The Art of Saying "No."

"Most men," says Lord Clarendon, "are slaves because they cannot pronounce the monosyllable "No." A polite man may pronounce it whenever he chooses, with less danger of offence than a rude man's "Yes."

Pull Yourself Together.

Many a man has missed being a great man by splitting himself into two middling ones.

Cool Brain and Steady Nerve.

Keep your eye fixed upon the mark, and don't flinch when you pull the trigger. Could the multitude of failures which are recorded every day be thoroughly examined as to their cause, it would be found that a great proportion of them have resulted from a want of nerve just at the moment when an unwavering sight and steady pull would have accomplished the object. Let an enterprise be ever so wisely and boldly projected and energetically pushed, if the nerve fails at the last moment, good-bye to

success.

The Basis of Success.

The Hon. John Freedley's never-varying motto was, "Self-dependence and self-reliance." He says, "My observations through life satisfy me that at least nine-tenths of those most successful in business

start in life without any reliance except upon their own heads and hands-hoe their own row from the jump."

Sir Matthew Hale on Debt.

Run not into debt, either for wares sold or money borrowed; be content to want things that are not of absolute necessity, rather than to run up the score; such a man pays at the latter end a third part more than the principal comes to, and is in perpetual servitude to his creditors, lives uncomfortably, is necessitated to increase his debts to stop his creditor's mouth, and many times falls into desperate courses.

Keep a Sharp Look-out.

Be not over choice in looking out for what may exactly suit you; but rather be ready to adopt any opportunities that occur. Fortune does not stoop to take any one up. Favourable opportunities will not happen precisely in the way you imagined. Nothing does. Do not be discouraged, therefore, by any present detriment in any course which may lead to something good.-SIR ARTHUR HELPS' Companions of my Solitude.

President Lincoln's Motto.

During the great civil war in America an intimate personal friend said to Mr. Lincoln, "Mr. President, do you really expect to end this war during your administration ?" "Can't say, sir; can't say."

"But, Mr. Lincoln, what do you mean to do?" "Peg away, sir; peg away; keep pegging away !" And "pegging away" did it.

The True Philosopher's Stone.

"Mr. President," said the eccentric John Randolph (the American statesman), interrupting himself in one of his senatorial orations, "I have discovered the philosopher's stone! It consists of four short words of homely English, "Pay as you go!"

The "Iron Duke's " Motto.

"Hard pounding, gentlemen! but we will see who can pound the longest."-WELLINGTON at Waterloo.

Rothschild's Four Rules.

Mayer Amschel, the founder of this worldrenowned house, is said to have ascribed his early success to the following rules :—

1. "I combined three profits. I made the manufacturer my customer, and the one I bought of my customer; that is, I supplied the manufacturer with raw materials and dyes, on each of which I made a profit, and took his manufactured goods, which I sold at a profit, and thus combined three profits.

2. Make a bargain at once. Be an off-handed man. 3. "Never have anything to do with an unlucky man or place. I have seen," said he, "many clever

men who had not shoes to their feet. I never act with them. Their advice sounds very well, but fate is against them; they cannot get on themselves, how can they do good to me?

4. Be cautious and bold.—It requires a great deal of boldness and a great deal of caution to make a great fortune; and when you have got it, it requires ten times as much wit to keep it."

Maxims of Four Millionaires.

Nicholas Longworth, the Cincinnati millionaire, says, "I have always had these two things before me: Do what you undertake thoroughly. Be faithful in all accepted trusts."

Stephen Girard's fundamental maxim was: “Take care of the cents, the dollars will take care of themselves."

Amos Laurence said, when asked for advice: "Young man, base all your actions upon a principle of right, preserve your integrity of character; and in doing this never reckon the cost."

A. T. Stewart, the merchant-prince of New York, says: "No abilities, however splendid, can command success, without intense labour and persevering application.'

David Ricardo's Golden Rules.

This eminent member of the Stock Exchange, who accumulated an immense property, had what he called his own Three Golden Rules, the observance

of which he used to press on his intimate friends. These were:

"Never refuse an option when you can get it." "Cut short your losses." "Let your profits run

on.'

By "cutting short one's losses," Mr. Ricardo meant that, when a member had made a purchase of stock, and prices were falling, he ought to re-sell immediately. And by "letting one's profits run on," he meant that when a member possessed stock, and the prices were rising, he ought not to sell until prices had reached their highest, and were beginning again to fall. These are indeed Golden Rules, and may be applied with advantage to innumerable transactions other than those connected with the Stock Exchange.

Modes of Refusal.

The refusal which is at once the most safe from vacillation, and perhaps as little apt to give offence as any, is the point-blank refusal without reasons assigned.-HENRY TAYLOR on Money.

"The Successful Merchant."

Samuel Budgett's faith in the power of perseverance was unbounded. In speaking to some of the young men in his neighbourhood, and urging them to self-improvement, he declared that there was no reason why they might not-though the reason was manifest why they would not-every one of them be