The Project Gutenberg eBook of Plain Facts

This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

Title: Plain Facts

Author: G. A. Bauman

Release date: February 1, 2009 [eBook #27957]
Most recently updated: January 4, 2021

Language: English

Credits: Produced by Al Haines

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PLAIN FACTS ***

PLAIN FACTS

PRACTICAL EDUCATION

FINANCIERING

COMMON SENSE

The several short articles herein contained were first written and published twenty-five years ago as an expression of the writer's convictions.

Having come to the conclusion that conditions, in many respects, have not improved—in fact have become more alarming; and in consequence the future outlook in these most strenuous and extravagant times more uncertain, the writer was prompted to incorporate these ideals in a booklet and dedicate the same to his younger friends.

G. A. BAUMAN,
      Quincy, Illinois.

July, 1921.

Looked at From a Practical Standpoint

It is the young man and young woman of to-day, with a practical education, who will adorn our best homes of the future.

It is the manager and the financier who is the practical one.

It is the young man with good habits who has a bank account, who shows evidence of becoming a financier.

It is the young woman who trains herself with the duties of home-work, that will become a manager.

It is the observing, the prudent, who will be the practical one.

The majority of our young friends of to-day are beginning at the wrong end. Instead of beginning at the bottom and training themselves for the future, thereby making accumulations by steadily and patiently adhering to one principle, never deviating truthfully and honestly from the one purpose, and in addition establishing a good character, they begin, as it were, at the top, with ideas that are only acquired by lack of proper training, and in course of time find themselves where they should have begun years before.

What a young man neglects before his thirtieth birthday, he can never redeem.

It is the early dollar saved that is the valuable one in later years, and the earlier one begins, the sooner he will have a financial standing.

The dollar judiciously invested at the age of twenty, will have accumulated at the age of sixty, about sixteen dollars, whereas the dollar invested in like manner at the age of thirty will have accumulated at the age of sixty only about eight dollars.

The most important thing to be attained, while striving for true and successful aspirations, will be an established record, which is worth far more than wealth. A young man with a record is a graduate of practical training and is sought for everywhere. There is plenty of room at the top. The demand is growing, even in these stringent times.

These self-made young men and young women are not as a rule among our so-called society people. Society encourages extravagance and dissipation, and that means ruin, more or less, sooner or later, morally, physically and financially.

When a young couple start out in life together and they do really love each other sincerely, there is one other thing, next to good health, that is necessary in carrying responsibilities for a continuously happy life, and that is good financiering. Without that quality, love will soon fade away and disagreements follow.

What causes so many divorce suits? Bad financiering. Some of bur best and brightest citizens are among our most inefficient managers, and consequently have difficulties to battle with during life.

Therefore good management and saving qualities, together with good character, are the essential points to be observed by young men and women, equally well by husband and wife, in order to maintain prosperity and contentment.

November, 1893.

Financiering

It is a question not so important how to save, as how to promote the growth of your savings.

It is sometimes an easy matter to know how to make money, but knowing how to keep it and especially how to place it where it will earn the most, consistent with its safe keeping, is a matter that needs careful consideration.

How many a hard-earned dollar finds its way into some visionary scheme; is invested in some fictitious, widely advertised enterprise, with agents on every hand offering glaring profits.

Beware of such financiering. Did you ever hear any of our old successful financiers diverting their idle surplus into those investments where almost unlimited profits are assured?

The successful accumulator is not willing to take such chances. They look too flattering.

You cannot and should not expect something for nothing. Seek the best, and if it sometimes appears costly, it will always prove cheapest in the end.

The really judicious investor does not expect the highest rate of interest, as he is aiming to get gilt-edged securities. Securities with the largest margins are naturally entitled to consideration and a lower rate.

The savings bank should only be the primary department in accumulating.

The moment a savings account has grown to a sufficient proportion, the prudent one will seek a larger field in order to reap the benefit of a more profitable and safer investment.

But then the question will arise: "What is the course to pursue for one not having had previous experience in such conservative precautions?"

