The record-union., 1895-04-05
LIFE'S UPS AND DOWNS.
Various Effects of Worldly Success
on Various Men.
Remarkable Changes in the Affairs OF
Certain Chicago Business
Men-Their Start.

gether, pooling their capital, energy and
business experience.
1t was not bindery that they estab-
lished, but for the purposes of this story
bindery will do as well as anything
else.
These three young men had learned the
trade, and knew all about prices and
profits. The partnership was formed at
a time when the town stood ready to en-
courage small ventures and help them 10
become large institutions.
At that time no man or combination of
men had the advantages of immense
capital and long prestige with which to
beat down competitors.
The new firm had fair start.
1t was composed of y, b and G, or Abb
bott, Brown d Curtis. because these
names are totally unlike the real names.
Practical men, led on to grasp the op-
portunities which opened here, there and
everywhere in city OF phenomenal
growth, closely attentive to business, it
is little wonder that their bindery soon
required more rooms. more employees,
more improved machinery.
After time the early debts were paid
Off, and the firm seemed on the high road
to prosperity.
About the time that labor began to
bring its rewards Abbott died. The firm
then became Brown d Curtis. 1t con-
tinued to make money-so much money
that the partners were enabled to live in
better style, become acquainted with
new kind OF people, and have aspirations
which could not be bounded by the walls
Of their business Office.
Brown was q bachelor who had been
reared on abstinence and economy.
AS an apprentice, and later as recog-
nlZed workman, ne had avoided the
tollleS OF young manhood because he had
neither leisure nor manhood.
The smooth and profitable operation of
the business gave to him for the first time
in his life the feeling that he had money
to spare and time in which TO spend it,
He was led into new associations and
found them pleasant.
Brown began to make atonement for his
years OF abstinence by purchasing the
pleasures of the town at prices which
seemed moderate enough considering that
his income was large and growing
Brown rearranged his mode Of life. He
shortened his office hours put his dinner
hour later i'll the evening, and found that
no civilized bedtime came before mid
uight.
Upon investigation he learned that there
we're many kinds of cocktails in the
world, aud that cold bottles, commonly
regarded as luXuries, may in time become
necessities. In other words, Brown, on
whom circumstances had postponed the
wild oats PERIOD" began to drink like
veal-headed college youth az class sup
per. Alter living up to his income he
proceeded to live bey yond it.
He borrowed money.
Obligations, when viewed through a
vapor OF alcohol, are never terrifying
and next morning the process of over
coming headaches distracts the atten-
ton from anything else in the world.
The time came when Brown was asked
to sell his interest in the business to
Curtis.
lnasmuch as Curtis had the upper hand
and large collection OF Browns sigma
lures on negotiable paper, Brown was
unable to dictate terms. The partnership
was dissolved, ana Brown found himself
without occupation or much ready
money. He lived up the money, and
then stern necessity partially sobered
him, and he became an elnploye of Curtis.
sole proprietor of the bindery.
The same success which drove Brown
to Incidence ana extravaganza simply
spurred Curtis to greater efforts,
At first he had dealt with the simnle
propositions OF his trade. He calculated
the cost OF materials, labor, wear and
tear OF machinery, power, rent, heat and
light to md what it would cost to bind A
thousand books. Upon such Calculation
be based his estimates and closely figured
the profits. When he could clear $40 900
a year he was encouraged at his SUCCESS
but discouraged over the realization thai
even with twice as much business his
profits would be only so, 900 a wear.
An income OF $4,000 wear seen0e6
small TO him, since be had moved inf0
the world of big business ventures where
fortunes were being made in days and
weeks.
lie began TO plunge.
With supreme confidence in his own
ability he speculated boldly, forgetting
that the only trade he knew was thai az
binding books.
The bindery, which had once filed his
business horizon, became to his mind
merely one of several Investments which
were TO cooperate and make him mill
lonaire. lie mortgaged the bindery. and
with the money he reached for Quick re-
turns.
An alarm was raised somewhere in the
business world just when be had invested
to the limit. Fictitious values collapsed
money lenders ran TO cover and fright-
ened spectators grabbed at anything to
save themselves. Curtis grabbed in vain.
lie learned that the mortgagee claimed
the bindery, while a conservative banker
had agreed to take his residence at val
uRtion of S5, 900.
Curtis did not begin drinking until the
fright of the panic seized him.
Then he drank to keep up his couraoa
Day by day there was more need OF cour-
age, so he learned to drink more
When the fact of his failure became as
plain to others as it had 10 himself ne
drank in order TO forget.
There are some men who will bgcome
drunkards in three months.
If a man may become a millionaire in
three months, why can't he become a
drunkard in the same length OF time2
Curtis devoted about year to the Job.
lie simply gave way TO his bad luck.
DE and Brown got drunk together and
said good-by TO all their hopes. Brown
had learned to say it some time before.
When the bindery was the property of
Abbott, Brown aud Curtis. two brothers,
Henry aud Arthur Davis, came into the
place to do cub" work and learn the
trade.
By the time that Abbott died they were
regarded as competent worknen
Under tue administration OF Brown and
Curtis they were advanced ACCORDING To
their merits, and Henry became fore
man. Later on, " hen Curtis began his
Napoleouic campaign, Henry naturally
stepped into the position of general
manager. his brother succeeding him as
department foreman.
Inc D!Ddery being eacri feed under the
mortgage, these two brothers. with tho
money they had saved and with the hack
ing OF frugal relatives, were enabled In
come INFO possession OF the plant. There
upon the flrm name became Davis Bros
$50 far as the purpose OF the story is con-
cerned), and 1t remains so to this day.