The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-01-31

shown the article advertised, but was
soon convinced by the salesman that
a better grade would be more esono-
mical. She was gradually and deity
led along up to the higher qualities
with the extra attachments, and fin
ally selected, to her satisfaction, one
for which she paid $3.50, with profit
to the dealer OF an even ~. Judicious
followed by good sales
manship, gave the lady serviceable
article and the dealer a handsome re-
turn. lf4
With a view to assisting our Gus
toners to bring their goods to the
notice of consumers somewhat after
the plan adopted by catalogue houses,
we recently issued what was called
a Christmas Herald" and distributed
1t in round lots among the trade, and
reports. One of our people who at
tended the convention held at Nit
chell, S. D., two weeks ago, was told
land think the statement was pub
licly made to the association) that
this little book had rendered great
service in combating the catalogue
houses. We shall issue a larger one
the coming spring, and | presume
other jobbers will adopt correspond
ing means for the assistance of the
retailers.
But business success does not mean
the making of money only--it means
the making of better men and the Inn
proving of conditions in the commun-
ity. Every merchant who has a hand
some show window, a we'll kept and
orderly stock of goods, who adopts
and pursues the> cleanest and best
business methods, not only develops
himself but eXerts. an influence which
makes for higher and better things
In the town in which he lives Not
only does his example lead his neigh
bors to make improvements, but he
is laying a section of the foundation
for the education and mental develop
'ment of the rising generation. Try
as we may to. adjust the results of
our labors to ourselves, we know, at
heart, that we are working for our
own and our neighbours children. We
are, In reality, laboring with the hope
that our progeny may suffer fewer
hardships and receive greater educa-
tional advantages than were accorded
to their parents; and we lay the main
stress on the educational advantages.
The world is coming to know more
and more certainly that knowledge Is
power; that knowledge means wider
vision, a broader usefulness, and
therefore, greater real happiness. Men
are learning that even the higher edu-
cation is not necessarily wasted upon
business men. whether they live in
the country or in the city.
Twenty years ago, professional
man called at the Office of my friend
and said: II wish you would take
my son into your store" '.Yes, what
are your sons capabilities, qualifi-
cations,-what is he good for?" THAT
Is just what should like to deter
mine. I have given him a college
education and have tried him at al
most everything. He seems to be ut
terly worthless. think he would
make a merchant" That conversation
would hardly occur in 1906.
If the life of merchant must
necessarily be confined to mere money
getting and boarding, the less educa-
ton that Is wasted upon him and the
fewer cultured minds which are sac
rificed to a mercantile life, the bet
ter for mankind. If, on the other
hand, an ability to buy and supply
and demand, with profit to himself;
appreciate, make use of and enjoy
the degree of education he has been
able to secure; cultivate the higher
faculties of the mind; know some
thing of literature and the great
events of history, are not incongruous
attachments in the life of an individ-
ual, intelligence and education do not
demean themselves by any alliance
with trade and commerce.
We are all, perforce, money maxi
ers. No prudent man determines his
pursuit in life without considering
primarily his ability, through such
pursuit, to provide for the temporal
wants of himself and those dependent
upon him. The money-making ele-
nlent in profession or business is sim
ply a matter of degree. AS, the sue
cessful preacher, lawyer, doctor, or
teacher cannot be the one who eager
ly scans every manuscript, brief, sum-
mons for relief, or text book for the
dollar mark it may contain, neither
is the successful business man the
one who gives all his time and thought
to a greedy and selfish accumulation
of money.
1t is true there are, as rule, more
money making units in business
than in professional course in life.
The salary of a first class salesman
in, city mercantile establishment
compares very favorably with that of
the most popular clergyman; the in
come of an ordinary bookkeeper is as
large as that of a successful teacher;
the net profits of a retail merchant
In the country are often preferable
to the fees of the most skillful ply
sician; the possible accumulations of
the same merchant may exceed In
amount the combined accumulations
of all the members of any profession
in the town in which he is doing bust
ness. 1 ~
From these facts. we are led to con-
clude that the easy and short road
to independence or wealth Is not the
one marked out for professional men
to follow. And SO, in determining the
pursuits of that rising generation,
about which / have spoken, and for
which, of our own volition, we as
sumo responsibility, II we find our
young men, sons evince an ability to
reason from cause to effect, and thus
from, bases of past or present condi-
lions reach conclusions regarding
probable results; who, in other words,
are long headed" who are COM
panionable; who have keen percep-
tive faculties, which, later In life, will
insure correct judgment, whether 1t
relates to men or commodities, were
born to be business men and should
be educated accordingly. The boy
who is sharp; who succeeds In palm
ing upon an unsuspecting playmate
q broken backed, bladeless pocket
knife In exchange for good dinner,
or a new hat, has not the instincts