davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1913-02-23
Worked in Fa theirs Store.

When 1 was IL years old father opened a
confectionery store near the school and wa ;
gwen the new task of taking care OF the shop
before and after school hours For two years
/ he'd this position" but by the end of
that time I tired OF the constant routine Of
the work and decided to go TO work for my
self where 1 could get real wages. I thought
| now would have little time for my own
smusement. for was tired Of all work nd nc
play.
secured a position in a drug store at So
a week and turned this amount into the fam
flT til with the exception Of - cents. which
! kept 20 spend for "luxuries " and a good
time In about year the long hours and
Sunday work began to show upon, me and my
parents and the doctor advised me to seek
other employment.
! landed a job in a wire factory doing piece
" Work-the average wage for this class OF
work being 81 to Sc a week. ! soon became
proficient and boosted my income from 81
TO So which was more than the other boys
had ever turned out. However. the work was
700 dirty and did not appeal 10 me-even at
hat age l entertained higher ideals and
aspirations concerning my future
A. the age OF 16 secured a position in a
dry goods store delivery boy and boy Of all
work around the store. In addition 10 the
store duties attended to the work a my en-
poyer's home. moving the lawn evenings
and taking care of hts horse and DONG other
IAN work. ! received a salary of s. a week
After two years in this position. and not
seeing any Advancement, secured a position
~ a competitive store. The salary offered
was but 81 a week, one dollar less than had
heen receiving. but I was given a position
as assistant in the domestic department
whtrh gave me an opportunity to learn some
hing OF the business
The Washington herald., 1913-02-23
Way to Get Flying Start.

In taking a new job it Is always a good
thing to investigate the history Of the COM
pany. and, as far as possible. the history of
the particular Job YOU will take.
You want to be sure that the company and
the particular position It offers are worthy
Of your best efforts Such knowledge will
usually help a man make good at the start.
Usually. IL several men have recently failed
at the work. you will find that II is the kind
of position that is hard at the start-due in
most cases to the fact that the men already
in the organization are overworked on ac-
count Of the extraordinarily rapid develop
ment. SO that no one has the time TO teach
a new man anything
Five years ago a man who IS now vice
president OF a big advertising organization
started TO work as head Of the copy depart
ment- When he went to work on the new
job he found tha: the president of the organ
ization had sent a notice around to all the
men in the organization not TO bother him
for one week, until he should find him
When this young man learned about the
notice he asked the president TO rescind the
order and send around another one to the
effect that every one in the organiza ton
should blaze away at him as though he had
been there for long time, for IN that way
ne cOuio learn more ana perhaps earn his
salary the first week.
OF course this made n hit with the presI-
dent. who. however. did not know that the
young man had been making a thorough
study OF all the ins and outs Of his new
job for two or three months before he actual
y took up the work.
He had done this when the advertising
company first intimated to him that they
might want him to take charge OF their copy
department, and had kept it up steadily.
though he had signed the contract only three
weeks before he began the work
The fact that he had made a study Of the
demands OF the job while he was talking
" turkey" with the president of the agency
enabled him to land a larger cipher on the
front end OF his salary figure well as TO
jump, into the work and earn that salary
right from the first day.
Thus he got a flying start TO the vice presi-
dency.
So it seems. whether the new job carries
a contract with a salary stated up in the
thousands or Gaily labor, il does pay to make
a flying start into hard work.
The Washington herald., 1913-02-23

conception of success Is to have
Nn attained at least within haillng dis
tance of the salary your ability and
experience would justify il you were
given the position commensurate
with your powers.
As feel that am not occupying such a
position l class myself srnong the failures Of
life. although I am getting a salary OF s125
a month after twelve years service with the
firm with which am now employed.
My failure was not due TO not having seen
my opportunties-as a matter OF fact I
created an opportunity several years ago. but
all I ever got out of 1t was work and now
and then little increase in wage-this lat
ter appreciation only because | de-
manded it and TO keep me from leaving my
job in disgust
have tried in every way to court success.
l have worked hard and long. put in nights
and Sundays and even cut out my vacations
when necessary and all to what purpose? I
am failure. I have an idea concerning the
why's of this. II is because / did not get
the right start, at the right time. with the
right firm. To have done this think would
have spelled, success. Am I right? Read
my story and see.
was born in Chicago, the third Of a family
of eight boys. Ny earliest recollection OF
my childhood days was minding" the
baby. Goodness knows my services were
sadly needed. for mother had her hands full
with the housework and the preparation of
enough food TO safety the ravenous appe-
tites Of us growing boys. In view of my
duties as q" nurse " and, helping mother about
the house l was denied the pleasures and
pastimes so dear to any healthy, vigorous
boy.
l was 10 Years old At the time my father
accepted the position Of janItor and engineer
in one Of the city schools and We older boys
had TO help him with his work after school
hours. Even during vacation time. there
was no play for me-there was work about
the home to be done and all my spare
time was put in with father at the school
house preparing for the next term. o how
envied other boys playing ball. going fish
ing and swimming, and enjoying life as it is
intended they should. But all this was not
FOR mel had TO work
The Washington herald., 1913-02-23
System All Wrong.

