Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1910-09-15

bilious dreams regarding hts life's
work. Yet II is fact that most
Americans who have been designated
as merchant princes. since the day
when the phrase was made famous as
applied 20 A. r Stewart. have sprung
from the ranks OF the wage earners.
many Of them winning their way 10
this distinction in spite Of poverty and
other equally hazardous handlcaps.
Also Il is fact that most Of them
have learned the business. Of which
they are hailed rs masters. from the
ground up. starting In such lowly posi-
lions as cash boys. even.
The careers Of the men who have
given us our big retail stores-our
department stores--thus go to prove
that Il is entirely reasonable for you
10 dream Of. and plan for your boy to
be. a merchant prince some day. Also.
these careers should convince your
hoy-and you. too-that II In not so
difficult 10 become a merchant prince
rs he and you may have been led to
believe-at least. not so difficult to
make the start and get an appreciable
distance along the gllttering highway
1t all rests with the boy himself. and
the hrst thing incumbent on him is
not TO look askance at work that will
probably make him appear less i'm
posing than was the cash boy. even,
IN the days before he was displaced
In the big retail stores by mechanical
money carriers. For your boys frsi
iob-if he decides that he wants to
become a merchant prince-will be
that Of messenger. or parcel wrapper,
or helper to a buyer. or stock boy;
and he will get anywhere from four
20 seven dollars a week. according to
his natural ability.
II Is universally recognized econ.
omy tor a store to promote its EN-.
ployees as rapidly as they are worthy
Of II, since II is a well known business
law that Il Is easier for an employer
To find beginners than experienced
men Therefore. from his humble be.
ginnings as messenger or parcel wrap.
per. a boy who is ordinarily bright
and chock full of ambition will not
be long becoming a full-fedged sales
man behind one OF the less important
counters and earning eight to twelve
dollars week There are plenty OF
cases where bright boys have been
salesmen within a year after enter
ing a department store as messenger
or parcel wrapper. OF course. | am
talking Of boys who know the three
RS fairly well and long 10 know them
better: who are from fourteen to six
teen years of age when they begin
their life's work. and who, when they
filed out their applications for EN-
ployment. were well recommended by
the family doctor. the family minister
and other folks whose word carries
weight with big employers. In mos
states child-labor laws will not permit
boys OF girls under fourteen or six
teen years to take up the task of earn
ing their daily bread.
After clerkship has been attained
and its work fully mastered and i'm
proved. if possible. there are tw'
pretty distinct lines of advancement
in department store life that lead Il
the Merchandise Kingdoms. One 4
the executive end. which has entirl
T charge of the business; the other 4
the buying department. There is III
tie choice in point of reward, thougi
there In more public honor in beinl
known as the head OF a great busi
ness.
However. the head buyer for a larg
establishment is always a man of Gucl
proved attainments that he virtual,
commands his own salary He ha
grown up through every department
of observation-disclosures all abou
where and how it is produced. III
cost, etc. and has to keep in clos
touch, through his own privat,
sources of information and his assist
ants. with exceptional opportunities
for getting large quantities of good.
at the lowest possible prices
+ 1t is a great stroke for buyer tc
discover where a fine lot Of goods car
be acquired at bargain: for nowhere
is competition more keen than in the
merchandise business. and luch q
stroke will enable store TO get ahead
Of its rivals. Indeed. il is in the power
Of the buyer to save his house thou
sands Of dollars annually; Just as his
mistakes will have the reverse effect
|. is by no means an overstatemeni
to say that the success or failure q,
the greatest as we'll as the smallest
department stores rests largely upor
the ability and faithfulness OF the buy
ing end. And the head of this branch
is quite as much the Merchant Prince
though possibly not SO picturesque, a
the general manager
If your boy wishes TO follow up thi
buying end, he goes to the stock de
partment. after he has had consider
able experience at selling. and be
comes an assistant buyer in one O
the branches. From here, after ge,
ting a pretty intimate knowledge q
Oh, DEAR!