The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-03-18
rnE PHILOSOPHY OF BUSINESS.

II
Il In every att and calling there q 'parncu
lar technicsl' knowledge which is necessary
to Its successful prosecution. It is proficiency
in this technical knowledge or experience il
bis trade which makes the useful artisan
jouneyman, apprentice, or any workman
subordinaieIy employed III any profession OF
business. BY the subdivision Of LABOR winch
obtains in oil large bishments, he knowl.
edge we allude TO has often q very Iimilsd
Ifange compared with that 0f the genera
business. oiien ]. is confined only 10 the
production Of psssicslss shini, %, for ia.
stance, man in fcimer times, before ma.
chinery was invented to perform the whole
process OF making pins, was kept all bis dsyt
putting heads to the pins, and another to
filing points 10 them. In The printers pro.
fsssion, a compassion will set type all bis
life in the bookbindery ons man will cut
The covers, another glue them 10 the backs
OF The books. Ia making shoes, one work.
man will do all the sewing and stitching,
and another The finishing; and so II 10 thro'
every business, that which man can best
do, his own and his employers interest are
likely to keep him doing all his life. In
very few business establishments do all the
workman, OF persons employed, go regularly
up through the various grades of the prcfes.
sion, leavning each step thoroughly as he
proceeds, and coming ont, when his appren.
tceship or service ends, with that thorough
knowledge of the details of his art which is
essential 10 correct knowledge of the de.
tails OF his art which is eesential 10 q cor.
rect knowlenge of the business or profession
be is to pursue for his future support.
independently of this tschnicsl knowledge
Oh the details Of business profession, there
are general principles governing business
which must alec be learned 10 enable enter
prise 10 direct it's energies the most efficiently
10 the ends sought, and 10 enable a man 10
successfully compete in the eager race for
fortune. This knowledge consists not only
in knowing how TO make particular article,
but how 10 dispose Of il advanlageou
where 10 seek the customers needing II, how
to enlarge the circle Of custom so as 20 mul-
tipiy the profits Of sale, what maxims in
trade are founded upon true phiIosophy-a
sure insight into the nature, wants, actions
and disposition Of men, what economies are
required, what activities 10 be put IN opera.
tion, and what aid may be sought in the ca
pabilities of other professions to push ones
own the most successfully. A man who
combines these two kinds of knowledge NAV
De said 10 be master Of his profession, what.
ever that may be, and without Them, however
faithful is his employed service, he 10 still lia
BILE 10 mistakes, which may affect his enter.
prise disastrously, for want of sound judg.
ment which comes from accurate knowledge.
concerning each particular branch and re-.
quirement Of his business.
Acquired fortunes are not, as many SUP.
pose, the result of lucky chance. They
are more often the resul. of honest .oil, in.
telligeni application of thought 10 business,
diligent study Of it's wants and It's means of
advaEcamsni, nniiring industry and Glose
attention. In fact il is the best applied labor
of hands and head which gives success In
business, as il does in any human under,ak.
ing. 1t is an object of first importance. there
fore, 10 gain this desirable knowledge. The
practical details are 10 be learned best in the
every day duties, but the philosophy govern
ing the operations Of business generally, and
making 1t e science, as il is, may be learned
by every man having apprehension to UNDER
stand general truths, and the iudgmen, 10
apply them. The laws of trade and busi.
ness are as fixed and certain as The laws of
the universe, ard the principles Of them once
correctly apprehended there is very little
danger OF failure 10 their application.
A course of lectures upon the Philosophy
OF Business, BY some competent person, would
do more good to the great body of our CHI.
zens than probably upon any other subject.
MIR. V. B. Palmer has made this special
subject of attention for years past. Why
could he not be induced to give the public
the benefit Of his knowledge and experiencsa
de is fully competent, and we are satisfied
that he could do much good to the community
by Undertaking Il, and the Ledger would invite
him, through its columns, to do 90, either
through course Of popular public lectures,
or otherwise.--Lsdgr