In other words, don't count yourself among those whose income is too small to save anything until you are absolutely certain you have cut out extravagance. The problem is being solved by thousands every day. You can solve it, too. But the solution is not easy. It will require manhood and a strong vigorous character to gain the victory.

To every small salaried man or wage earner there comes a fighting chance; not one to be waited for during long years, or which involves tireless struggles against competition, but every week, every day, and which every day may show its victory. It may be a small and homely chance, but it calls for a fight as hard as for greater things; a fight which being won leaves a man bigger and stronger and better fitted for larger chances.

Free your mind from the idea that any law, any political party or anything but your own ability and will can make you prosperous. Your success in life depends upon yourself. Chance plays a part, yes, but it is a small part; and, besides, you can't control chance. Barring exceptional adverse circumstances, the whole matter is up to you. If you really want to save you can probably do it. If a penny a day is all you can afford, it is far better to save it than nothing at all. Remember that many of America's greatest fortunes were built on tiny beginnings. At least there is no excuse for not trying to save. What you try to do you may not always succeed at, but what you don't try to accomplish, you never will.

There are incomes that with the most rigid economy and careful management, are too small to admit of any margin over bare necessities, The ordinary teachings of thrift do not apply in these cases. Better wages must be secured, and better wages will be the outcome of greater service rendered. This is not the place to go into details as to the educational opportunities that lie at the hand of almost any ambitious young man or woman, no matter how dire their poverty. I want only to point out that through education and training lies a sure road to increased earning capacity.

Take perhaps the most pitiful case of all, the young girl working for a miserable wage of from four to seven dollars a week. Even for her there is a great national organization, the Young Women's Christian Association, not only opposing extravagance in every form, but teaching young women how to live and how to increase their usefulness and working capacity.

Many a girl has her fair prospects for life sacrificed at the very outset. The short-sighted parent who may covet the petty wage of three dollars a week of fifteen-year-old Mary will usually be persuaded to listen to sober reason. Mary herself may be made to see that it pays in more ways than one to be prepared before entering the business world; that she may be the mistress of her own destiny and may select the work that she will do, instead of plunging blindfold into the first occupation that presents itself; and that even a few months of specific training may lift her from the ranks of the unskilled. When her work assumes the dignity of a chosen calling for which she is prepared, instead of a mere job, the chances are that the expectation of speedy marriage will not destroy her business value. Her self-respect and ambition will furnish the mainspring for success. The habit of achieving, once formed, will unfailingly follow her from business into home life.

We all know how men arise from the lowest to the highest positions. From newsboy to corporation president is a common every-day story that hardly excites any comment in the papers. A man may be down but he is not out until every method of self-improvement has been exhausted.

Abject poverty is depressing, benumbing, but it is not so bad as the neediness of those of larger means who can not live within their incomes. If a man or woman literally can not earn enough to satisfy the bare wants of life there is some excuse for him. Such a person is more respected than the spendthrift whose money is gone and who can no longer pay his debts. Terror and shame are the worst evils of poverty and they may plague him who has an income of ten thousand dollars a year as often, relatively speaking, as the very poor. A crust of bread and liberty are better than banquets with creditors waiting outside.

There is hardly a single man, woman or child in America who can not save some money this year, if he or she will set out determinedly to do it.

"Ah," you still object. "How can you say that? You do not know my circumstances."

No, I do not. But if circumstances dictate your life, this book is not for you. You won't succeed anyway.

"Circumstances!" exclaimed Napoleon. "I make circumstances."