The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-09-25

plication. You are of, say, dozen
young men in the line of promotion in
the house which has generously retain
ed you in its service during the past
four years. During that time you
have made an exceedingly small hole
for yourself, aud, had it been necessary
during that time TO reduce the force pf
clerks and salesman, you would have
been among the most promising candl-
dates for the grand bounce. Your sal
ETY. has been that you averaged up
pretty well with the rest of them and
that YOU are a nice fellow. Let US
look ahead little Things cannot
continue as they are for many years.
Sooner or later important changes
must come The man above you Is
Mr.. -. Suppose his place was made
vacant by any cause. Have you any
reason except the exaggerated egotism
characteristic of youth to suppose that
you would be preferred above Others to
take his placeG If not, why should you
loose any time in preparing yourself
for the main chance II you take
mertal inventory of the clerks employ
ed by your firm, you will see that il
your success is dependent upon an in
teligcnce and fidelity greater than
theirs it is easy5 Of attainment. In
three months of honest devotion OF
mind and body to the best interests of
your employers you can do more Tor
your temporal future than you now
ina sine possible. Suppose you begin
with the first of the year to turn over
a new leaf. Make a resolution that
for twelve months you will devote
yourself to business absolutely, and de-
ny yourself every pleasure or indul-
gence which can in anyway Interfere
with your duties, however trihing they
may seem. 1t makes really very little
difference to you which nine holds the
championship Or which. horse beats the
record. Forget all about such things.
| If your time for reporting for duty is
s o'clock, make it rule to get there at
a quarter to 8 and if you think any
thing worth while looking after is like
| ly to be neglected by the porters,
make it half-past seven. Something
| will happen within six months to make
it pay you. II G o'clock is quitting
time and anything remains undone,
finishing it before leaving. See that
the place is closed in good shape, and
| if you look sharp enough you will find
lot of things which ought to be seen
to- If there is nothing doing, try and
find something to do which is not spe-
ciscally your business. Anything is
better than standing around with your
hands in your pockets, or comparing
notes with the boys about things ycu
would not like to have the boss over
hear. When the srush comes be on
top. You can stand deal of hard
work, and when you have to do it you
will gain nothing by complaining-of it.
Be ready at all times 10 assume the
duties of the man who gets more than
you do, if he is sick or away. To do
this you must in some way acquire
| knowledge of his duties, which is easy
enough if you set about it. Ifyou have
lei'nre and he is over-busy offer to as
sist him and You will get the chance
you are after. Meanwhile improve
your evenings Supplement your some
what deficient education by reading
and study. Acquire a neat andi rapid
; handwriting. Editors are the only peo-
Pile y i.o can afford to write badly, be
: caus only the printers see their manu-.
scrip, and printers can read anything.
You want to know how to write
i brief letter, which, without one unnec-
: essa;y word shall contain the whole
} mat +. Spelling, pronunciation and
y gram mar should be faultiess, and the
], hand writing should indicate character
g and l1cision. Despse copperplate and
: -four hes, and avoid labored eccentrici.
}. ties II style. Dress well, but avoid too
t much magnilicence of jewelry, and be
r particularly modest in the matter of
o scarf pins. In word, make up your
f mind that you are going to the top in
e spite Of everybody and everything, and
you will find that there is practically
r nothing which young man like you
e can9o accomplish in ten years il he
g ha' settled purpose and the strength
! oil mind to stick to it. Above all, keep
6 your own counsel If you make conf
y dans of your associates they will set
e you down for prig Besides, it is
d your own success you are after and not
|. theirs. When the time!for promotion
l. CONES, you want to be the only one
IS thought of, and you can have it sc
Just as easy as not. Now, one word
10 about your habits You had better
a make it rule not to drink. 1t will
t. pay you TO keep clear of the habit, and
a while | do not imagine that you are il
d danger of drinking too much, it il
\. worth while something to have the
/ reputation of letting liquor alone
,e Your employers will feel that it give,
At theri basis tor that much more conf
n dence in you, especially as they hav
e had 10 discharge half dozen brigh
e. young fellows within as many year
| because they could not keep straight
re | want young people to say at the en'
m OF year that they have at least on'
Of young man in their BUSINESS who is in
O. valuable to them, and who can b.
m counted on to come up head wheneye
he is needed. How about salary
tn Well, just let that subject alone. Yor
are getting more than you need to liv
on, and the worst thing yonng maj
can do is to be perpetual applicant
for an advaece. If you are wort
more than you are getting, your firm
te will advance without solicitation, o
to somebody else will offer you more, an
a you will make more in the lorg run b,
nd a patient still hunt than by keeping
be your hand always extended with pie
i'll for more pay. Now, my young frienG
Us just think this matter over, and look i
ny again some time lam always glad to Sc
en- you, ,xcept on publication day,
ce Good bye, and good luck TO you,
in
he