Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-24

"OLMBY HOUSE, the suburban home
of Arthur Let's, proprietor OF the
- Broadway department store, is a
true copy or replica of the famous old
Holmby lodge of Northamptonshire in
Ergland, and Is beautifully situated on
the rise of the foothills in East Holly
wood. A Herald representative visited
the owner at Holmby recently and from
the main entrance to the spacious
grounds found all to be in keeping with
the old manor houses of England and ali
details to be truthfully classed under the
heads of simplicity ard elegance.
Much as the magnificent home with all
its baronial appointments appeals to the
admirer Of architecture and furnishings
they are really but an echo of the dis
tinguishing traits of the man who
brought them into being. At the main
entrance to the grounds, unlike the cases
of some noted wealthy houses, is large
lettered sign bidding the visitor welcome,
and that sign with it's CHEEKY message is
indicative of the character of the owner.
Knows Time and Place
Arthur Let's in his Office in town, ready
for business, and the same man at ease IN
his delightful home are vastly different
men. Not that Mr. Let's has dual
nature, but that he early in life mas
tered the difficult virtue Of being able
and ready to take advantage of time,
place and circumstance, and to mt his
personality into their requirements. BE-
Ing requested to give The Herald readers
his view of success in life, its require
ments and results he cheerful!y complied,
and in the recital gave no sign or SELF
consciousness, or obtruded the ego In his
epigrammatic reply.
II can best answer your general query.
he said "bv reading these words to
you which were sent 10 me recently by a
very dear friend who was partial enough
to aver that fitted the lines:
=" He has achieved success who has
lived well, laughed often and lived much;
who has gained the respect of Intelligent
men and the love of little children; who
has filled his niche and accomplished his
task; who has left the world better than
he found 1t, whether by an improved
poppy, penciled gem or a. rescued soul;
who has never lacked appreciation OF
earth's beauty or failed to express IT.;
who has always looked for the best in
others and given the best he had; whose
life is an inspiration whose memory Will
be benediction.'
Inspiration from Salesman
Success, SO far as have achieved 1t,
began with me in the old home over the
seas, where, on the Northampton htls
/ imbibed the virtue of stick-to-it-ative-
ness. With Edison / can say that II
genius is the superstructure of inspirn-
ton, them success is the superstructure
Of perspirat. y. For thirty years have
worked from sixteen to twenty hours a
day, TIL recently, and in that fact lies
the major fruits of my life.
'I sailed TO Quebec in Canada twenty
two years ago and landed with two shill-
ings in my pocket and my wardrobe IN a
handbag. ] asked man for work l
worked for six. months for small pay, but
IN that time / laid the foundation for
larger pay by thoroughly mastering the
details of the trade. lady came to
the store one day and, showing small
piece of carpet asked IL any more OF
that pattern could be had. An old sales
man looked at the piece and said: No,
madam; that is 2197 and 1t has been out
of stock for two years That little
epeech was golden for me- Here was
man who knew the stock he handled so
we'll that after the lapse of two years
he identified the goods and knew It's
number. Then and there I determined to
learn all that could be known OF that
carpet stock, and many hours, when
others were gossiping around the floors,
did / spend in turning over the laps or
the rolls and committing their make and
number to memory. l was Iaughed at
nv nv fellows, but tnat did not stop me,
and wher asked for more pay l got 1t.
Those who laughed at me did not. So
thoroughly did I master this method of
studying stock then, and in after years,
that today of the thousands OF various
articles sold in my place of business, l
hold the key of detail and could give the
history and price of all If called upon
to do so.
~ have gone into stores and sought