The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-16
SUCCESS.
How Gained In a
Business Life.
PRACTICAL SERMON
On a Practical Theme by
Rev. W. J. Thompson.

Rev. William j. Thompson Of Grace
Church delivered another Of his prac-
teal talks before a large congregation
last night on the subject Of THE young
man in business"
Mr.. Thompson's remarks We're
pointed and earnest and were listened
to with much attention by the many
young men in the audience. The speak
er laid down the rules of success in the
business life with much clearness and
illustrated his words With examples of
a peculiarly appropriate nature. AS
one of the first requisites to the sue
cess of young man just starting in
business life, he called attention to the
absolute necessity oe neatness OF dress
and general appearance. More de-
ponds upon the personal appearance
than almost anything else in material
success, for it is the index of habit.
There was much truth in what Shaks-
pere makes Polonius say; Costly thy
habit as thy purse can buy, rich not
gaudy, for the habit often marks the
man."
This does not mean extravaganza nor
loudness in dress. but becoming neat
ness and appropriateness. Even when
Christ was placed upon the cross, his
simple garment marked him as the
well dressed man, the model for all
Christian gentlemen.
A young man should make his sur
roundings those that will uplift him.
The decorations of the room of young
man who is entering a mercantile life
should not be those cheap pictures
that are too often seen there, but the
photographs of Stewart, or Wanama-
ker, of an electrician, those Of Fara-
day and Morse, of the soldier, those of
Grant or Sheridan, and so on.
The beginner in life should regard
nothing as too mental for him. Peter,
the Great, the most colossal figure in
Russian history, began life as an APP
prentice in a dockyard. Business men
want men to whom they are obliged
to pay large salaries, for they are the
valuable men. An employer had ra-
,ther have to hire man at $4,000 a year
than one at $500, FOR the former rep
resents twice as large profitable in
vestment Of capital as the latter, and
profitable investment Is just what the
business man is looking for. But the
ability to command a large salary
comes only with patient effort. Begin
at the bottom. The Harper brothers
started at the very food of the ladder
and worked up their immense bus-
ness. Study the details of the bust
ness you are engaged IN. Grant was
the greatest soldier of the world be-
cause he knew from personal expert
ence all the minutest details about ra-
tons, cooking utensils and all the min
utiae of camp and field life.
Honesty in business is the basis. the
one absolute indispensable of business
success. The most successful business
men know this and are believers In
honesty first, last and all the time. A
mans word in business should be
adamant.
Among the great factors in business
success is courtesy and good manners.
The best manual Of politeness was that
written down by Paul in the 18th chap
ter of Corinthians.
A man must above all things be
ready to seize opportunity. The race
is not to the strong nor to the swift,
but to him who is ready at all times
to do that which comes to his hand
in the duty Of the hour and turn his
opportunity when 1t comes to good &C
count.
But success in business should at all
times be subordinate to moral and
spiritual success in life Success Is
not measured by the accumulation Of
wealth. and the right life Is better and
more to be sought than riches.