Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-02-13


That veteran and honorable merchant,
Jonathan Sturges, OF New York, at the
dinner given in his honor on the ooca-
sion Of his retirement from active busi-
ness, gave the following golden coun.
sci to yOnng men;
Now, gentlemen, since there is
nothing that can talk about that Won
do not understand great deal better
than l. do, | propose to say few
words for the benefit of the men ont
side, and if you approve of what ia
said, let it be considered as said By this
Grand Jury of Merchants now Assem-.
bled .ilr ls. %, N I'd
One Of the first lessons / received
was in 1918, whenI was eleven wears
OF age. My grandfather had colleeted
a fine flock Of merino sheep. which
were cherished during the war of
l8l2-15. | was shepard boy, and INV
business was, to watch the sheep
in the fields. A boy. who
was more fond of bis bGoks
than OF sheep, was sent with me, but
left the work to me, while he lay in the
shade and read his books. | finally
complained Of this to the old gentle,
man. / shall never forget his benign
ant smile as he replied: Never Won
mind; il you, watch the sheep, YOU will
have the sheep. 1 Thought to myself:
what does the old gentleman meanP-
l don't expect to have any sheep. My
aspirations were quite moderate in
those days, and q first rate merino bncklI
was worth 81 900. L could not make
out exactly what he meant, but | had
great confidence in him, as he was a
Judge, and had been to Congress in
Washington's time; so concluded that
1T was all right, whatever he meant. and
went out cOntentedly with the sheep.-I
After ! got to the field / conld uot'get
that idea ont OF my head. Finally L
thought OF my Sunday lesson: 'Thon
hast been faithful over few things. |
will make thee rdler over many thines.
Then l understood it, Never Won mind
who else negleets his duty; Be yOu
faithful, and you will have your re.
wardP do not think il will take MANY
lads rs long as it did me to understand
this proverb. t.. Zip
l received my second lesson soon af-
ter came to this city, as clerk to the
late Luman Reed, A merchant from
Ohio, who knew me, came TO purchase
goods of Mr.. Reed. He expressed his
qualification at finding me there, and |
said to me-: ''You have got a goo d |
place. Make Yourself 80 useful that
they cannot do without yon." / took
bis meaning quicker than ] did the
proverb abOut the sheep. Well, I work
ed uron these two ideas until Mr.. Reed |
offered me- an interest in his business.
The first morning after the eopart. |
nership was announced, James Geery,
the old tea merchant, called 10 see me. |
and said to me: 'You are all right |
now; have one word Of advice TO |
You: be careful who you walk the
streets with That was lesson number
three. lftf'1li ilii'2h ga'
In this connection I must repeat an |
lnecdote,told OF the late Robert Len
iox. A country merchant came into
he store of Mr.. Morton, a highly re,
spectacle Scotch merchant, 30 purchase
goods. He spoke about credit, refer
ences, &c. Mr.. Morton said: al will
give you what credit you wish. But,
said the merchant, Il am an entire
stranger to you.' Mr.. Morton replied:
Did | not see you at church with Rob-
ert LennOx ? Yes, l was at church
with him. well, 1 will trust any man
whom Robert Lennox will take to
,hurca with him.
/ hope these three lessons Of watch
lulness over the interests of their EN-.
ployers, watchfulness over their part.
ners' interests aud their own, after they
ire joined, followed by intense watch
ILLNESS that no black sheep creep into
heir folds, may be impressehuby these
anecdotes upon the minds Of those for
whom they are intended.
One other lesson I feel it very neces
,ary to inculcate-that of patience.
With little patience most yaung
men will find position as high "a they
lave fitted themselves to fill.
In all the changes which have taken
place in my firm since 1922, no partner
las been brought in who has not served
IS clerk in the establishment. And l
low leave my, house well ergapized,
prosperous, estid free from complica.
ions, still in the hands OF those who
lave served in it as clerks for q longer
,r shorter period. I mention this as
IN encouragement to young men to
in the faithful performance Ofl