The Washington herald., 1912-02-11


supposed to insure success. ne worked his
way slowly upward to the S15 week class.
BY 1900 his New England thrift had en-
abled him to save up thousand dollars. and
he became q magazine publisher.
In business for Himself.
He knew how TO sell printed matter. He
had learned that when he peddled the Dallas
News on the Streets OF Arlington. He also
knew how TO ill his unclassic columns with
advertisements. He made money. Some
times he made It so fast that his bank ac-
count bulged out beautifully, and then again
he lost II 50 fast that his debts would have
given more timid man heart failure. On
the whole. however, he made money. But
the business. n profitable. was precarious.
and he kept trying to intrench himself.
During this mail order" period Of his
publishing business Currier made various
alliances and consultations. He grouped
together various sheets. even the names OF
different partners.
II was not long after this that Mr.. Currier
saw a great white light He determined TO
change his mall order sheet into a regular
standard magazine. Now, you know in a
EenCEdA hd. HudbdAAltS AlNC
two classes. First. there is the regular mag
azine, published for the sake OF the reader,
and sold, more or less. on Its merits: and then
there is the mail order sheet-a magazine by
courtesy only-eircuiated mainly for the
profit derived from the advertising. The lat
ter is too often given to the reader without
money and without price-if he will take 1t.
and II Uncle Sam will let II go as second class
mail matter.
Business on Small Capital.
Mr. currier was asked right out for his
views on this question: How can man
take a small capital and establish busi-
ness-not necessarily a million dollar busi-
ness, you know. but one that will be worth
whiIe-one that is better than a Job?"
1T depends on the business and on the
thousand dollars" he evaded- You know
II you save up your money Il is luckier than
II somebody stakes you
Then you believe in luck7"
"I had a funny experience once because
] believed in luck" lie replied. 1T was
before was fairly on my feet and things
were going a little bad for me. I had got
my start in the Como building on Dearborn
street and I imagined II could get back
there I would have better luck. engaged
a floor there and moved in one day. only
to md that the place was too small-ws
couldn't possibly carry on the business in
such cramped quarters.
"I had not yet signed the lease and when
I explained the matter to the agent. he was
willing to let me on. rented a bigger floor
in the Pontiac building and that night I
moved across the street. They tell me It is
the only time n bIR business IN Chica0o
moved twice within twenty-four hours"
= =
Know Your Business.
But you haven't answered the previous
to turn a small savings into
4 successful business?"
II it could be put into a single sentence"
said Mr.. CurrieE after moments thought.
" my answer would be this:
Know your business-and don't be
afraid
And there you are. II Is simple as can be-
" Know your business and don't be afraid
Chicago has the worlds greatest news
paper. now" he said. " and II was natural for
IS to pass New York first in the daily pub
ishing field. Sooner than we realize Chicago
viii publish more and better magazines and
moro and better books than New York
more indeed than all the eastern cities put
ogether. ChicAgo is the natural distrfbut-
ng point 1t is already the advertising CEN
er Of the countryside headquarters Of the
nail order industry and the catalogue house.
I has gained this eminence within the last
en- years. Trade always follows the nag,
'ou know, and the publishers will come
yhere the most business is and where the
Ireatest number Of readers are reached in
he shortest time"