Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-03-06

ton; or financial panic, such as THAI
which caused the failure OF Jay Cooke.
These things are often beyond our ken
and we are powerless TO control them.
In fact, Jay Cooke would never hava
failed but for precipitated panic. His
plans were broad and well laid and
would have been emInently Successful.
had he been permitted to complete
them.
As to the negligent class, will give
one or two instances from my own per-
sonal experience. Some years ago, In
a town In England, young man start
ed In business with fair prospects. On
one OF my trips over, placed with him
quite large order, which was executed
to my entire satisfaction. On my re-
turn the following year called at his
Office about o'clock in the afternoon
and was informed that he was out AT =
game OF cricket. | thought but little
OF this, as few Englishmen can exist
without cricket. Some days aftetward,
however, | called again. and was again
informed that he was attending game
OF cricket. | never called again. A few
years later a man called upon me here
with a parcel OF samples under his
arms, not for himself. but for another
house: recognized the man, who had
no doubt sacrificed his business for the
game Of cricket.
One OF the best men whom | ever
knew, aud who was in business for him.
self, called upon me one day TO get me
to accompany him 10 the MONDAY
prayer meeting, at which he was n regu-
lar In Al his snllRt-
tation | said: "No, sir. Twelve 10 one
o'clock is net my time 10 pray; 1t is my
time 10 watch" A few years afterward
he was doing business as an agent. He
had overlooked the divine Injunction,
"Be diligent in business"
Not long ago l crossed the Atlantic
with very plain looking man, but he
was one OF Chicago's most substantial
grain merchants. He asked me II
knew certain firm in this city, and
replied that | knew them quite well.
He said that they were formerly his
representatives, but some time ago he
was in Philadelphia and called at their
Office where he found the head OF the
firm seated with the clerks around q
table playing game Of cards. None OF
lutll TtCbkuiAtu Hiuls Sdtbs VIZ
principal turned around In an overbear-
ing manner and asked him TO DO seated
for a little while. He said he sat
there for fully ten minutes, and then
quietly arose, left the office, and
departed for home. But" said he,
"the first thing | did on my return
home was 70 withdraw my consignments
and close my account with that firm;
aud whes inquiry was made OF mo why
did so, stated TO them fully the case.
They offered every apology" he con-
tinued, "but 10 was too late. Playing
cards at midday was not IN keeping
with my ideas OF good business meth
DDS" need hardly add that the card
playing firm was soon out OF business.
have given these practical illustra-
tions, as they may reach the eye OF some
young men TO whom they may be useful
for future thought.
The travelling system and mercantile
agencies have produced In business lines
an abnormal condition Of things, and so
long as this condition lasts we cannot
get along without either. The travel
ing system carries with IL the necessity
for the other. As TO the advantage OF
the former to the trade generally. |
regard II as an unsolved problem. But
the discussion OF this question would
lead to too lengthy an article at present.
Our incoming merchandise largely
takas care OF itself. Let US keep care
full guard over the outgoing. VIII II
come back TO us In bad accounts or In
solid cash2 The reply will come from
our ledgers, but, fellow merchants, the
responsibility for results Is with Us.
JoUN FIELD.