Samuel Smiles

The miners at Bilston, at least such of them as put money in the savings bank, were accustomed to deposit it in other names than their own. Nor…

A magistrate at Bilston, not connected with the employment of workmen, has mentioned the following case. "I prevailed," he says, "upon a workman to…

From what we have said, it will be obvious that there can be no doubt as to the ability of a large proportion of the better-paid classes of working…

A respectably dressed working man, when making a payment one day at the Bradford savings bank, which brought his account up to nearly eighty pounds,…

When well-paid workmen such as these are able to accumulate a sufficient store of savings, they ought gradually to give up hard work, and remove from…

"Some save for their rent," said Mr. Queckett, "others for clothes and apprenticing their children; and various are the little objects to which the…

A powerful influence was next given to the movement by Mr. Charles W. Sikes, cashier of the Huddersfield Banking Company, who advocated their…

"If a committee at each institution," he said, "were to adopt this course, taking an interest in their humble circumstances, and in a sympathizing…

This admirable advice was not lost. One institution after another embraced the plan, and preliminary savings banks were, shortly established in…

Thirty-six Penny Banks were established in and around Glasgow. The committee, in their Report, stated they were calculated "to check that reckless…

Thus the Penny Bank is emphatically the poor man's purse. The great mass of the deposits are paid in sums not exceeding sixpence, and the average…

It is clear, therefore, that the Penny Bank reaches a class of persons of very small means, whose ability to save is much less than that of the…

At one of the Penny Banks in Yorkshire, an old man in receipt of parish outdoor relief was found using the Penny Bank as a place of deposit for his…

But the principal supporters of the Penny Banks are boys, and this is their most hopeful feature; for it is out of boys that men are made. At…

One evening a boy presented himself to draw £l 10. According to the rules of the Penny Bank a week's notice must be given before any sum exceeding…

Thus these institutions give help and strength in many ways, and, besides enabling young people to keep out of debt and honestly to pay their way,…

But another capital feature in the working of Penny Banks, as regards the cultivation of prudent habits among the people, is the circumstance that…

The book is a little history in itself, and cannot fail to be interesting to the boy's brothers and sisters, as well as to his parents. They call him…

Thus a good beginning is often made, and a habit initiated, which, if persevered in, very shortly exercises a most salutary influence on the entire…

One evening a strong, muscular mechanic appeared at the Bradford savings bank in his working dress, bringing with him three children, one of them…

There is an old English proverb which says, "He that would thrive must first ask his wife;" but the wife must not only let her husband thrive, but…

Not long ago, Mr. Sikes encountered, in a second-class carriage, a well-dressed workman travelling from Sheffield to Glasgow, during holiday times,…

Such being the influence of early practice and example, we are glad to find that Economy is now being taught at public schools. The Rev. Mr. Crallan,…

The practice of teaching children provident habits has been adopted for about eight years in the National Schools of Belgium. The School Board of…

It is always very difficult to teach anything new to adults,--and especially lessons of thrift to men who are thriftless. Their method of living is…

It will be obvious, from what has been said, that the practice of economy depends very much upon the facilities provided for the laying by of small…

Now, fifteen years ago, this country was very insufficiently provided with savings banks for the people. There were then many large towns and…

Many suggestions had been made by friends of the poorer classes, whether it might not be possible to establish a more extended system of savings…

The exertions of Sir Rowland Hill having given great vitality to the Post Office system, and extended its usefulness as a public institution in all…

But it was not until Mr. Sikes, of Huddersfield, took up the question, that these various suggestions became embodied in facts. Suggestions are…

Post Office Savings Banks owe their success, in the first place, to the numerous suggestions made by Mr. Whitbread and others; next to Sir Rowland…

The money-order department of the Post Office had suggested to Mr. Sikes, as it had already done to other observers, that the organization already…

The results of the Post Office Savings Banks Act have proved entirely satisfactory. The money-order offices have been largely extended. They are…

Another most important point is, the Security. Government is responsible for the full amount paid in; so that the money deposited with the Post…

We have frequently alluded to Mr. Charles William Sikes in connection with Penny Banks and Post Office Savings Banks. His name must always hold a…

Early in 1833, Mr. Sikes entered the service of the Huddersfield Banking Company. It was the second joint stock bank that had been established in…

In 1837, Mr. Sikes became one of the cashiers of the company. This brought him into direct contact and intercourse with the very class which, from…

About that time, trade was in a wretched condition. The handloom weavers were almost entirely without employment. Privation and suffering prevailed…

Many discussions with working men, in his homeward evening walks, convinced Mr. Sikes that there were social problems with which legislation would be…

Simple as are the words, they shed light into Mr. Sikes's mind, and became the keynote and the test to which he brought the various views and…

In 1850, Savings Banks were only open a very few hours in each week. In Huddersfield, where more than £400,000 a year was paid in wages, the…

The letter was received with general approbation. The committee of the Yorkshire Union of Mechanics' Institutes gave their cordial sanction to it;…

In 1854, Mr. Sikes published his excellent pamphlet on "Good Times, or the Savings Bank and the Fireside," to which we have already referred. The…

Mr. Sikes next proceeded to ventilate the question of Post Office Savings Banks. He was disappointed that no measure for the improvement of Savings…

He communicated his plan in a letter to his friend Mr. Baines, then member for Leeds. The plan was submitted to Sir Rowland Hill, who approved of the…

The working classes have not yet, however, taken full advantage of the facilities for saving afforded them by the Post Office Savings Banks. Take…

Then take the returns for the entire United Kingdom. Out of every ten thousand depositors in the Post Office Savings Banks, we find that the domestic…

The inhabitants of Preston have exhibited a strong disposition to save their earnings during the last few years,--more especially since the…

Neglect of small things is the rock on which the great majority of the human race have split. Human life consists of a succession of small events,…

Accumulations of knowledge and experience of the most valuable kind are the result of little bits of knowledge and experience carefully treasured up.…

It is not luck, but labour, that makes men. Luck, says an American writer, is ever waiting for something to turn up; Labour, with keen eye and strong…

There are many little things in the household, attention to which is indispensable to health and happiness. Cleanliness consists in attention to a…

A pin is a very little thing in an article of dress, but the way in which it is put into the dress often reveals to you the character of the wearer.…

A druggist advertised for an assistant, and he had applications from a score of young man. He invited them all to come to his shop at the same time,…

Neglect of little things has ruined many fortunes and marred the best of enterprises. The ship which bore home the merchant's treasure was lost…

"It will do!" is the common phrase of those who neglect little things. "It will do!" has blighted many a character, blasted many a fortune, sunk many…

Take, for instance, the humblest of coins--a penny. What is the use of that little piece of copper--a solitary penny? What can it buy? Of what use is…

A man may work hard, and earn high wages; but if he allows the pennies, which are the result of hard work, to slip out of his fingers--some going…

If a man does not know how to save his pennies or his pounds, his nose will always be kept to the grindstone. Want may come upon him any day, "like…

A man may be disposed to save money, and lay it by for sickness or for other purposes; but he cannot do this unless his wife lets him, or helps him.…