Part 20 One Thousand Secrets of Wise and Rich Men Revealed

Part 20

St. Matthias was first stoned and then beheaded.

St. Barnabas was stoned to death by Jews at Salania.

St. Paul was beheaded at Rome by the tyrant Nero.

The capital of the United States has been located at different times at the following places: At Philadelphia from September 5, 1774, until December, 1776; at Baltimore from December 20, 1776, to March, 1777; at Philadelphia from March 4, 1777, to September, 1777; at Lancaster, Pa., from September 27, 1777, to September 30, 1777; at York, Pa., from September 30, 1777, to July, 1778; at Philadelphia from July 2, 1778, to June 30, 1783; at Princeton, N.J., June 30, 1783, to November 20, 1783; Annapolis, Md., November 26, 1783, to November 30, 1784; Trenton, from November, 1784, to January, 1785; New York from January 11, 1785, to 1790; then the seat of government was removed to Philadelphia, where it remained until 1800, since which time it has been in Washington.

THE SINGLE TAX.

This idea was first formulated by Mr. Henry George in 1879, and has grown steadily in favor. Single tax men a.s.sert as a fundamental principle that all men are equally ent.i.tled to the use of the earth; therefore, no one should be allowed to hold valuable land without paying to the community the value of the privilege. They hold that this is the only rightful source of public revenue, and they would therefore abolish all taxation--local, State and National--except a tax upon the rental value of land exclusive of its improvements, the revenue thus raised to be divided among local, State and general governments, as the revenue from certain direct taxes is now divided between local and State governments.

The single tax would not fall on all land, but only on valuable land, and on that in proportion to its value. It would thus be a tax, not on use or improvements, but on ownership of land, taking what would otherwise go to the landlord as owner.

In accordance with the principle that all men are equally ent.i.tled to the use of the earth, they would solve the transportation problem by public ownership and control of all highways, including the roadbeds of railroads, leaving their use equally free to all.

The single tax system would, they claim, dispense with a h.o.a.rd of tax-gatherers, simplify government, and greatly reduce its cost; give us with all the world that absolute free trade which now exists between the States of the Union; abolish all taxes on private uses of money; take the weight of taxation from agricultural districts, where land has little or no value apart from improvements, and put it upon valuable land, such as city lots and mineral deposits. It would call upon men to contribute for public expenses in proportion to the natural opportunities they monopolize, and make it unprofitable for speculators to hold land unused, or only partly used, thus opening to labor unlimited fields of employment, solving the labor problem and abolishing involuntary poverty.

VALUE OF FOREIGN COINS.

Proclaimed by Law, January 1, 1891.

The largest producing farm in the world lies in the southwest corner of Louisiana, owned by a northern syndicate. It runs one hundred miles north and south. The immense tract is divided into convenient pastures, with stations of ranches every six miles. The fencing alone cost nearly $50,000.

The "Seven Wonders of the World" are seven most remarkable objects of the ancient world. They are: The Pyramids of Egypt, Pharos of Alexandria, Walls and Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Temple of Diana at Ephesus, the Statue of the Olympian Jupiter, Mausoleum of Artemisia, and Colossus of Rhodes.

The seven sages flourished in Greece in the 6th century B.C. They were renowned for their maxims of life and as the authors of the mottoes inscribed in the Delphian Temple. Their names are: Solon, Chilo, Pittacus, Bias, Periander, Clebolus and Thales.

The estimated number of Christians in the world is over 408,000,000; of Buddhists, 420,000,000; of the followers of Brahma, 180,000,000; of Mohammedans, 150,000,000; of Jews, 8,000,000; of atheists, deists, and infidels, 85,000,000; of pagans, 50,000,000, and of the 1,100 other minor creeds, 123,000,000.

In 1775 there were only 27 newspapers published in the United States.

Ten years later, in 1785, there were seven published in the English language in Philadelphia alone, of which one was a daily. The oldest newspaper published in Philadelphia at the time of the Federal convention was the _Pennsylvania Gazette_, established by Samuel Keimer, in 1728. The second newspaper in point of age was the _Pennsylvania Journal_, established in 1742 by William Bradford, whose uncle, Andrew Bradford, established the first newspaper in Pennsylvania, the _American Weekly Mercury_, in 1719. The next in age, but the first in importance, was the _Pennsylvania Packet_, established by John Dunlop in 1771. In 1784 it became a daily, being the first daily newspaper printed on this continent.

GEMS OF THOUGHT.

POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC

Benjamin Franklin.

POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC.

COURTEOUS READER:

I have heard that nothing gives an author so great pleasure as to find his works respectfully quoted by other learned authors. This pleasure I have seldom enjoyed. For though I have been, if I may say it without vanity, an _eminent_ author of _Almanacs_ annually now for a full quarter of a century, my brother authors in the same way, for what reason I know not, have ever been very sparing in their applauses; and no other author has taken the least notice of me; so that did not my writings produce me some solid pudding, the great deficiency of praise would have quite discouraged me.

I concluded at length that the people were the best judges of my merit, for they buy my works; and besides, in my rambles where I am not personally known, I have frequently heard one or other of my adages repeated, with _as Poor Richard says_ at the end of it. This gives me some satisfaction, as it showed, not only that my instructions were regarded, but discovered likewise some respect for my authority; and I own that to encourage the practice of remembering and repeating those sentences, I have sometimes quoted myself with great activity.

