Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-04-13
allow 6
HermanC Corning
Paid the PRICE,
BY HOMER FISK
loOpyrighs. lS0.. By Daily stOry Pub. CO..

II ERMAN CORNING made up his
mind when a mere boy that he
would become a successful business
man and the possessor Of great riches
From his earliest memory he had hated
the narrow village life and thecramped
home existence, where every penny hAo
to be watched In order to make both
ends meet. He dreamed of great es-
Adjustments with hundreds OF busy
workers, all pliable to his will, as ex'
pressed from the inner ONCE. Ne
dreamed of meeting the greatest and
most powerful men of affairs and die
tating terms or forcing them to COM
promise with him.
Among all his playmatss at school
but one sympathized with his ambi-
lions or believed in him. That one
was Hannah Curtin, the grave-eyed Cir
with the high forehead, who always
stood at the head of her class. All the
rest derided him.
81 believe you will succeed, Her
man." said she, seriously, land when
you do l will marry you"
"Will your" asked Herman, eagerly
And then he added with stubborn
set of his square jaw, you may have
to wait a long time, Hannah, because II
l don't succeed at first will keep on
trying"
So the compact was sealed and one
fine day, when Herman was 10, he ful'
filled the worst prophesies of the vii
iage gossips by going away to the grea
city. He was able to scrape together
barely money enough to get him there
but he feared nothing. He had heard
the expression merchant prince" anC
It attracted his imagination. He re-
solved to enter mercantile life.
Upon reaching the city he went d.
rectly to the biggest wholesale house
in the city, Hope, Norris & Co., and
sturdily walked into the Office of thu
head of the concern.
He was trif1e perturbed at the vast
ness of the institution and the exclsive.
ness of the Office of the great Mr.. Hope
But he rallied in moment
"Am not also to be a great mer
chant" he said to himself. "He is nj
better than l am-only older"
So Herman walked boldly into thu
presence of the great man, WHIT
frowned at the intrusion.
'Well?" he demanded
Herman looked him squarely In thu
eye. His momentary -timidity had van
ished. He was in the very inner sane
tuary, which was the home OF hi
dreams. He felt fully confident.
"My name is Herman Corning" h
said steadily. 81 have decided to be-
come a merchant. That is why l came
to the city. l want to learn the bust
ness and get a start. That is why
came here. I am not afraid of hare
work and. l can live on small wages
Will you give me trial?"
The merchant had turned away will
an impatient gesture when Herman be-
gan. The odd way Of putting the prop
osition arrested his attention and thu
intense earnestness of the boy attract
ed him.
"Why did you come to me?" he sait
sharply. Don't you know that depart
ment heads hire the employes?"
81 wanted to talk to the head of thu
house." replied Herman simply.
The merchant pushed button AM
a man appeared instantly.
"Take this boy to Hopkins,
commanded Hope, land tell him II
set him to work"
And so Herman Corning found him
self launched in merchantile life as as
sistant stockkeeper at six dollars pc
week. He worked hard and gave NJ
thought to anything outside the bust
ness of the department He did 81
much work that his fellow employs
disliked him. Hopkins noted the i'm
proved condition of the stock, how
ever, and after few months Herman
had his wages raised to eight dollars
He cared little for this. He was per
fecting his knowledge of the stock AM
of prices Meanwhile he watched tn
statesmen and customers like cat
There was whole shelfful of but
tons Of ancient vintage, which Herman
noticed were never called for. One da,
Houston, salesman, was trying to at
tend to two customers.
"Here, boy" he said to Herman
"pull down some buttons for Mr.. Park
ins. LII be right back and give hin
prices"
Parkins was from a crossroads town
Herman pulled down the buttons tina
never sold He knew the prices. Ulti
mately Parkins bought half the entir
lot
This transaction so pleased Hopkin
that Herman was called on frequently
to take a customer when the salesmel
were busy. Two years after Herman
entered the place he was made a regu
lar salesman at $40 per week. He al
ways sold the things that stuck on tn
shelves. Mr. Hope learned Of this an
complimepted aim on this point
wouldn't It be easier and cheape
to have a buyer who did not load dea
stock on us?" asked Herman gravely.
A week later he was made assistan
manager of the department and en-
trusted with a considerable share Q
the buying.
Shortly after this, when Herman wa
Just turned 10, he went to Mr. Hope
nT an, Going IN RESIGN " said he.