Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1889-03-27
The Story of a Knife.

Before us are an old pocket knife and
a neat business circular. The first was
bought in the summer of 1881 in little
shanty-like shop next to the Broad
Street Bridge in Atlanta, Ga. 1t did
excellent service for years until its
owner carelessly broke it while using
it for purpose for which it was. not in
tended. Its handle is of buckhorr; its
blade was of the finest tempered
steel. Constant use never burned it.
Every rivet is intact; the spring joint of
the blade has the same elasticity as at
frstl 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 per
feet integrity were his capital. His
shop was too small to attract notice At
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, any
thing, in fact, to earn an honest penny.
Schoolboys stood in his door to see the
sparks fly from his emory wheels. They
looked longingly at the tempting
though small display of shining bladed
jack-knives. The grimmy 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 those boys
got ideas of the dignity Of work that
hon rxy,II Inn nfi
lessons of honesty, frugality, and dill
gence. They saw that from these were
obtained excellent results. They were
adults who also appreciated the object
lessons daily taught in that little shop.
In several years the owner of that lit
tie shop has become an extensive manu-
facturer. His cutlery is sold in the
best hardware stores of the country.
His name on the blade is a guarantee
of excellence His knives have repu-
tation equal to any and surpassed by
none. It is his circular that lies before
us. He sells by the gross or dozen
now, and commands his own prices.
His variety extends from the daintiest
pearl-handled knife a lady can procure
to the heaviest blades used by hunts
men and backwoodsmen But he is not
ashamed of the humber sources of
earning of his former little .shanty. In
his large factory is a department for
sharpening and concaving razors. Bar
bers 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 at
tention to this feature Of his business.
What it amounts to in year we have no
means Of knowing, but of this We are
sure, that when man from small be-
ginnings builds up large and pros
porous industry by honesty, skill, and
frugality, his future is sure to be con-
tinually prosperous if he adheres to all
those various humber lines of work
that helped him to rise from the shanty
to the large, completely-equipped fac
tory. 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 proportion to its population as
any other part Of the country.-Mdmat-
| fdctaLTerS' Record.