PAGE Things to Think About.. 65 The Value of a Penny... 79 As Pat once said, "I'm Irish and I'm proud of LIVE AND LET LIVE. Let us live, While we live. Let us be honest with ourselves, And honest with our fellowmen. In presenting this book to my readers, it is not my desire to fill the same with other people's mistakes, but to present the everyday occurrences as they have come to my notice, so that all who read may be benefited therefrom. When SAM JONES said that the people were going to hell at the rate of a mile a minute, he was not far off, in my estimation. The time is now ripe for a work of this kind, and in so writing I have tried to reach all classes, from the common bootblack to the President of the United States; from the everyday loafer to the highest judge upon the bench; from the ordinary washerwoman to the highest society lady in the land-the leader of the swell “400”—all have come directly or indirectly before me, and all must now be censured and whipped into line. The country is filled with books of every description, from the five-cent yellow-covered novel, filled with blood and thunder, to the costly encyclopedia that has been compiled by the brainiest writers. Each and all have overlooked the common and everyday life. Ninety per cent of the books that are written are novels, which proves my contention that only ten per cent of the people are strictly honest; the balance are questionable storage eggs. Honest people want the truth; they are not interested in fiction. Most people are "from Missouri," and have "to be shown," and for that reason I have not only given you advice, but have also proven it to you. In so writing, I have omitted indigestible words which most books contain, and have used only such language as the common people can comprehend. What the people want most is a receipt for the keeping out of the poorhouse, and my plan is to now start them off in the right direction. It has always been contended that only fools and crazy people write books, and thus far I have been unable to find in which class I belong. In this book I have revived many old proverbs, and have repeated some many times, as a good rule cannot be too often set forth. I have also sandwiched in many an old story which many of you have already heard, but which will be amusing to hear again. This book is written for the benefit of thrifty people who will read and remember, as "A word to the wise is sufficient." It will be like casting your pearls before swine to try to convert the spendthrift and the waster of everything that comes into their possession; what they require |