The Indianapolis journal., 1898-01-31
WHAT is THE NATTER WITH THEM.
Why the Dry-GOOds Clerk Seldom
Strikes Out for Himself.

Dry Goods Chronicle.
We were asked the other day by an ac-
quaintance: why is it that SO few dry
goods clerks go into business and strike out
for themselves?' We have been thinking
of it ever since, and, measuring the ma
jority of men whom we have met, we are
led to think queer thoughts.
Young men drift into the dry goods store,
settle down to routine and seem satisfied
to stay. Merchants become accustomed to
seeing them about; chance, length of SerV-
ice or the good will of the proprietor ad-
vances them until they can make living,
perhaps support wife.
IAey are senteel and constant association
with women wears the rugged corners off
their character. Girls fancy their company
because they are genteel in conduct, dress
and appearance, and before long they are
married and settled down to genteel pow
erty.
If there is one thing that will make
toady of a man quicker than another it is
this same gented poverty, trying to keep
up appearances and to swing in a set that
is congenial in character, while inconven-
lent III cost.
Finally, shabby gentility, a continual
Scrimping, trying to make both ends meet
And so many an honest man ekds out
hollow existence with his life narrowed
down to single track, his ambition Smoth-
cred, his makeshift existence encompassed
by constant temporizing with necessity.
A store full of such people is only half
served by them. They come and go from
force Of habit they manage to slip quietly
in and out among their social superiorS
without giving otfense. Content to be toll
eLdl6u, lHey dIS MIdppSu up III IhCh Lel14OW
lifI.
They never know the exhilaration that
comes of actual conflict with circumstances;
the hot blood of battle never t1usheS their
veins; no challenge is given or answered.
Only the VentureSOme. ambitious one who
feels the grasp of circumstances clutching
at his throat and who thruStS back, who
barries and spars and watches for oppor-
tunities and seiZeS them when they come,
even reaching out to meet them half way,
only such a one ever learns what his occu-
patton offers, only such a one ever realizes
on the possibilities it presents
/ know a man who has lived in the same
store for upwards of twenty years, and in
all that time he never had a cross word
from his employer.
And the merchant himself told me once
that this faithful old clerk had never given
him cause for offense I'm fact" said he
II wouldn't know he was here from one end
of the day TO the other hut for the fact
that l see him occasionally"
l recollect some years ago when that
same merchant dismissed a promising young
fellow, because the boy irritated him with
his forward ways. The youngster was ag-
gressve, and wanted to know what was
going on; he locked horns with some of the
veterans when he knew they were presuns-
ing on his youthfulness
The ''old man" fired him because ne an
noyed him. Well. He can buy and sell the
whole establishment to-day, and my old
friend Gid him the favor of his life whG1 he
turned him adrift. These things pay to
think about, as merchants business is too
often what his assistants make it, to be let
run wild