The Monitor-register., 1897-07-23

IlSun6HJ III WulOn dAA bu0 CAuRAOy SSo
are under thorough discipline and the
establishment in which the employees
do about as they choose is the difference
between success and failure-between
rapid accumulation and utter bankrupt
cy. Do not come to the store ten min
utes after the time. Be there within
two seconds and let it be two seconds
before instead of two seconds after. Do
not think anything too insignificant to
do we'll. Do not say, "It's only just
once" From the most important trans
action in commerce down to the partic-
ular style in which you tie string
around bundle obey orders. Do not
get easily disgusted. While others in
the store may lounge or fret or COM
plain you go with ready hands and
cheerful face and contented spirit to
your work. When the bugle sounds. the
good soldier asks no questions, but
shoulders his knapsack, fills his canteen
and listens for the command OF
march,
Do not get the idea that your inter
ests and those of your employer are an
tagonistic His success will be your
honor. His embarrassment will be your
dismay. Expose none Of the frailties OF
the firm. Tell no store secrets. Do not
blab. Rebuff those persons who come
to find out from clerks what ought nev-
er to be known outside the store. Do
not be among those young men who take
on a mysterious air when something Is
said against the firm that employs them,
as much as to say, II could tell you
something if l would, but won't"
Do not be among those who imagine
they can build themselves up by pull
ing somebody else down. Be not
ashamed to be subaltern.
Again, l counsel clerks to search out
what are the unlawful and dishonest
demands of an establishment and resist
them. In the 5000 years that have
passed there has never been an occasion
when it was ones duty to sin against
God. 1t is never right to do wrong. II
the head men of the firm expect Of you
dishonesty, disappoint them. "Oh."
you say, 4 should lose my place then. "
Better lose your place than lose your
soul. But you will not lose your place.
Christian heroism is always honored.
You go to the head man of your store
and say: 'Sir, / want to serve you. /
want to oblige you. 1t is from no lack
of industry on my part, but this thing
seems to me to be wrong, and it is
sin against my conscience, it is sin
against God, and 1 beg you, sir, to ex-
cuse me-" He may flush up and swear,
but he will cool down, and he will have
more admiration for you than for those
who submit to his evil dictation, and
while they sink you will rise. Do not,
because of seeming temporary advan-
tage, give up your character, young
man. Under God that is the only thing
you have to build on. Give up that,
you give up everything That employer
asks a young man to hurt himself for
time and for eternity who expects him
to make wrong entry, or change an
invoice, or say goods cost SO much when
| they cost less, or impose upon the ver-
dancy of a customer, or misrepresent q
style of fabric. How dare he demand of
you anything so insolent?
A Few Trials.
Again, l counsel all clerks to conquer
| the trials of their particular position.
| One great trial for clerks is the incon-
Sideration of customers. There are peo-
pie who are entirely polite everywhere
else, but gruff and dictatorial and con-
temptible when they come into store
fo hr1u onufhiro Thara lc
of men and women who go from store
to store to price things, without any
idea of purchase They are not satisfied
until every roll of goods is brought
down and they have pointed out all the
real or imaginary defects. They try
on all kinds of kid gloves and stretch
them out of shape, and they put on all
styles of cloak and walk to the mirror to
see how they look, and then they sail
out of the store, saying. 81 will nos
take it today" which means, II don't
want it at ALL" leaving the clerk amid
a wreck of ribbons and laces and cloths
to smooth out a thousand dollars
worth of goods-not a cent of which
; did that man or woman buy or expect
to buy. Now, call that dishonesty
on the part of the customer. If boy
runs into store and takes a roll of
cloth off the counter and sneaks out into
the street, you all join in the cry pell-
NELL, "Stop thiefP" When l see you go
into store, not expecting to buy any
thing, but to price things, stealing the
time of the clerk and stealing the time
of his employer, say, too, "Stop thief!"
If l were asked which class of per-
sons most need the grace of God amid
their annoyances, I would say, DRY
goods clerks. " All the indignation Of
customers about the high prices comes
Oh the clerk. For instance: A great
war comes. The manufactures are
closed. The people go off to battle. The
price of goods runs up. A customer
comes into store. Goods have gone up.
"How much is that worth?" "a dol
lar" "a dollarl Outrageousl A dol
larr' Why, who is to blame for the fact
that it has got to be dollar? Does the
indignation go out to the manufacturers
on the banks of the Merrimac because
they have closed up? No. Does the in
dignation go out toward the employer,
who is out at his country seat? No. 1t
comes on the clerk. He got up the war.
He levied the taxes He puts up the
rents. Of course, the clerk.
Then great trial comes to clerks in
the fact that they see the parsimonious
side of human nature. You talk about
lies behind the counter-there are just
as many lies before the counter. Au-
gustine speaks of a man who adver-
tised that he would, on certain occa-
sion, tell the people what was in their
hearts. A crowd assembled, and he
stepped to the front and said: 81 will
tell you what is in your hearts. To buy
cheap and sell dear" Oh, lay not aside
your urbanity when you go into storei
Treat the clerks like gentlemen and Ia
dies, proving yourself to be gentle
man or lady. Remember that if the
prices are high and your purse is lean
that is no fault of the clerks. And if
you have son or daughter amid those
perplexities of commercial life, and
such a one comes home all worn out,
be lenient, and know that the martyr
at the stake no more certainly needs
the grace Of God than our young peo-
pie amid the seven times heated exas.
perations of clerks life
Inconsiderate Employers.
Then there are all the trials which
come to clerks from the treatment of
inconsiderate employers There are pro-
fessed Christian men who have no more
regard for their clerks than they have
for the scales on which the sugars are
weighed clerk 10 NO moro than en-