Judge, then, how much I must have been gratified by an incident I am going to relate to you. I stopped my horse lately where a great number of people were collected at a vendue of merchant's goods. The hour of sale not being come, they were conversing on the badness of the times; and one of the company called to a plain, clean old man with white locks, "Pray, Father Abraham, what think you of the times? Won't these heavy taxes quite ruin the country? How shall we ever be able to pay them? What would you advise us to do?" Father Abraham stood up and replied: "If you would have my advice, I will give it you in short; for _A word to the wise is enough_, and _Many words won't fill a bushel_, as Poor Richard says." They all joined, desiring him to speak his mind, and gathering round him, he proceeded as follows:

Friends, says he, and neighbors, the taxes are indeed very heavy, and if those laid on by the government were the only ones we had to pay, we might the 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. However, let us hearken to good advice, and something may be done for us; _G.o.d helps them that help themselves_, as Poor Richard says in his _Almanac_ of 1733.

It would be thought a hard government that should tax its people one-tenth part of their TIME, to be employed in its service, but idleness taxes many of us much more, if we reckon all that is spent in absolute sloth, or doing of nothing, with that which is spent in idle employments or amus.e.m.e.nts that amount to nothing. Sloth, by bringing on disease, absolutely shortens life. _Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears; while the used key is always bright_, as Poor Richard says. _But dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of_, as Poor Richard says.

How much more that is necessary do we spend in sleep? Forgetting that _the sleeping fox catches no poultry_, and that _there will be sleeping enough in the grave_, as Poor Richard says. If times be of all things the most precious, _wasting of time must be_, as Poor Richard says, _the greatest prodigality_; since, as he elsewhere tells us, _lost time is never found again_; and what we call _time enough! always proves little enough_. Let us then up and be doing, and doing to the purpose; so, by diligence, shall we do more with less perplexity. _Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all things easy_, as Poor Richard says; and _He that riseth late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night; while laziness travels so slowly that Poverty soon overtakes him_, as we read in Poor Richard; who adds, _Drive thy business! Let not that drive thee!_ and

Early to bed and early to rise Makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

So what signifies _wishing_ and _hoping_ for better times? We may make these times better if we bestir ourselves. _Industry need not wish_, as Poor Richard says, and _He that lives on hope will die fasting_. _There are no gains without pains; then help, hands! for I have no lands_; or if I have they are smartly taxed. And, as Poor Richard likewise observes, _He that hath a trade hath an estate, and he that hath a calling hath an honor_; but then the trade must be worked at, and the calling well followed, or neither the estate nor the office will enable us to pay our taxes. If we are industrious we shall never starve; for, as Poor Richard says, _At the working-man's house hunger looks in, but dares not enter._ Nor will the bailiff or the constable enter, for _Industry pays debts, while despair increaseth them_.

What though you have found no treasure, nor has any rich relation left you a legacy, _Diligence is the mother of good luck_, as Poor Richard says, _and G.o.d gives all things to industry_

Then plough deep while the sluggards sleep, And you shall have corn to sell and to keep,

says Poor d.i.c.k. Work while it is called to-day, for you know not how much you may be hindered to-morrow; which makes Poor Richard say, _One to-day is worth two to-morrows_; and farther, _Have you somewhat to do tomorrow? Do it to-day!_

If you were a servant, would you not be ashamed that a good master should catch you idle? Are you then your own master? _Be ashamed to catch yourself idle_, as Poor Richard says. When there is so much to be done for yourself, your family, your country, and your gracious king, be up by peep of day! _Let not the sun look down and say, "Inglorious here he lies!"_ Handle your tools without mittens! remember that _The cat in gloves catches no mice!_ as poor Richard says.

'Tis true there is much to be done, and perhaps you are weak-handed; but stick to it steadily, and you will see great effects; for _Constant dropping wears away stones_; and _By diligence and patience the mouse ate in two the cable_; and _Little strokes fell great oaks_; as Poor Richard says in his _Almanac_, the year I cannot just now remember.

Methinks I hear some of you say, "Must a man afford himself no leisure?" I will tell, thee, my friend, what Poor Richard says, _Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to gain leisure_; and _Since thou are not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour!_ Leisure is time for doing something useful; this leisure the diligent man will obtain, but the lazy man never; so that, as Poor Richard says, _A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things._ Do you imagine that sloth will afford you more comfort than labor? No! for as Poor Richard says, _Trouble springs from idleness, and grievous toil from needless ease.

Many, without labor, would live by their wits only, but they'll break for want of stock_ (i.e. capital); whereas industry gives comfort, and plenty, and respect. _Fly pleasures, and they'll follow you. The diligent spinner has a large shift_; and

Now I have a sheep and a cow, Everybody bids me good morrow.

All which is well said by Poor Richard. But with our industry we must likewise be steady, settled, and careful, and oversee our own affairs _with our own eyes_, and not trust too much to others; for, as Poor Richard says,

I never saw an oft removed tree, Nor yet an oft removed family, That throve so well as those that settled be.

And again, _Three removes are as bad as a fire_; and again, _Keep thy shop, and thy shop will keep thee_; and again, _If you would have your business done, go; if not, send._ And again,

He that by the plough would thrive, Himself must either hold or drive.

And again, _The eye of the master will do more work than both his hands_; and again, _Want of care does us more damage than want of knowledge_; and again, _Not to oversee workmen is to leave them your purse open._

Trusting too much to others' care is the ruin of many; for, as the Almanac says, _In the affairs of this world men are saved, not by faith, but by the want of it_; but a man's own care is profitable; for saith Poor d.i.c.k, _Learning is to the studious and Riches to the careful_; as well as, _Power to the bold, and Heaven to the virtuous._ And further, _If you would have a faithful servant, and one that you like, serve yourself._

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