_.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _A Scene from "In Again--Out Again"_]

We must _make our own opportunities_ otherwise we are children of circ.u.mstance. What becomes of us is a matter of guesswork. We have no hand in compelling our own future. _Diffidence is a species of cowardice._ It causes a man's courage to ooze out at his toes faster than it comes into his heart. _Such men often have big ideas, but having no confidence in themselves they lack the power to compel confidence in others._ When they go into the presence of a man of personality they lose their self-confidence and all of the pent-up courage which drove them forward flies out at the window. Their weakness multiplies with each failure until finally "the jig is up"--_their impotency is complete_.

Very largely those who have big ideas to present expect to be taken in on them and to be given an opportunity to succeed along with their scheme. When a man becomes so unfortunate as to be unable through diffidence to explain himself, his big idea goes into the waste basket and with it all of the hopes he has built upon it. _Another nail has been driven into his casket of failures._

To such a man, all pity, but we will not allow him to escape until we have given him a pat on the back and pointed out the right road to travel. We mustn't preach to him or undertake to force him to do anything, but we will at least give him a helping hand and show him that there is _a royal road to his goal_.

This man needs first of all to build upon his physique. Perhaps he has a _bad stomach_, and likewise _bad teeth_. Exercise--regular exercise, should be the first thing on his program. Fresh air, long walks, deep breathing, dumb bells, boxing, rowing, skating in season--_and wholesome companions.h.i.+p day by day_. In the long run boxing will become his most efficient exercise. When a man can take a blow between the eyes and come back for more he has begun to _fortify his own combativeness_. That is what he needs in life's battles--the nerve to _come back for more_ after a slam on the jaw that would lay another man low. And when it's all said and done and the exercise game has become a feature of his day's work, he must settle down to _good plain food and plenty of sleep_.

There is nothing in all the world like these things combined for the upbuilding and upholding of health and courage.

Our success is a matter of our courage. A man who can steel himself to be knocked down and get up immediately afterwards and hand the other fellow a ripping punch has added to his own "pep." _All courage is of the same cloth, whether physical, moral or spiritual._ To build upon one is to build up the others--the human system being constructed on such a basis that if one part is affected all the rest follow suit.

A man who isn't afraid of a physical combat will readily match his wits with his fellow man. Physical training is therefore all important to _initiative and self-reliance_.

Our natural aim is to make for ourselves a true personality that does not know defeat. When we come to an obstacle we must be able to hurdle it. It is all very well to say that the longest way around is the shortest way across, but it doesn't sound like initiative and self-reliance. There is one thing about men who rely upon themselves--they make no excuses, nor do they puff up over victory.

Posing for applause is as distasteful to them as standing for abuse. All they ask is a square deal and the confidence of their a.s.sociates. If they fall down on a proposition they get up and go at it again until success crowns their efforts. Such men have a way of _turning defeat into victory_.

How immeasurably inferior to such a spirit is the fellow who whines and moans at every evil twist of fortune. He has no confidence in himself and nothing else to do except confide his woes to all who will listen to his cowardly story of defeat. Such men are least useful in the important work of this world. They are the humdrum hirelings--the dumb followers.

The pitiful part of it all is that they could have succeeded had they but taken stock of themselves when the taking was good. But while there is life there is hope--likewise a chance. _It is up to us._

One of the startling things about men of initiative is the way they come forward in times of trouble. We don't have to point to Andrew Jackson in the War of 1812. We can look around us. Take, for example, a great fire. Haven't we often read of the brave fireman who sprang forward and by doing the right thing instantly, saved a mult.i.tude of lives? Well, such a man is possessed of self-reliance. He is trained for the hazardous life he leads. When the emergency arose he was ready in a jiffy to do the work expected of him.

It is safe to say that without training such men would have botched the job and instead of being praised to the skies would have sunk into oblivion under the heap of public scorn. Sometimes it happens that a man accidentally becomes a hero, but it was no accident that he was _able to become one_. He must have had initiative--he must have had self-reliance. Archibald C. b.u.t.t was such a man. He went down on the _t.i.tanic_. The last act of his life was to help women and children into the boats and calm their minds as they were lowered away. Astor was of the same metal--_both sublimely oblivious to the terrible fate which hung over them_. Here was initiative and self-reliance in its highest form.

And this sort of man is everywhere. The car in which we ride to work every morning contains one or more of them. Let something happen and we will see them spring forward with a line of action already formed. At their word of command we automatically obey--and then when the worst is over a kindly voice rea.s.sures us and we go on our way rejoicing.

What would the world do without these men? History is filled with the tales of heroes and heroines. And for every Joan of Arc there are thousands upon thousands who have done heroic things without a word of praise. Moreover, the really brave soul declines all ovation. No real hero claims reward. _To have done the right thing at the right time is reward in itself._

This quality of self-strength and self-dependence is not confined to any race of people, but in nations where personal liberty survives initiative is at its best. Somehow, whenever the emergency, _the man comes forth to do and dare_. The great world war, still raging as these lines are penned, has furnished untold thousands of examples of courageous action---enough to last until the end of human affairs, but they will go on and on in multiplied form, each day's score superseding those of the day before. It would be bully to know that we are doing our share in _safeguarding the supply_ of Initiative and Self-reliance needed in this world.

We must keep moving. The fellow who gets in a rut through lack of initiative finds that with advancing years it becomes harder and harder to get out of it, so that the best plan is to make the move now while there is time to succeed. When we come to think of it, there are plenty of positions in the world for the right man, and if we have something to say for ourselves that lends credit to our ability we stand a chance for the job.

CHAPTER XVI

FAILURE TO SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES

There is an old saying to the effect that "opportunity knocks but once at our door"--and that is all _fol de rol_. Opportunity knocks at some people's doors nearly every day of their lives and is given a royal welcome. That's what Opportunity likes--_appreciation_. It goes often to the home where the latchstring hangs on the outside. It's like a sign reading "Hot coffee at all hours, day or night"--very inviting. Very much different, however, from the abode whose windows shed no light and whose door _is barred from within_.

"n.o.body Home!" that's the sign for this door.

Mister Numbskull lives here and most of the time _he sleeps_. When anyone knocks on his door he pulls the covers up over his head to shut out the noise. He's down on his luck anyhow, therefore it would be a waste of good shoe leather for him to be up and puttering around. If Opportunity ever knocked at his door he could say in all truth that _he never heard it_. He had often heard of Opportunity being in the neighborhood, but one thing is certain--_someone else had invariably seen him first_. He felt sure he would know Opportunity if ever he met him face to face, and if ever he did he would have it out with him then and there.

Meanwhile--dadgast the luck!--always the fates pursued him with some sort of hoodoo. And his neighbors--well, some of them had sense enough to keep their distance and let him alone. Others, however, had not been considerate of the fact that a "Jinx" was on his trail, and were given to making sarcastic remarks concerning him. And thus it was that Mister Numbskull spent his days, dodging his neighbors, sidestepping the highways and obscuring himself from the very individual he wanted so much to behold--_Opportunity_. At last there came a time when, in despair, _and in disrepute_, he took to the woods and is yet to be heard from. Opportunity still visits the neighborhood, but the path leading to Mister Numbskull's home is grown up in weeds.

The fact is that our real opportunity _knocks from within_. Through experience, built upon consecutively by continuous effort, our vision expands and pounds its way out through the portals of our brain. We see the thing that we ought to do and _we go to it_! To the man who didn't see it _the opportunity did not exist_.