The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-13
JOHN ]. BLAIR'S PRECEPTS.
BUSINESS RULES FOR TIE GUIDANCE
or HIS CLERKS.

what He Expected of tho Two Employees
in III. Country Store mt Gravel Hiii In
1881 49, "Moderatcly Press the Debtor
when He Has Funds That You Know Or"
When John I Blair. who died recently. worth
from $50 600 600 to $40. OO0OOO.andw who Is said
TO have owned in the course OF his ninety odd
years OF life more railroads and also more lana
than any other private individual in the world
kent n country store ut Gravel Hill (now
Blairstown) in New Jersey. in 1881. he en-
ployed two clerks He had then been In bust
ness for himself eleven years. Ho had set
lin for himself before he was 10 years old
For his two clerks he wrote out set OF rules.
The original. in Mr.. Bluir's handwriting. was
given by the late Charles ID. Vail to William G.
Howell. who has had II In his possession for
forty years The reward OF SO referred
10 in the rules was claimed by Aaron II. Kesey.
then one OF Mr.. Blair's two clerks The docu-
ment IL as follows:
RULES & REGULATIONS TO BE OBJ
SERVED By J. l. BLAIRS CLERKS.
"lst Tho Storehouss and the Goods In the
same-to be kept in the most rerfect order.
Nothing to be permitted to Lie In Slovenlv
manner about the floor. Neither clothes. shoes.
Goods or any other article.
"2nd No article Of Goods, clothing. or any
other matter. to be- made use OF unnecessarily.
manner. This il a matter worthy to BIO
observed and Lived up to: as carelessness. and
Negligence il the ruin OF all Business; and
this particular. above all others. ought TO DO
most strictly and prudenty observed In order
to make n Merchant. or any other good
Citizen Unless this Principle. the most I'm
portant OF oil. is lived up to. 1t Ia useless to
undertake any Business, whatever. with the
Idea OF Making Lirino. And any person who
does not live up to this Rule OF conduct loses
my confidence
'3rd Every article ~ store Goods to DO kept
in their place. in the most respectable. ana
neatest manner and order
"4th The Books are to be kept posted IN
by the head clerk. and every item examined
by the first and second clerk. the ChaIges
Snd rS]HSS ha IN 40 nc oS VIII ey
our business a character worthy OF notice:
| and Appreciated by our customers and our
9th cannot allow my clerks 10. associate
too much with loose and immoral characters:
| them to scufiie or wrcstle with such. but pride
themselves above this, as no COOL can result
them. such as sothiuness and lounGing about
tn. store And those characters VIII tax.
many privileges in my absence. which would
18th. wish my clerks on the Sabbath to go
Regular to church This T. a g9?d prinSstpl,e ,ii
| not be Immediately benefited By It.
Tth. Never permit yourself TO use seven
brooms to sweep the house with neither five
hlickcys TO keep water In : and other like eN-
| travnganccs. In proportion. Those principles
! OF extravaganza are disgusting. and would
ruin any man In due time. Can you think II
| looks better or why Is Il done2
| 18th. The Great Principles OF trade are these
and must be observed by any person. 60 ng
| into business or CARRYING on same: which are:
| Be strictly attentive always to your business:
| BE Punctual in all Matters. BE carei Jul and
| all things you have. Watch the situation Of
| liar
| lions: moderately pressing the debtor when he
| has funds that you know Of. IL dunned. IA due
| form. YOU generally succeed. Always know
| the situation Of your own Afnirs. Avoid rid
| Ing or going TO any place where you have no
| business. II II always better 10 attend TO your
| business IL you contract debts. look ahead
| and make calculations TO pay them.
| ss-A decent. prudent, careful man VIII APP
| pear much better in q Hemp Suit. than slow
| emily. careless fop In a silk suit.
| " b. The clerk best complying with the
| above rules shall be paid on the FIRST OF next
| April Ave dollars. and II both live up to II,
| fve dollars each. with my good will.
| y. b. Always consider that YOU are doing
| business Cor yourselves, when Won 10 my busi-
| ness. II YOU live up TO the Rules laid down.
| l will make men OF you. and II will make
| men OF yourselves. All that can do for you
| would be az no Service. IL you don't comply
| with my Rules. and follow my advice.
| IL you pursue the course | have laid down.
| all will be safe and shall have the pleasure
| OF keeping good natured: but II not all Will be
| confusion, and must Eternolly ind fault"