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of his faculties； by the union of thought with nature。 Property is
an intellectual production。 The game requires coolness； right
reasoning； promptness； and patience in the players。 Cultivated labor
drives out brute labor。 An infinite number of shrewd men； in
infinite years； have arrived at certain best and shortest ways of
doing； and this accumulated skill in arts； cultures； harvestings；
curings； manufactures； navigations； exchanges； constitutes the worth
of our world to…day。
Commerce is a game of skill； which every man cannot play； which
few men can play well。 The right merchant is one who has the just
average of faculties we call _common sense_； a man of a strong
affinity for facts； who makes up his decision on what he has seen。
He is thoroughly persuaded of the truths of arithmetic。 There is
always a reason； _in the man_； for his good or bad fortune； and so；
in making money。 Men talk as if there were some magic about this；
and believe in magic； in all parts of life。 He knows； that all goes
on the old road； pound for pound； cent for cent； for every effect
a perfect cause； and that good luck is another name for tenacity
of purpose。 He insures himself in every transaction； and likes small
and sure gains。 Probity and closeness to the facts are the basis；
but the masters of the art add a certain long arithmetic。 The
problem is； to combine many and remote operations； with the accuracy
and adherence to the facts； which is easy in near and small
transactions； so to arrive at gigantic results； without any
compromise of safety。 Napoleon was fond of telling the story of the
Marseilles banker； who said to his visitor； surprised at the contrast
between the splendor of the banker's chateau and hospitality； and the
meanness of the counting…room in which he had seen him； 〃Young
man； you are too young to understand how masses are formed； the
true and only power； whether composed of money； water； or men； it
is all alike； a mass is an immense centre of motion； but it must
be begun； it must be kept up：〃 and he might have added； that the
way in which it must be begun and kept up； is； by obedience to the
law of particles。
Success consists in close appliance to the laws of the world；
and； since those laws are intellectual and moral； an intellectual and
moral obedience。 Political Economy is as good a book wherein to read
the life of man； and the ascendency of laws over all private and
hostile influences； as any Bible which has come down to us。
Money is representative； and follows the nature and fortunes of
the owner。 The coin is a delicate meter of civil； social； and moral
changes。 The farmer is covetous of his dollar； and with reason。 It
is no waif to him。 He knows how many strokes of labor it represents。
His bones ache with the day's work that earned it。 He knows how much
land it represents； how much rain； frost； and sunshine。 He knows
that； in the dollar； he gives you so much discretion and patience so
much hoeing； and threshing。 Try to lift his dollar； you must lift
all that weight。 In the city； where money follows the skit of a pen；
or a lucky rise in exchange； it comes to be looked on as light。 I
wish the farmer held it dearer； and would spend it only for real
bread； force for force。
The farmer's dollar is heavy； and the clerk's is light and
nimble； leaps out of his pocket； jumps on to cards and faro…tables：
but still more curious is its susceptibility to metaphysical changes。
It is the finest barometer of social storms； and announces
revolutions。
Every step of civil advancement makes every man's dollar worth
more。 In California； the country where it grew； what would it
buy？ A few years since； it would buy a shanty； dysentery； hunger；
bad company； and crime。 There are wide countries； like Siberia；
where it would buy little else to…day； than some petty mitigation of
suffering。 In Rome； it will buy beauty and magnificence。 Forty
years ago； a dollar would not buy much in Boston。 Now it will buy a
great deal more in our old town； thanks to railroads； telegraphs；
steamers； and the contemporaneous growth of New York； and the whole
country。 Yet there are many goods appertaining to a capital city；
which are not yet purchasable here； no； not with a mountain of
dollars。 A dollar in Florida is not worth a dollar in Massachusetts。
A dollar is not value； but representative of value； and； at last； of
moral values。 A dollar is rated for the corn it will buy； or to
speak strictly； not for the corn or house…room； but for Athenian
corn； and Roman house…room； for the wit； probity； and power； which
we eat bread and dwell in houses to share and exert。 Wealth is
mental； wealth is moral。 The value of a dollar is； to buy just
things： a dollar goes on increasing in value with all the genius； and
all the virtue of the world。 A dollar in a university； is worth more
than a dollar in a jail； in a temperate； schooled； law…abiding
community； than in some sink of crime； where dice； knives； and
arsenic； are in constant play。
The 〃Bank…Note Detector〃 is a useful publication。 But the
current dollar； silver or paper； is itself the detector of the right
and wrong where it circulates。 Is it not instantly enhanced by the
increase of equity？ If a trader refuses to sell his vote； or adheres
to some odious right； he makes so much more equity in Massachusetts；
and every acre in the State is more worth； in the hour of his action。
If you take out of State…street the ten honestest merchants； and put
in ten roguish persons； controlling the same amount of capital；
the rates of insurance will indicate it； the soundness of banks will
show it： the highways will be less secure： the schools will feel it；
the children will bring home their little dose of the poison： the
judge will sit less firmly on the bench； and his decisions be less
upright； he has lost so much support and constraint； which all
need； and the pulpit will betray it； in a laxer rule of life。 An
apple…tree； if you take out every day for a number of days； a load of
loam； and put in a load of sand about its roots； will find it out。
An apple…tree is a stupid kind of creature； but if this treatment be
pursued for a short time； I think it would begin to mistrust
something。 And if you should take out of the powerful class engaged
in trade a hundred good men； and put in a hundred bad； or； what is
just the same thing； introduce a demoralizing institution； would not
the dollar； which is not much stupider than an apple…tree； presently
find it out？ The value of a dollar is social； as it is created by
society。 Every man who removes into this city； with any purchasable
talent or skill in him； gives to every man's labor in the city； a new
worth。 If a talent is anywhere born into the world； the community of
nations is enriched； and； much more； with a new degree of probity。
The expense of crime； one of the pri