The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-11-13

good men are steadily advanced" replied
by their employers. Those Of the lower
grades are watched. and an effort is made
to interest them In their work to the gen.
eral improvement of the business.
In the store Of Marshall Field & Go.
we offered a dollar for every suggestion
of value made by a clerk. no matter
" also gave a dollar to every men
remedied. I remember one clerk got a
dollar for pointing out a leak in the wa
ter cooler on the third floor. We do the
same in my store. and we also pay for
n error or misstaternent discovered in
our + sdversisemenss. either 1.-THE i by 10 p. sSeI tS or
clerks hat our advertisements are to be
relied upon n also to prevent any de-
ception Of the public by them"
What do you think Of the woman clerk?
Has she come to stay
She has a place OF her own IN the
Twentieth Century store and one which
cellent clerks. and In certain places do
much better than men,
How about wages? Arc women as well
mo. But there is a reason why they
are not. Their term of service is shorter.
and they do not secure the a OF
the same store. As a rule. the woman
her Life work
rightly 50. Were it not for that she
would soon become more experienced and
would command higher wages"
ADVICE TO YOUNG MERCHANTS.
Would you advise a boy to adopt mer-
~chandisine as aprofessionr'
THAT would depend upon the boy" said
Mr.. Selfridge. IF he has a bent toward
merchandising his opportunities will be as
great there as In any other profession.
choose something else. I cannot recall
when ! did not want to be a merchant. I
remember I had a stand on the street and
played at selling goods when still quite
were spent in the store"
xh haiy wsI me =, some suggestions for the boy
II would advise him to do his very best
when he starts out and to study how to
DO 1t better and better. Every clerk should
try to make himself valuable to his en-
ploger:
ton above that which he holds. and it will
One secret Of success is in using the time
not required for business. sleep or meals
for study. One should read good books
and cultivate the habit Of reading. He
should make his reading of a practical ma
ture and such that 1t will be of practical
use to him.
\ AllCS OIc OI THO UeBl IHlifOdQ men IN
the country who began life as a deck hand
on a Mississippi steamboat. He worked ut
hrst for s. per month. but devoted his
leisure to study. and he Is now a leader
OF men.
There are some things that every young
man must have. II he would succeed" MI.
a%tiveness. 1 don't know that I should ad-
wise him to come to the big cities. They
cesses: but the competition there Is also
II would especially advise the young
ting maj ed. 1t Is said that 1t costs no
more to support two persons than one. but
that ID a mistake. It does cost more. and
port a wife ara still hav something left
before he rarriea
Among other qualities necessary to sue
~self-confdence. pleasant amer an even
temper ana q good PERSONAL appearance"
MARSHALL FIELD ON SUCCESS.
In connection with this advice Of Mr..
selfrdge I have some words to young men
from Marshall Field on the same subject.
Iney were written some time ago in a
letter to Newell Dwight Hills now pastor
o oon rns plymouth Church; in Brooklyn. A
Il would say that the young man should
nrst consider his natural bent or inclina-
tion. He should take stock Of himself, ind
out what business he Is adapted for and
get into that business with as few changes
as possible. Once In he should strive to
master the details Of the business and to
make his services of value wherever ha Is.
He should also DO alert, and be ready to
ssize OPPORTUNITIES when they present
1.-THE trouble with most young men"
continued Mr.. Field, us that they do not
learn thoroughly. They work carelessiy.
forget that what Is worth doing at all Il
drones. relying upon chance To bring them
success, The business world Is full Of suoh
young men. they are content with simply
putting In their time somehow and draw
ever to increase their efficiency and there
by enhance their own and their EMPLOYERS
inss TSas tb There re. are ret Others a,fss who want 70
thereby waste their lives In what might
be called misflt occupations. It is far bet
ter to be q good carpenter or mechanic
fessional man"
BUILD UP YOUR CHARACTER.
Marshall Field is very emphatic on the.
duty Of young men to pay attention to the
formation Of their characters. One should
do everything that will tend to build I'D a
Says he: THE young man who has o
conscience that cannot brook the slightest
suspicion Of wrongdoing. who insists ON
truthfulness. honesty and strict devotion
| to duty has a fortune to begin with. It Is
often the case that boys Of excellent abil-
tty are ruined by evil associates, and they
cannot, therefore, too early guard against
forming friendships with those whose
tendency il to lead them On a downward
| path.
.'They should be careful Of their COM
panions and should cultivate acquaint-
ances whose conduct and influence will
enkindle high purposes. The ability to re-
strain ones appetite, passions. tongue and
temper is Of the first Importance. One
must be master and not slave OF himself;
II he n govern himself he cannot
| govern others. Indeed, q good character
Is vastly moro important than a great
fortune.
"a United States Senator who died re-
Gently wrote the following In his will: I
hope that my 2 n will above all. early
difficult to build up than an Independent
fortune. is character, and that the only
safeguards Of character are the Ten Com
mandments and the Sermon en- the
| Mount
Careful saving and careful spending