Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-03
THE STORY OF A KNIFE.
How Its Maker from Small Beginnings
Became an Extensive Manufacturer.

Prom the Baltimore Manufacturer Record.
Before Us are an old pocket knife and a 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 years until its
owner carelessly broke II while using it for
purpose for which it was not intended Its
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 knowl-
edge and perfect integrity were his capital.
His shop was too small to attract notice. At
the start he was only a cutter and 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. 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 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 excel
lent results. There were adults who also ap-
preciated the object lessons daily taught in
that little shop. Ii is not improbable that
some of the fervid editorials on the value and
importance of small industries which have ap-
peared in the Atlanta Constitution were inspired
by the daily views their writer had of that
dingy interior.
In seven years the owner of that little shop
become iS
cutlery Is sold in the best hardware stores of
the country. His name on the blade is a
guarantee of excellence. His knives have a
reputation equal to any and surpassed by none
1t il 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 lady can pro-
cure 70 the heaviest blades used BY huntsmen
and baekwoodsmen. But he is not ashamed of
the humber sources of earning of his former
little shanty, In his large factory is depart
ment for sharpening and concaving razOrs.
BARRIERS and men who shave themselves sreS
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 10 this feature of
his business. What il AMOUNTS to in a year We
have no means of knowing, but of this We are
sure, that when a man from small beginnings
builds up large and prosperous industry 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 10 rise from the shanty to the large.
eOmpletely-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 proportion to
Its population as any other part OF the country
Many of them have a natural aptitude for
mechanism. and hope some day to be great
manufacturers. To them and to all our youth
We commend this story of knife