The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-02-05

4 LEssoNs From An Old MERcHAST-Tha
veteran and honorable merchant, Jonathan
Stnrges, Of New York, at the dinner given iu
his honor on ,fhe occasion of his retirement
from active business, gave the following golden
counsel TO Young men:
.. Now, gentlemen, since there is nothing that
I cantalk about that Won do not understand q
nreat deal better than do. L propose to say q
.cw words for the benefit of the young men
outside, and II you approve Of what is said, let
il be considered as said by ihis Grand Jury Of
NIerchg 3ts now assembled AEti.A@4 t4' 81 q
One ofthe first lessons received was in 1877 3.
when ] was eleven years OF age. My grand
father had collected fine flock Of neriDo
sheep. which were carefully cherished during
tlle wax Of iSi2-l5 was u shepherd boy, and
my business was to watch the sheep in the
fields 4 boy who was more fond of his books
than of sheep. was sent with me. but left the
work 10 ME- while he lay in the shade and
.lfead his books. / finally complained OF this 70
the old gentleman. I shall never forget his
beniguant smile as he replied, "Never YOU
mind ii you watch the sheep, yop viii have
the sheep" thought TO myself, What does the
old gentleman mean? don't expect 10 have
any sheep My aspirations were quite neder-
ate in those 4 avs and y first-rafe nerino buck
was worth $1,000. could not make out exactly
what he meant, but / had great confidence in
him, as he was 2 Judge, and had been to Con-
gress in Washington's times SO / concluded
| that it was all right, whatever he meant, and
went ont eOntentealy with the sheep. After
got to the field could not get that idea out Of
| my head Finally thought Of my Sunday
| lesson: ''lhou hast been faithful over few
things ! win make thee ruler over many
| things Then 1 understood il: Never YOU
mind who else neglects his duty; ne you faith
| fd and yol, will have your reward! do not
| think il win take many lads as long as il did
me to understand this proverb. I=7 Htu
| ] received my second lesson soon after /
| came to this city. as a clerk To the late Lyman
| Reed. A merchant from Ohio who knew me,
| came TO purchase goods of Mr.. Reed. He ex-
| pressed his qualification at finding me there,
and said TO me: lyon have got good place.
| Make yourself SO useful that they cannot do
1 without you.p | took his meaning quicker
| than Idid the meaning about the sheep. Well,
] worked upon these two ideas until MIR. Reed
| offered me an interest in his business u B,
The first morning after the copartnership
was announced, Mr.. James Geery, the old tea
merchant called TO see me: "fou are all right
now; have one word of advice to give you:
be careful who yon walk the streets with"
That WAS lesson number three. Ialysc7ta -
In this connection ! must repeat an anec-
dote told ofthe late Robert Lenmox. A coun-
try merchant came into the store OF Mr. Nor
prcbds igE1E .esnsfiabe scotch merchant to
eness SO NJ. Riorton ss apS9t 1--WE 2on
what credis YOU wish" But" said the mer-
cbans, II am an entire stranger TO you.n Mr..
Morton Teplied:"Did i not see you at church
with Robert Lennox?' "Yes, L was at church
with him." swell, l will trust any man
whom Robert Lennox wifi take TO church with
him. s4GE as4 . Be- f.as ~
I-hope these three lessons of watchiulness
over the interests oftheir employers, watch
tulness over their partners interests and their
own, atteF they are Joined, followed by intense
watchtulness that no black sheep creep into
their folds, may be impressed by these anee-
dotes upon tho minds ofthose for whom they
are intended.
| One of these lessons feel il very necessary
to inculcate-that Of patience. p ffttH 2
With little patience most young men will
fad position as high as they have fitted
| tbemselyesto fill.
IN all the changes which have taken place
~ my firm since 1922 no partner has been
brought in who has not served as a clerk in
the establishment. And | ROW leave my house
well organized, prosperous, and free from com
p ieations, stillin the hands of those who have
served IN it as clerks for longer or shorter
period. / mention this as an encouragement
to Young men to perseyere in the faithful per-
Torrance of their du les - i7.7e -aF