The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-05-16
lessons from, an Old Merchant.

That veteran and honorable merchant, Jona-
than Sturges of New York, ut the dinner given
in his honor on the OCCASION of his retirement
from active business, gave the following golden
counsel to young men:
"Now, gentlemen, since there Is nothing that
/ can talk about that you do not understand a
great deal better than L do, / propose To say n
few words for the benefit of the young men out
side, and If you approve Of what Il said, let ii be
considered as said by this Grand Jury of Mer-
Giants nDw assembled.
One of the irst lessons / received was in 1913,
when | was eleven years of age. My grandfather
Lad collected a fine flock of MerinO sheep, which
were carefully cherished during the war of 1872
Is. ! was n shepherd boy, and my business was
to watch the sheep in the fields. \ boy, who
was more fond of his books than Of sleep, was
sent with me, but left the work to me, while he
Law In the Shade and read his books. | finally
complained Of this To the old gentleman. l shall
never forget his benignant smile as lac replied
Never you mind; al you watch the sheep, you
will have the sheep | thought To myself: what
does the old gentleman mean l don't expect to
have any sheep. My aspirations were quite mod
crate ia those DAYS, and n ~iiTst-rate MeTinO buck
was worth $1,000. | could not make out exactly
what be meant, but / had great confidence in him,
~ lie wa n Judge, and had been To Congress in
WashingtOn's time; 20 | concluded that il was
all right, whatever hc meant, aud went out cum
tcntedly with the sheep. After ] got u the field
| could not get that idea out of my head. Final
" 1 thought OF my Sunday lesson: Thou hast
been faithful over a few things, | will make thee
ruler over many thing Then understood 1T:
Never you mind who else ncglects his duty: be
yoH faithful, and you will have your reward; L
do not think IL will take many Lads as long rs it
did me 20 understand this prov-rb.
1 received my sccond lesson soon after / came to
this city as n clerk to the late Human Reed. y
merchant from Ohio, who new me, came To pur-
chase goods Of Mr.. Reed. lie expressed lis graf
ifcation Mt finding Inc there, and said to me:
You have got n good place. Make yourself so
useful that they cannot do without YOU 1 took
his meaning quicker than | did the prOycrb about
tile sheep. Well, / worked upon these two ideas
until Mr.. Reed offered Inc an interest III his bust
nesr.
The first morning after the copaTtnership was
announced, Mr.. james Grecry, the old tea mcr-
chant, called u see me, and said to me: You
are all right now; I have one word of advice to
give you; be careful who you walk the streets
with That was lesson number three.
In this connection / must repeat an aneedote
told Of the late Robert Lennox.- \ country mer-
chant came into the store of MIR. Morton, a high
ly respectable Scotch merchant, to purchase
goods. lie spoke about credit, references, &c,
Mr.. Morton aid: Il will give YOU what credit
you wish But said the merchant, II am an
entire stranger TO you.' Mr.. Morton replied:
q. Did i not see You ut church with Robert Len
nOx?' YES, 1 was at church with him. Well,
L will trust any man whom Robert Lennox will
take to church with him.
1 hope these three lessons of watchfulncSs over
the interests of their employers, watchfulness over
their partners interests and their own, after they
are joined, followed by intense watchfulness that
no black sheep creep into their folds, may be i'm
pressed by these anecdotes upon the minds of
those for whom they are intended.
One other lesson / feel it very necessary to in
of patience.
With n little patience most young men will find
n position as high rs they have fitted themselves
to fill.
In all the changes which have taken place in
my firm since 1922, no partner has been brought
in who has not served ~ Il clerk in the establish
ment. And i now leave my house we'll organized,
prosperous, and free from complications, still in
the hands Of those who have served in it as clerks
for n longer or shorter period. l mention this as
an encouragement to- young men to prcseverc in
the faithful performance of their duties"