The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-18

lC. B. Carlisle in Chicago Tribune. Waiting, recently, in a retail estab- lishment employing a full battalion of young men. and being attracted by the part of an employe, I said to the proprietor, with whom I had been talk ing: That young man-meaning lhim-"seems to mean it."
 "You. are right" replied the mer- chant" I have my eye on that young fellow. I am going 10 send him up a notch next month. He has been here nearly four years. He hasn't any par ticular genius. that I can discover, ex cept the genius for steady, energetic work. I doubt if he has any special sensibility of mind or imagination which Is the foundation of talent But he has tact, and a whole system full of energy. He has Quickness, readiness, and good temper. He does things to a finish. Finds satisfaction in doing things just right. In the morning he is at the entrance when the watchman opens the door. From that moment he is busy. He will stop on his way to the coat room to shift a box or package so that it is shipshape, pick something from the floor, or brush a little dust from the counter. It may not be in his department, but that doesn't troub- le him. If that young man keeps his health he will be, in ten years, a well | to do merchant"
 With a pleasing smile the man stood before his employer. who said: well, MT. Newell, what seems to be the prospect for today? Good?" l All the conditions are favorable, sir. Our (with a little stress on the "our") lnew goods make a decidedly strong feature. I think"
 Thank you," replied the merchant. and turned away.
 Secretly Studies His Employees. l Resuming our talk, the merchant
 said: T like to study these young men
 and to indulge in predictions concern ling their future. l make quite a feat lure of it. It Is something of a recrea- tion for me. Come into my office
 and let me show you a sort of sketch book have made out of this personal lstudy of the young men in my employ during the last half dozen years. Per lhaps few business men in this city take
 as much pains as do to learn all that can be learned about the young men we employ. One or two of my business friends do 1t, in much the same way Other people keep track of their people
 through a system of surveillance that
 is open to serious objections, chiefly
 because 1t offers opportunities for un- scrupulous dealing, through pique or malice.
 T do not imagine that any of my em- ployes have an idea of my study. These young men come here bearing creden- tials of a certain kind-general char acter. fitness. intelligence. home life. and that sort of thing. most of these letters are written out of a good heart, but not always out of a good head-at least, not a business head. But that
 isn't all I want. So l have done some
 bookkeeping with them as debtors and creditors of a character kind. A page or two of biography as l call 1t, will give you an inkling of the whoe."
 Personal Records of EmplOyes. Taking at random from the journal
 of about 100 pages l made the follow ing extracts:
 | George A.-Good personality, neat in dress, finger nails clean, shoes black
 ened at the heel Don't lounge. At
 tentive, polite, correct at figures.
 Studies his goods. Spirited in action. Sunday. good clerk. Too timid to venture alone.
 1 Milford D--Energetic. Fairly thor tough. Very rapid. Talks well Keeps busy. Goods In order. Showing to best advantage. Method good. The atergoer. Honest. Genial ways. Flu ture prospects fair.
 Henry W.-Young old man. Relia- ble anywhere you put him. Liked by
 women customers. Steady. Speciality silks. Always a clerk.
 1 John T.-Dishonest. Cropped out first ten days. Shook him. (Later in states prison-embezzlemen Maurice G.-Good address. A trifle | slovenly in dress. Takes a hint and mends some. Up to date salesman. Quick. diplomatic. orderly, systematic. Self confident not quite to egotism. A