Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1854-08-30
MAKO E character for Yourself.

MAKE G GlaracLeT IoT
1t is related of Girard, that when Il young
tradesman, having bought and paid for bag of
coffee. proceeded to wheel it home himself, the
shrewd old merchant Immediately offered to
trust his new customer to many more bags
as the latter might desire The trait of char
acter revealed by the young man in being his
own porter, had given the millionaire conf
dence in him at once. His reputation was
made with Girard. lie became favorite
dealer with the cnterprising merchant, throve
rapidly, and in the end amassed fortune.
No mere capital will do so much for young
men as character. Nor Will always even capi
tai and connexion combined. In our own ex-
pcrience, we have known many beginners who
have utterly failed, though backed by ample
means, and assisted by the influence Of large
circle of friends. In some cases, indeed, con
siderable experience, as well as industry and
perseverance, have been added to these adj
vantages, yet without securing success. We
have known such persons, after a failure in
their first pursuit, to try a second, and even
third vet with no better result, although still
assisted by capital, by friends, and even by
their own activity. The secret was that they
had missed, somehow, making character for
themselves.
On the other hand, it is a common occurrence
to see young men begin without cent, yet
rapidly rise to fortune. They achieve this
triumph by establishing, at the outset, repu-
tation for being competent business men. Few
are so fortunate to do this by single char
acteristic act, like the purchaser who won Gil
rard is good will by wheeling home the bag
for. generally, neither veteran merchants are
as shrewd as the famous millionaire, nor young
dealers as energetic as his customer. But
| consistent life of sagacity, economy and in
| dustry invariably establishes the right kind Of
reputation in the end. Confidence grows up
| in influential quarters, towards the young be-
| ginner. Old merchants shake their heads ap-
provingly, and say, 'she is of the right stuff
and Will get along" Credit comes, as it were,
unsought. Connexion follows. The reputa-
tion of the new aspirant widens and deepens !;
his transactions begin to be quoted as authori-
| ty; trade flows in on him from every quarter;
and in few years, he retires with compe-
tence, or remains to become a millionaire
All this is the result of establishing, at the
| outset, a character Of the right sort.
We may say to every young man: about to
| start in life, make character for yourself as
soon as possible. Let it also be distinctive
one. 1t is better to have name for excelling
all others in some one thing than to enjoy sim
ply notoriety for merely general merit. Are
/ you mechanic! outstrip your fellows in skill
Are you young lawyer! become superior in
a particular branch Are you clerk? be the
best book-keeper your employers have. Are
you in store make yourself acquainted with
the various buyers. In short, become known
for an excellence peculiar to yourself; acquire
a speciality, as it is called and success is GER
tain, because you will have, as it were, mon
| opoly, and can dictate your own terms.
Money may be lost, without fault of our own,
by some one or another of the accidents of
! life. Connexions may be broken up by death,
or failure, or change of interests. But char
acter remains through all. 1t belongs to the
| individual, and is above the chances of fate.
| Thousands who have lost all else, have recov-
cred themselves, by having character TO
! start anew with; but no man, without busi-
ness character, has ever risen from the ruin
caused by the loss of capital or the destruc
| tion of connexion.-Ledger.