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unesof being rich to…day and poor to…morrowthey may have something tangible to fall back upon。 This provision might save many persons from misery； who by some unexpected turn of fortune have lost all their means。
Let hope predominate； but be not too visionary。 Many persons are always kept poor because they are too visionary。 Every project looks to them like certain success； and therefore they keep changing from one business to another； always in hot water； always 〃under the harrow。〃 The plan of 〃counting the chickens before they are hatched〃 is an error of ancient date； but it does not seem to improve by age。
Do not scatter your powers。 Engage in one kind of business only； and stick to it faithfully until you succeed； or until your experience shows that you should abandon it。 A constant hammering on one nail will generally drive it home at last； so that it can be clinched。 When a man's undivided attention is centred on one object； his mind will constantly be suggesting improvements of value； which would escape him if his brain was occupied by a dozen different subjects at once。 Many a fortune has slipped through a man's fingers because he was engaged in too many occupations at a time。 There is good sense in the old caution against having too many irons in the fire at once。
Be systematic。 Men should be systematic in their business。 A person who does business by rule； having a time and place for everything； doing his work promptly； will accomplish twice as much and with half the trouble of him who does it carelessly and slipshod。 By introducing system into all your transactions； doing one thing at a time； always meeting appointments with punctuality； you will find leisure for pastime and recreation； whereas the man who only half does one thing； and then turns to something else； and half does that； will have his business at loose ends； and will never know when his day's work is done； for it never will be done。 Of course； there is a limit to all these rules。 We must try to preserve the happy medium； for there is such a thing as being too systematic。 There are men and women； for instance； who put away things so carefully that they can never find them again。 It is too much like the 〃red…tape〃 formality at Washington； and Mr。 Dick…ens' 〃Circumlocution Office；〃all theory and no result。
To get rich is not always equivalent to being successful。 〃there are many rich poor men；〃 while there are many others； honest and devout men and women； who have never possessed so much money as some rich persons squander in a week； but who are nevertheless really richer and happier than any man can ever be while he is a transgressor of the higher laws of his being。
The inordinate love of money； no doubt； may be and is 〃the root of all evil；〃 but money itself； when properly used； is not only a 〃handy thing to have in the house；〃 but affords the gratification of blessing our race by enabling its possessor to enlarge the scope of human happiness and human influence。 The desire for wealth is nearly universal； and none can say it is not laudable； provided the possessor of it accepts its responsibilities； and uses it as a friend to humanity。
The history of money…getting； which is commerce； is a history of civilization； and wherever trade has flourished most； there； too； have art and science produced the noblest fruits。 In fact； as a general thing； money…getters are the benefactors of our race。 To them in a great measure； are we indebted for our institutions of learning and of art； our academies； colleges and churches。 It is no argument against the desire for； or the possession of； wealth； to say that there are sometimes misers who hoard money only for the sake of hoarding； and who have no higher aspiration than to grasp everything which comes within their reach。 As we have sometimes hypocrites in religion； and demagogues in politics； so there are occasionally misers among money…getters。 These； however； are only exceptions to the general rule。 But when； in this country； we find such a nuisance and stumbling block as a miser； we remember with gratitude that in America we have no laws of primogeniture； and that in the due course of nature the time will come when the hoarded dust will be scattered for the benefit of mankind。 To all men and women； therefore； do I conscientiously say； make money honestly； and not otherwise； for Shakespeare has truly said； 〃He that wants money； means and content； is without three good friends。〃
Money is in some respects like fire； it is a very excellent servant but a terrible master。 When you have it mastering you； when interest is constantly piling up against you； it will keep you down in the worst kind of slavery。 But let money work for you； and you have the most devoted servant in the world。 It is no 〃eye…servant。〃 There is nothing animate or inanimate that will work so faithfully as money when placed at interest； well secured。 It works night and day； and in wet or dry weather。
Do not let it work against you； if you do； there is no chance for success in life so far as money is concerned。 John Randolph； the eccentric Virginian； once exclaimed in Congress； 〃Mr。 Speaker； I have discovered the philosopher's stone： pay as you go。〃 This is； indeed； nearer to the philosopher's stone than any alchemist has ever yet arrived。
Barnum and the newspapers had always been on the best of terms； and in nearly every instance the press praised the lecture in most unqualified terms。 The following extract from the London Times is a fair sample of many notices which he received：
〃We are bound to admit that Mr。 Barnum is one of the most entertaining lecturers that ever addressed an audience on a theme universally intelligible。 The appearance of Mr。 Barnum； it should be added； has nothing of the 'charlatan' about it； but is that of the thoroughly respectable man of business； and he has at command a fund of dry humor that convulses everybody with laughter； while he himself remains perfectly serious。 A sonorous voice and an admirably clear delivery complete his qualifications as a lecturer； in which capacity he is no 'humbug；' either in a higher or lower sense of the word。〃
During the year 1859 he delivered this lecture nearly one hundred times in London and in different parts of England； always with great success。
Remembering his experiences with Tom Thumb at Oxford and Cambridge； and knowing the fondness of the college men for joking； Barnum made up his mind to endure any amount of friendly chaff when he visited their cities。
He commenced at Cambridge； where he was greeted with a crowded house； composed largely of under…graduates。 Soon after he began to speak； one of the young men called out： 〃Where is Joice Heth？〃 to which Barnum replied： 〃Young gentleman； please to restrain yourself till the close of the lecture； when I shall take great pleasure in affording you all the information I possess concerning your deceased relative。〃
This turned the laugh against the youthful inquirer； and kept the students quiet for a few moments。 Questions of a similar character were occasionally propounded and as promptly answered； and on the whole the lecture was interrupted less than Barnum had anticipated； while the receipts were o