The Monitor-register., 1897-07-23


ing in the chandeliers, glowing from
the crimson upholstery. rumbling in
the long roll of the tenpin alley. Such
men may build up palaces of merchan-
disc heaven high, but after awhile a
disaster will come along and will put
one hand on this pillar and another
hand on that pillar and throw itself for.
ward until down will come the whole
structure, crushing the worshipers as
grapes are mashed in the winepress.
Then there are boys ruined by lack
of compensation. In how many prosper
ous stores it has been for the last 30
years that boys were given just enough
money to teach them how to steall
Some were seized upon by the police.
The vast majority Of instances were not
known. The head of the firm asked.
"Where is George now?" 'Oh, he isn't
here any more" A lad might better
starve to death ON blasted heath than
take one farthing from his employer.
Woe be to that employer who unneoes-
sarily puts temptation in boys way.
There have been great establishments in
these cities, building marble palaces,
their owners dying worth millions and
millions and millions, who made vast
amount of their estate out of the blood
and muscle and nerve Of half paid
clerks Such men as-well, will not
mention any name But I mean men
who have gathered up vast estates at
the expense Of the people who were
ground under their heel. "Oh," say
such merchants, "if you don't like it
here, then go and get better placel"
AS much as to say: "I've got you in
my grip. and mean to hold you. You
can't get any other place.
True Sympathy,
Oh, what contrast between those
men and Christian merchants who to-
day are sympathetic with their clerks
when they pay the salary. acting in this
way: "This salary that give you is
not all my interest in you. You are an
immortal man; you are an immortal
woman. ! am interested in your pre-
sent and your everlasting welfare. l
want you to understand that If am a
little higher up in this store I am be-
side you in Christian sympathy" Go
back 40 or 80 years to Arthur Tappen's
store in New York. man whose worst
enemies never questioned his honesty.
Every morning he brought all the
clerks and the accountants and the
weighers into a room for devotion.
They sang, they prayed, they eKhorted.
On Monday morning the clerks were
asked where they had attended church
on the previous day and what the ser.
mons were about. 1t must have sound.
ed strangely, that voice Of praise along
the streets where the devotees of Nam
mon were counting their golden beads
You say, Arthur Tappen failed. Yes,
he was unfortunate. like great many
good men. but understand he met all
his obligations before he left this world,
and know that he died in the peace of
the gospel and that he is before the
throne of God today-forever blessed
If that be failing, 1 wish you might all
fail.
There are a great many young men
and young women who want a word Of
Observation-Disclosures encourage
ment. One smile Of good cheer would
be worth more to them tomorrow morn
ing in their places of business than a
present Of $15, 900 ten years hence. Oh,
l remember the apprehension and the
tremor of entering profession. re-
member very we'll the man who greeted
me in the ecclesiastical court with the
tip ends of the long fingers of the left
hand, and I remember the other man
who took my hand in both of his and
said: "God bless you, my brother. You
have entered glorious profession. Be
faithful to God, and he will. see you
through" Why, feel this minute the
thrill of that handshaking, though the
man who gave me the Christian grip
has been in heaven 30 years. There are
old men here today who can look back
to 40 years ago, when some one said a
kind word to them. Now, old men, pay
back what you got then. 1t is a great
art for old men to be able to encourage
the young. There are many young peo-
pie in our cities who have come from
inland counties, from the granite hills
of the north, from the savannas of the
south. from the prairies of the west.
They are here to get their fortune. They
are in boarding houses where everybody
seems to be thinking of himself. They
want companionship. and they want
Christian encouragement Give it TO
them.
Balancing the Books.
My word is to all clerks, Be mightier