Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-01-07
THE STORY OF A KNIFE.
How Its Maker From Small Beginnings Became
an Extensive Manufacturer.
Baltimore Manufacturers' Record.

Baltimore Manufacturers Record.
Before us are an old pocket knife and
neat business circular. The first was
bought in the summer of 1881 in a little
shanty-like shop next to the Broad street
bridge in Atlanta, Ga. 1t did excellent
service for pears until its owner earelessly
broke it while using it for a purpose for
which it was not intended. It's handle is
of buckhorn; its blade was of the finest
tempered steel. Constant use never
harmed it. Every rivet is intact; the
spring joint of the blade has the same
elasticity as at first. That knife
was made in honor by an honest man.
1t came out of his stock. Every
other knife there was warranted by the
maker. That man knew his trade well.
That knowledge and perfect integrity
were his capital. His shop was too small
to attract notice. At the start he was
only cutter apd grinder. He despised
not the day of small things, but was
ready to do any work in his line. He
would grind knives, hone and concave
raZors, anything, in fact, to earn an
honest penny School boys stood in his
door to see the sparks fly from his emory
wheels. They looked Iongingly at the
bladed jack-knives. The grimy hands
and oil-smeared aprons of the
cutter and his few assistants
in that shanty fascinated them
because of the beautiful results that were
shown in the one showcase on the plain
counter. Some of these boys got ideas of
the dignity of work that they will never
forget. They learned lessons of honesty
frugality and diligence. They saw that
from these were obtained excellent re-
suits. There were adults who also APP
preciated the object lessons daily taught
in that little shop. 1t is not improbable
that some Of the feFYid editorials on the
value and Importance of small industries
which have appeared in the Atlanta Con-
stitution were inspired by the daily views
their writer had of that dingy interior.
In seven years the owner of that little
shop has become an extensive manufact-
urer His cutlery is sold in the best
hardware stores Of the country. His
name on the blade is a guarantee of ex-
cellenee. His knives have reputation
equal to any and surpassed by none It
is his circular that lies before us. He
sells by the gross or the dozen now, and
commands his own prices. His variety
extends from the daintiest pearl-handle
knife a lady can procure to the heaviest
blades used by the hUntsmen and back
woodsmen. But he is not ashamed
of the humber sources of earn
ings : of his former little shanty.
In his large factory is depart
ment for sharpening and eoncaving
razors. BARRIERS and men who shave
themselves are his regular customers.
They send their tools to him from all parts
of the South when they need attention.
His circular, sent out to the trade, calls
attention to this feature of his business.
What it amounts to in q year we have no
means of knowing, but Of this we are
sure, that when man from small begin
nings builds up large and prosperous in
dustry by honesty, skill, and frugality
his future is sure to be continually
prosperous if he adheres to all those
various humber lines of work that
helped him to rise from the sbanty to the
large, completely equipped factory. We
have told this simple but true story for
those of our many young friends who
wish to climb TO the top of the business
ladder without going step by step over
the intermediate rounds. The South has
as many bright, aspiring boys in propor-
ton to its population as any other part Ct
the country. Many of them have q
natural aptitude for mechanism, and
hope some day to be great manufacture
eFs. To them and to all our youth we
commend this story of a knife.