Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-04-29
'lI,.. Lesson. from an Old Merchant.

That veteran and honorable merchant,
Jonathan Sturges, of New York, at the
dinner given in his honor on the occasion
of his retirement from active business,
gave the following golden counsel to
young men: -B5,f
Now, gentlemen, since there is nothing
that I can talk about that you do not
understand great deal better than do,
propose to say few words for the
benefit of the young men outside, and
if you approve of what is said. let it be
considered as said by this Grand Jury
of Merchants now assembled.
n One of the first lessons received was
in 1913, when / was eleven years of age.
Ny grandfather had collected fine
flock of merino sheep, which were care
fully cherished during the war of 1872
Is. Twas shepherd boy, and my bus
ness was to watch the sheep in the fields.
A boy, who was more fond of his books
than of his 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 gentleman.
] shall never forget his benignant smile
as he replied "Never you mind if you
watch the sheep, you will have the
sheep" / thought to myself, what
does this old gentleman mean2 1
don't expect to have any sheep. My
aspirations were moderate in those
days, and a first rate merino buck
was worth $1,000. I 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 l concluded
it was all right, whatever he meant, and
went out contentedly with the sheep.
AfterI got to the field I could not get
that idea out of my head. Finally
thought of my Sunday lesson: "Thou
hast been faithful over few things, l will
make you ruler over many things"
Then I understood it: never you mind
who else neglects his duty; be you faith
full, and you will have your reward; /
do not think it will take many lads as
long as it did me to understand this pro-
verb.
/ received my second lesson soon af-
ter came to this city, as a 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 good
place. Make yourself so useful that
they cannot do without you.p / took
this meaning quicker than 1 did the
proverb about the sheep. Well, I worked
upon these two ideas until Mr.. Reed Of
fered me an interest in his business.
The first morning after the copartner-
ship was announced, Mr.. james Geery,
the old tea merchant, called to 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. ist,isrll 2
In this connection l must repeat an
anecdote told of the late Robert Lennox.
A country merchant came into the store
of Mr.. Morton, highly respectable
Scotch merchant. to purchase goods. He
spoke about credit, references, &c. Mr.
Morton said /: II will give you what
credit you wish" But" said the mer-
chant, II am an entire stranger to you."
Mr.. Morton replied; "Did 1 not see You
at church with Robert Lennoxl" "Yes,
Twas at church with him." "Well, I
will trust any man whom Robert Lennox
will take to church with him.
1 hope these three lessons of watch
fulness over the interests of their en-
ployers,5 -watchfulness over their part
ners' interests and their own, after they
are Joined, followed by intense watchfuI-
ness that no black sheep creep into their
folds, may be impressed by these anec-
dotes upon the minds of those for whom
they are intended.
oOne other lesson feel it necessary to
inculcate-that, of patience. With a
little patience most young men will find
a. position as high as they have fitted
themselves TO ill.
an all the changes which have taken
place in my firm since 1922, no partner
has been brought in who has not served
az clerksin the establishment. And l /
now leave my home well organized,