The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-11-21

can not keep or place a man on its pay
rolls who is not able to do all the work
required of him. If the work was too
arduous for him in one department he
might be transferred to another or to a
position demanding lighter work in his
own department, but he would have to
do what was required of him in some
position, or he could not be retained
That is a business maxim and it's
soundness can not be questioned. To
assert, however, that a business house
would deny man the right to work
merely because he had passed certain
age, is absurd. If he could do the work
he could have it to do and if he dis
played any ability he would be given the
same chance to rise that is accorded the
man of fewer wears.
There are many reasons why man
of forty-five who has entered business
at an early age, say twenty, has not
risen above the ranks. He may not be
competent to fill a higher position
though he serves we'll in lowly capac-
lty or he may have lacked "a certain
amount of education that is necessary
or he may have been so we'll satisfied
where he was situated that he did not
care to rise. Instances of this sort may
be found in every business house
Granting. however, that he has dis
played ability, that he is competent to
do something better. that he has some
little education and that he is ambitious,
he may have been forced to remain
where he through lack of opportunities
presenting themselves for his advance
ment. No vacancies NAV have occurred
above him to permit him to rise If
the opportunity does present itself for
an advance there is no reason why this
man should not soon be numbered as
one of the most successful in his new
capacity. His long experience in the
ranks ought to peculiarly fit him for a
higher situation and at middle age he
will probably conduct himself more
capably in the better position than
would have been the case, perhaps, had
he attained it while still a youth.
AS to man winning a fortune after
he has reached the age of az or changing
his, occupation and shining brilliantly,
| have only need to tell you a little
anecdote about man who is now
prominent citizen of--well, there is no
reason for me to tell you what city or
to give his name. The story, l take
engaged in the wholesale business from
nearly so. He had established a bust
ness house of his own and was enjoying
handsome income when he was caught
in financial storm, his business shat
tered, and just when he was within
few months of the half-century mark
in life he was left not only penniless,
hut with obligations amounting to $780,
600 hanging over. large part of which
was personal debts he had negotiated
among friends to aid him during the
early part of the troubles which sub
sequently overwhelmed him. Now, ac-
cording to the theory that man has
no chance in life after he has passed
IS, that man ought to have gone to
the poorhouse, buts he didn't He left
this city and went to Indianapolis, where
the only work he could secure was as
motorman on an electric car line He
accepted it, and applied himself in
dustriously to giving his employers good
service His worth was recognized and
| he was given opportunity to advance.
In few years he had been rewarded
with responsible position and soon
was able to embark in some business
venture on his own account. He never
specialized; every dollar he secured he
! earned but he never wasted moment.
and worked with unceasing energy. until
| ten years after the date of his failure.
when he was nearly 60, so successful
| had he been that he was able to gather
! all his creditors around a banquet
I board and when the men sat down and
| turned their plates under each one was
a check made out to the occupant OF
the chair and the total Cancelled al
outstanding obligations against him
That man had gone out in the struggle
of life at the age of so without dollar
from his friends. yet before he wa:
90 he had created a good business fol