As the specialist makes a specialty of a certain kind of practice, so does the expert investor make a specialty of placing money on certain kinds of securities, and as confidence is the most important factor in this commercial world, careful inquiry and investigation as to the reputation and method of such a specialist, should prove relief to this would-be investor of all anxiety and worry in placing his idle money to the best advantage.

Think prudently, act judiciously, place your confidence accordingly, and your success financially will be assured.

November, 1894.

Common Sense

Common sense is the only true promoter of mankind and yet how few of our present generation strive to obtain the knowledge.

Our boys and girls may have had their proper beginning at school, in due time successfully passed the usual graduation exercises, and some more may have received a costly course at college, yet those having been deprived of the most important instruction stand before the world as helpless as in their beginning.

To learn to work is the foundation in constructing the knowledge of common sense.

Knowing how to work and especially with those who were taught to do it with pleasure, never faltering nor complaining, simply accomplishing their daily task in a systematic manner will succeed.

A successful school or college training should only be considered as a sharpened tool to be better equipped in applying this common sense.

At home is the place where the child should be taught to do little things and as it grows older and while attending school, the importance of accomplishing bigger things should be impressed from time to time.

Every parent who neglects to teach his child to work is robbing it of its birthright.

There should be time for work and time for play, but as the former is usually out of the question, that very moment our should-be-home instructors are guilty of moral crime.

Work strengthens the body as well as the mind and a useful exercise should be the most preferable one.

If you wish to rear a good boy, teach him how to work.

If you wish your son to become an ideal young man, preach to him that the most valuable time lost, is, when he is neglecting to build up his storage of common sense.

Plod along quietly, but with determination. Promotion will surely follow.

We are none of us perfect; try to do right as nearly as you possibly can and you will profit. To neglect means disappointments.

If you wish to bring up a good girl, teach her to be useful.

If you wish to be the possessor of a model daughter, teach her the value of work; all other accomplishments should be subordinate issues, but are very commendable features if connected with common sense ideas.

Common sense should be the first principle in the make-up of a young woman, and it is only obtained while learning the rudiments and duties to manage a home; and a home of contentment is only where such a supreme being, commonly called wife, predominates.

Teach your daughters to be deserving, have them learn to appreciate, to be sincere and you will encourage a better class of young men.

Let them grow up in idleness, teach them to despise labor, let them depend upon someone for a continuously happy time, and you will cultivate the good-for-nothing young man.

Do not let them expect to marry a worthy man unless they show themselves to be worthy. The laws of nature will not permit otherwise.

Honor the man of toil. To snub him shows ignorance and bad breeding.

Neither good looks nor fortune should figure as a drawing card. Nothing but virtues embodied in the knowledge of common sense will conquer.

Virtue prevails
Where beauty fails.

Nor will riches easily won maintain comforts and satisfaction which only true merit will reward.

To be occupied encourages health and thrift; with self-denial—self-respect and happiness.

To be idle invites ills of many kinds; it breeds discontent, engenders poverty and brings misery—and as the wheels of commerce are continuously turning around, the rich becoming poor and the poor becoming rich, the importance of acquiring the knowledge of common sense should not be so woefully neglected.

Try not to accumulate wealth, but exert your talents in promoting your children to become self-reliant and you will have endowed a legacy which means more than untold fortunes to them, a consolation to the parent and a blessing to the community at large.

The poorest boys and girls in the world are those not taught to work.

October, 1897.

*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PLAIN FACTS ***

Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will be renamed.

Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial redistribution.

START: FULL LICENSE

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK

To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at www.gutenberg.org/license.

Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works

1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.

1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.

1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the United States and you are located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when you share it without charge with others.

1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any country other than the United States.

1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:

1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or distributed:

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.

1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™.

1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg™ License.

1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website (www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.

1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works provided that:

• You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.”

• You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ works.

• You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of receipt of the work.

• You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works.

1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.

1.F.

1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment.

1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem.

1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.

1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.

1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any Defect you cause.

Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™

Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks of life.

Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org.

Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws.

The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact

Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS.

The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate.

While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us with offers to donate.

International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.

Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate.

Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works

Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.

Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.

Most people start at our website which has the main PG search facility: www.gutenberg.org.

This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.