The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1868-03-06
LBssoNs FROM AN OLD MERCHANT.

That veteran and honorable merchant.
Jonathan Sturges, Of New York, at the
dinner given in his honor on the oeea-@
sion of his retirement from aetiye bust {
ness, gave the following golden COUNSEL
TO young men:
Now. gentlemen, since there Is hotll- {
ing that l can talk about that you do
not understand a great deal better than
/ do, propose to say few words for
and if you approve OF what is said. lot
it be considered as said by This Grand
Jury of Merchants now assembled.
One of the first lessons received was
in 1913, when was eleven years ofage.
Ny grandfather had collected fine flock
of 3ierino sheep, which-.wcre carefully
cherished during the war of lSl2-15.
was q shepherd boy, and my business
was to watch the sheep III the fields. r.
boy, who was more fond Of his books
than of sheep, was sent with me, but
left the work to me, while he lay in tho
shade and read his books. l finally
complained of this to the old gentleman.
l shall never forget his benignant smile
as he replied; Never you mind; if
you watch the shssp, you will have the
sheep Thought to myself: what docs
the old gentleman niean9 don't OK
pect to have any sheep. My aspirations
were quite moderate in those days, and
a first-rate Merino buck was worth
$1,000. / could not make out exactly
what lie meant, but I had great conf
dencc in him, as he was a judge, and
had been 10 Congress in Washington's
time; so l concluded il was all right.
whatever he meant, and went out con-
tentedly with the sheep. After got to
the field ] could moi get that idea out OF
my head. Finally 1 thought of my
Sunday lesson: Thou hast been faith
full over few things. I will make thee
ruler over many things Then under
stood it. Never you mind who elso
neglccts his duty; be yow faithful and
yon have your reward. ! do not think
it will take many lads as long rs it did
ME to understand this proycrb.
Ircceived my second lesson soon az
ter came 20 this city as n clerk to tho
late Human Reed. a merchant from
Ohio, who knew me, came to purchase
goods of Mr.. Reed lie expressed his
qualification ut finding me there, and
said to me: You have got a good
I'place. Make yourself so useful that
/ they cannot do without you.' I took
fhis meaning quicker than ! did the
| proycrb about the sheep Well, Iwerk-
cd upon these two ideas until Mr., Reed
offered me an interest ia his business.
The first morning after eo-partner
ship was announced, Mr.. James Green
the old tea merchant called to sec me
and said to me: 'Youare all right now
have one word of advice to give you
be careful who YOU walk the street,
/ WITH This was lesson number three
\ In this connection 1 must repeat 81
anecdote told of the late Robert Lenox
\ A country merchant came into the stor'
Of Mr.. Morton, highly respectab1,
Scotch merchant, TO purchase goods
He spoke about credit, references, etc
Mr.. Morton said: Il will give you VIVA
credit you wish But said the mcr
chant, I am an entire stranger to you.
Mr. Morton replied: Did not see yo,
at church with Robert Lenox?' YES,
! was at church with him well, vii
trust any man whom Robert Lcnox Will
take to church with him.
/ hope these three. lessons of watch
fulncss over the interests Of their EN-
ployers, watchfulness over their part
ners' interests and their own, after the
are joined, followed by intense watch
: fuIncss that no black sheep creep int
| their folds, may be impressed by thcs
: anecdotes upon the minds of those TO
| whom they arc intended.
f One other lesson l feel it very noccs
: sary to inculcate-that of patience.
f With little patience most young me
will find position as high as they hav
t fitted themselves to fill.
: In all the changes which have take
: place in my firm since 1922, no partne
c has been brought III who has not serve
u as clerk in the establishment. And
! now leave my house we'll organize
il prosperous, and free from compile:
C lions, still III the hands of those VIII
e have served in i. as clerks for long,
l. or shorter period. mention this as s
< encouragement to young men to Pc
Of severe in the faithful performance
s. their duties.