Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-08-18
nistrllanrous.
Make "a Character for Yoursc

Make u Character for Yourself.
1t is related Of Girard that when young a
tradesman having bought and paid for bag
of coffee, procce ded TO wheel it home him
self the shrewd old merchant Immediately
offered to trust his new customer to as many
more bags as the latter desire The trait
OF character revealed by the young man in
being his own porter had given the million
are confidence in him at once. Ills reputa-
ton was made with the Girard. He be.
came favored dealer with the enterpris-
ing 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 capital and connection combined. In
our own experience, we have konwn many
beginners who have utterly failed though
backed by ample means and assisted by in
duence Of a large circle of friends. In
some cases, indeed considerable experience
as well as industry and perseverance, have
been added 10 these advantages ye: without
securing success. We have known such
persons after a failure in their first pursuit
to try second and even third yet 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 occur
renee to see young men begin without a
cent, yet rapidly rise TO fortune. They
achieve this triumph by establishing at the
outset reputation for being competent bu-
siness men. Few are so fortunate as TO do
this by single characteristic act, like the
purchaser who won Girard's good will by
wheeling home the bag for generally Meth
er veteran merchants are as shrewd as the
famous millionaire, nor young dealers as en-
ergetlc as his customer. But consistent
life of sagaciiy economy and industry, inva-
rably establishes the right kind of repu-
tation in the end. Confidence grows up
n influential quarters, towards the Young
beginner Old merchants shake their heads
approvtngly, and say, "he is of the right
stuff and will get along" Credit comes as
it were, unsought. Connexion follows
The reputation Of the new aspirant widens
and deepens; his transactions begin to be
quoted as authority; trade flows in on him
from every quarter; and in few years re-
tires with competence, or remains to be-
come 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 YOUR
self as soon as possible. lie. it also be
distinctive one. 1t is better to have a name
for excellng all others in some one thing
than to enjoy simply notoriety for merely
general merit. Are you a mechanic ?-out-
strip your fellows in skill. Are you a 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 your
self; acquire a speciality as it is called; and
success is certain, because you will have as
it were a monopoly, 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 character remains through all. 1t be-
longs TO the individual and is above the chan
ces of fate. Thousands, who have lost all
else have recovered themselves by having
a character to start anew with; but no man
without business character has even risen
from the ruin caused by the loss of capital,
or the destruction Of connexion.-PhH-
adelphia Ledger