Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-02-13
DAILY DEMOCRAT.


LessOns from an Old Merchant.
That veteran and honorable merchant,
Jonathan Sturgss, Of New York, ~ the din
nsr given 10 his honor on the occasion Of
his retirement from active business, gave
the following golden counsel 20 young men ::
"Sow, gentlemen, snce there is nothing
tha. can talk abou. that you do not Under
stand great deal better than | do, | pre-
pose TO say few words fer the benefit Of
the young men outside, AID il you approve
Of via, is said, lie, il DC considered as said
by thu, Grend Jury q Merchants now as
senbed.
zone Of the frs. Sous resolved sas IN
1918, when | was eleven Fears 0! age. Ny
grandfather had collected . fine fock Of
msrino sheep, which were carefully cher
ished during the war Of lsl2-l6. I was .
sheobefd hoy, and my besineos Wao -
watch the sheep 10 The aslds. A boy, Who
v.s mere food Of HE hooks than Of eAesp,
as aent With me, but len the work 60 me,
Will, he lay in the shade aud rad bis hooks.
I fio.lly complained Of this TO the old gen
tleman. I shall never forget his bsoign
smile a he replied: Never you mind II
Won watch the sheep, you will have the
she,p. l thought to myself, what dees the
old gentleman mean l don't expect TO
have any sheep. Ny aspirations we're
ouita moderate ia those days, and . 6rst
rate .nerno buck was worth 81 900. Icould
not make out exactly what he meant, but
had great confidence in him. as no was .
Judge. and had been to Congress IN wash.
ingtop's time; go concluded i was al
right. whatever he meant, and went on con-
tentedly with the sheep After got to the
Acid could not get the idea out Of my head.
Finally thought of my Sunday lesson;
.Tbou hast been faithful over few things.
I v,ll make thee ruler over many things
Then / understood it. Never you mind
Who else nsslects his duty be you faithful,
and vou will have your reward l do not
think il will take many lads % long - il did
me 10 understand this prcvsrb
I received my second lesson soon after l
came 10 this city, ~ . clerk to the late
Iuman Reed. A merchant from Ohio, Who
knew me, came to purchase goods OF III.
Reed. He expressed his Qualification %
Andine me there, and said to me: You
h.ve rot 4 good place. Make yourself %
n,efui tina, they cannot do without you. -
I took thi. meaning quicker than | did the
., ,, about the sheep. Well, worked
anon these two ideas until Mr.. Heed oHered
ne an interest in his business.
Tho fret morning after the coparsnes-
abip was announced. Mr.. James Gsery, the
old tea merchant, called to see me, and said
10 mo: you are all right now; have one
vord Of advice to give you be careful who
YOU walk the streets with That Vas les
son number three.
"In this eonnexion must repeat On an
ecdote told Of the late Robert Lennon. A
country merchant came into the store 81
Mr.. Morton, . highly respectable Scotch
merchant, to purchase goods. He spoke
about credit, References. etc. Mr. Morton
said 4 will giveyou what credit you wish.
But said the merchant, i am an entire
stranger to you. Mr.. Morton replied
did not see you ct church with Robert
Lennoxr Yes, WAS ct church with him.
well. | can trust any man whom Robert
Lennon will take to church with him.
II hope these three lessons Of wsteheu:.
ness over interests Of their employers.
watchfulness over their partners interests
and their own, after they are Joined. followed
By intense watchfuness that no black sheep
creep into their folds. may be impressed BY
these anecdotes upon the minds Of those
for whom they are intended.
Zone other lesson l feel it very necessary
to incu cate that Of patience
with little patience most young men
will find position ~ high ~ they have
fitted themselves to fill.
"In all the changes which have taken
place in my firm since 1922. no partner has
been in who has not served IS clerk in the
establishment Aud now leave my house
we'll organized. prosperous, and free from
complications, still in the hands Of those
who served in it Is clerks for . longer or
shorter period. mention this - "a so
enlargement to young men to psSssvsrs 10
the faithful performance Of THEN duties.'