The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1897-08-26

fOrtaD goes INTO III ana Sinks dill.
Many of the commercial establishments
of our cities are giving their clerks a
mercantile education as Yale, or Har-
ward. or Princeton are giving scientific
attainment to the students matricu-
lated. The reason there are so many
men laundering in business from year
to year, is because their early mercan-
tile education was neglected. Ask the
men in high commercial circles, and
they will tell you they thankGod for this
severe dicipline of their early clerk
ship. You can afford to endure the
wilderness march, if it is going to end
in the vineyards and orchards of the
promised land.
But you say: "Will the womanly
clerks in our stores have promotion?''
Yes. Time is coming when women
will be as well paid for their toll in
mercantile circles as men are now paid
for their toll. Time is coming when a
woman will be allowed to do anything
she can do we'll. 1t is only little
while ago when women knew nothing
of telegraphy, and they were kept out
of a great many commercial circles
where they are now welcome; and the
time will go on until the woman who
at one counter in store sells $4,000
worth of goods in a year, will get as
high salary as the man who at the
other counter of the same store sells
$1,000 worth of goods. All honor to
Lydia, the Christian saleswoman.
The second counsel ! have to give tc
clerks is that you seek out what are
the lawful regulations of your estab
lishment, and then submit to them
Every well-ordered house has its
usages. In military life, on ships
deck, in commercial life, there must be
order and discipline. Those people
who do not learn how to obey will
never know how to command. l will
tell you what young man will make
ruin, financial and moral; it is the
young man who thrusts his thumb into
his vest and says: Nobody shall die
tate to me, am my own master; | will
not submit to the regulations of this
house" Between an establishment in
which all the employees are under
thorough discipline and the establish
ment i'll which the employees dc
about as they choose, is the differ
ence between success and failure
between rapid accumulation and bank
ruptcy. Do not come to the store ter
minutes after the time. BE there with
in two seconds and let it be two sec
onds before, instead Of two seconds
after. Do not think ything too in
significant to do we'll. Do not say
Its only just once" From the most
important transaction in commerce
down to the particular style in which
you tie a string around a bundle, obey
orders. Do not get easily Disguised
While others in the store may lounge
or fret, or complain, you go with ready
hands, and cheerful face, and contenteC
spirit to your work. When the bugle
sounds, the good soldier asks no ques
tons, but shoulders his knapsack, fills
his canteen and listens for the com
mand of march"
Do not get the idea that your in
terests and those of your employer are
antagonistic. His success will be your
honor. His embarrassment will be
your dismay. Expose none of the frail
ties of the firm. Tell no store secrets
Do not blab. Rebuff those person:
ought never to be known outside the
store. Do not be among those young
men who take on mysterious ali
when something is said against tn,
firm that employs them, as much as tt
say: Il could tell you something if
would, but l won't?" Do not be among
those who imagine they can builo
themselves up by pulling somebody
else down. Be not ashamed to be
subaltern.
Again, | counsel clerks to search GU
what are the unlawful and dishones
demands of an establishment, and re
sist them. In the 5000 years that have
passed, there Las never been an occa
! sion when it was ones duty to sir
against God. 1t is never right to dc
wrong. If the head men of the firm
expect of you dishonesty, disappoln'
them. "Oh," you say: Il should los,
my place then" Better lose your plac,
than lose your soul. But you will no
lose your place. Christian heroism il
: always honored. You 60 to the heaC
man of your store, and say: Sir,
want to serve you; l want to obligt
: you; it is from no lack of industry or
my part, but this thing seems to me t,
be wrong, and it is Sill
against my conscience, it is
sin against God, and l beg you
sir, to excuse me-" He ma,
flush up and swear, but he will COO
down. and he will have more admi
ration for you than for those who sub
nit to his evil dictation; and Will,
they sink, you will rise. Do not, be
cause of seeming temporary advan
tage, give up your character, young
man. Under God. that is the onl
thing you have to build on. Give VI
that, you give up everything. Tha
employer asks a young man to hur
himself for time and for eternity, whc
expects him to make a wrong entry
, or change an invoice, or say goods cos
SO much when they cost less, or impos
upon the verdancy of customer. O
, misrepresent style of fabric. How