Arizona republican., 1906-02-20

| chance. and far better opportunity
 than he thinks he has. True, favori-
 tism may count against him, and so it may everywhere else. That IS something which he must expect to meet. But where there is the most discipline there is the least favoritism | In the great department store, where it is business. and nothing but busi- ness, clear. sheer ability is likely to be allowed to move in it's own road anI to go as far up that road as the capa- city of its possessor can push it.
 The department store has come to | stay. It began in the country, cen- | turies ago; and now 1t is one of our | great city institutions. Whether or not it would be better if there were | fewer large stores and more small ! ones; whether or not it would be better | if the dry goods man sold only dry | goods, and tEe shoe man only shoes. and the market man only meat and provisions, and the grocer only gro- | ceries, need not be considered, because | the conditions of trade and of com petition, whether merciful or cruel, are | under but one law, and that is the survival of the fittest. Consequently, men of enormous capacity and great ability will gradually spread out their business and bring unto themselves everything within their reach which will pay them a profit commensurate | to their labor.
 The department store is expanding, becoming greater and greater as the days go by, to the sacrifice of the small merchant, of the small grocec. and even to the small market man. This gigantic institution, overwhelm- n ire permanent business institution, and, therefore, it is worthy of considera- tion of every young man about to enter business.
 Perhaps the best advice that I can give to the young man, is to enter the department store unless he knows of something better suited to his abil- ity, or to his inclination. There s opportunity here for him, and there is lack of opportunity; and these con- ditiOns prevail in every line of busi- ness, in every store, in every office in every town, and in every city.
 The best way to take up the business as a permanent calling, is to go right into a department store. and begin at the bottom. The application may b. made by personal call. or by letter Many of the department stores adver- ll. and other workers. From few to several of these advertisements appear in the want columns of the daily news papers. The would beN department store emplOye should follow carefully the want columns of the newspapers, and answer the advertisements by let ter or ny call.
 In regard to the school education necessary for success in the department store: a common school education s essential; the graduate of a high school has a better opportunity than have those whose school education ceased with the lower school While. upon general principles, I believe il is rather difficult for one to have too much school education-for one can never tell when this education will come into profitable play-I hardly feel disposed to recommend the expect to be department store employe to enter, Or to graduate from, classical college or institute of technology or other technical school It would appear. if one judges by results, that a general education beyond the high school cal hardly be considered more than ad- vantageous. However, I should ad- wise any boy, whether he intends t. enter a department store or not, to
 
 he can do so without too great a sacrl- fee. I should most emphatically ad- wise the boy who intends to enter q profession to become a college gradu- ate, even at heavy sacrifice; but Il would not recommend more than or dinary sacrifice, if one is to take up ,t purely commercial business, like that of the department store.
 The hiring of salesmen, and other help, in all of the department stores, is 1 done by one of the partners or by a superintendent. These men are of ex- tended experience and thoroughly un- derstand their business. Usually they are willing to give advice and theIr advice is generally good. l would advise any boy. who intends to enter this business, to call at several depart ment stores, and talk with the men who engage the help. By seeing sev- eral of them, he may obtain many valuable points, and be better able 10 judge as to whether or not he is fitted for the work; and to find out if his preference for it is merely a passing fancy, of if it has the stronger founda- tion of real aptitude and love.
 Mr. Isidor Straus, member of the firms of R. H. Macy Company. of New NLN OI'S anu <ND4 SAiisiiii anu otidust of Brooklyn, in a letter to the author, says:
 No enterprise can succeed unlelS the public supports it. and the steady growth of well-managed repartment stores is indicative that they will fill a popular need and want.
 "The objection to them as monopo- lies has no basis in fact, they are the very anthithesis of so-called trusts, with which they are sometimes con- fused, as the sharp competition between them keeps prices at a minimum.
 "They are, therefore, not only of great convenience, which is recognized even by the fiercest enemies, but are also a tremendous foctor for economy n the household.
 The buyers and managers of de- i pertinent stores average salaries which