THE PRESTO BUYERS*
GUIDE CLASSIFIES ALL
PIANOS AND PLAYERS
AND THEIR MAKERS
PRESTO
E.t a ui.hed 1884 THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
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ABE'S EPIGRAMS
«'He That Hires One Garden, Eats Birds; But He That Hires More Than
One Will Be Eaten By the Birds.',
FOURTH INSTALMENT.
The Daylight Saving plan was pleasing to the city folk because it gave them an
opportunity to do a full day's work and still to have an extra hour of daylight in
which to play or to work in their gardens.
But the scheme aroused the ire of the farmer who argued that it was his task
to produce the food for the world to eat, and that his limitations and the require-
ments of his business, should have first consideration therefor. He pointed out
that setting the clock an hour ahead in the morning, was a hindrance to him in
place of a help, because the dew was still so heavy upon the fields that he could not
go to work anyway until the sun had dried the moisture away; and that his farm
hands had to stop work an hour ahead of time at night, just when working condi-
tions were best in the cool of the day. And so, in place of saving precious daylight,
he actually lost two hours on each man's time, or twelve hours in the working 1
week, which is equivalent to a day and a half.
Naturally this loss decreases production and increases the high cost of living,
to the end that those who would have more actually in the end have less. All of
which brings us to the indisputable truth that public policies must consider the
good of the many in place of the convenience of the few.
The man who tries to be a director in two or three corporations, the presi-
dent of a bank, the mayor of his city, the leading light in his Chamber of Com-
merce, and incidentally to run a business of his own on the side, is very likely to
find that he is being eaten by the birds.
It is all right and quite the proper thing to have a business garden and to cul-
tivate it intensively, but it is exceedingly foolish to take on so many gardens that
none of them can be properly cultivated, and the birds will have a chance to devour
what little actually grows. The old saw points out the folly of having too many
irons in the fire, for some of them are sure to be neglected and be quite spoiled.
A good many times the influence of the business man is sought in behalf of
this, that, and the other public enterprise. It is put up to him that if he will identify
himself permanently with this or that cause, it will prove his public-spiritedness and
bring business; but quite as often as not the public is divided, and while he pleases
one side, he offends the other. Naturally every man should have the courage of his
convictions and not toady to any political class or following, but there is such a
thing as being too ready to take on too many gardens to work.
One of the biggest, finest, and shrewdest men known to the writer, privately
attributes his own outstanding position in national business affairs, to his ability to
turn down many attractive propositions. Not long since he was asked to take a
small part in a new business corporation, for the strength that his name would give
the concern, and the confidence it would establish in the public mind. In speaking
of the matter he said, thoughtfully:
(Continued on page 26.)
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