The owner OF the business had called in tn.
efficiency engineer as a last resort He
never would have been willing to do such q
thing had he not become desperate in regard
to the future Of his business
He felt that times were hard; his own COL
lecttons were not in healthy condition:
trade seemed to be slow: business in his
own particular line appeared to be at the
ebb.
But the engineer knew that this point Of
view was all wrong General trade con-
ditions were better than fair: collections
were good. and trade in the field concerned
had never been better. There was plenty
The Washington herald., 1913-02-23
Mental Labor Greatest Pleasure.

This adviser Of young men has not made
this uEremit,ing industry a disagreeabIe
thing. for he believes that great mental Ia Dor
gives great mental pleasures. There IS the
delight that after persevering industry a mar
finds his strength increase in proportion TO
his task.
The content Of our minds Is constantly
wearing out and constantly needs to be re-
placed. II Is great thing TO be able to ha K
a mind Of sort of divine energy. and such
energy increases only with exercise. IL is a
great matter to be in the way of accident and
TO be watchful and ready to take advantage
Of 1t. Only the alert mind can do this. Only
the mind stored with infinite materials know
what many an accident means. And mind
stored with the great precepts o; the world
Is able TO make precepts Of its own that may
startle the world by their eening originality.
The Washington herald., 1913-02-23

Of business. Why didn't this man get a
fair share Of Il?
The trouble, thought the efficiency en-
sineer. must be in the system So he started
in. as soon as the preliminaries were out of
the way. to study the system.
He asked the owner ofJthe business a few
simple questions concerning tie general p!a =
Of operation. The owner foundered about
helplessly. and finally said: Il guess I'll
have TO ask the manager TO answer"
That gave the engineer some Eight on the
situation Boss Senior. artending carefully
10 details. had brought the business UP to
the point where It paid well But Boss
Junior had never quite srasped the idea tha
IL was necessary for him 20 fami!iarize him
self with II and improve it.
The Washington herald., 1913-02-23

" = make good with us during tine first
few weeks Of their employment
can as a rule thereafter hold down
their jobs as long as they want to-
I'VE have q definite test system that ap-
plies in general to all new employees during
the first few weeks Of their employment
That, OF course. accounts in part for the
figures Just gave you. Usually We test
man pretty hard the first few days-morauy.
mentally, and physically-and his tests al
ways are a little bit harder than the require
ments OF the work We want him to DO. If he
shows weakness we 60 after that weakness
with a thorough test-mainly to see II the
man has the kind of stun in him that will
overcome it.
I'VE want him to make good. At the same
time We don't want to carry along an incom-
petent man for a number of months and
eventually let him go-and waste all the
training we might have been giving the right
man during all that time. and the right man
is the fellow who will buckle down hard in
the face OF difficulties"
Thus does a man who Is noted for his skill
as an employer OF the best labor emphasize
the fact that invariably the first few days on
the new job are the most important. They
are the test days. whether or not the en-
ployer may have q definite system OF test
ing
Various employers have various ways OF
finding out as soon as possible the real worth
Of new emp!oye. Some give the new man
harder anG more trying work than they
really want him to do-a sort OF initiation
process.
For Instance. in factory where a patented
iron folding bed is made. the hardest job
in the place Is twisting iron scrolls all day
long. Every new man IS put at this arcuous
work. II he sticks and does not complain he
is given the first opening that comes along
in better work.
Thus this employer tests out his new men.
keeps goodly supply of iron scrolls on hand
al the time. and always has . good man to fl!
any vacancy in the less irksome iron work
Ing Jobs throughout his nlant
The Washington herald., 1913-02-23
Crack Shot Helped Make Sale;
Salesman Aided by Good Aim.
By GEORGE F. BARTON.
By GEORGE F. BARTON.

You're on he said. incredulously.
Il loaded. aimed the gun, and pulled IN.
trigger.
The calendar tapped as IT was hit. We
went over to #. The tiny bit Of lead had hit
exactly in the designated spot. The left eve
Of the Indian with the red feather was moth
ing more than a ragged little hole!
He looked At the picture and then at me
with bulging eyes
Wonderful he said, I'll tax. two a,
them.
couldn't duplicate the shot again in
thousand chances without some streak Of
luck, but felt that could hit near enouxh
20 that he would not claim the WAGER and
buy q rife besides. The result was even be4,
ter than had hoped for"
The Washington herald., 1913-02-23

that's another reason why he did not make
good: I'll keep quiet
Then this ex-employe told about all the
other men who had tried and had failed at
the position. just to emphaSkze his advice
that his visitor would do well not TO take
the place. as we'll as to excuse himself for
not having made good on the Job. His wife
was an interested listener.
Then the new man looked up the addresses
OF the other men who had been tried and
found wanting. and boldly approached them
ali in the same way. In the main they tod
him the same story. and he studied each type
OF man. He put 2 and 2 together after
he had secured a great deal of relia BILE
though biased information about the mai
for whom he was to work, decided on a
course of action. and went to work well for
titled with valuable historical knowledge
For one thing, he had satisfied himself that
the opportunity In case he should make good
would be we'll worth the effort. n was posi-
ton where tho results OF mans work stand
out plainly and where mistakes would be
costly.
He figured that his new employer would not
care II he did not show great success in get
ting results at the start 50 long as he made
no costly mistakes. All the other men had
gone into tho work TO make big splurge
right away But he adopted the slow. eau
tious method. He did no talking to anybody.
unless it was absolutely necessary. although
his mind was constantly alert for pointers.
and he kept sniling-not so much because he
felt Ike it. but because he wanted 10 appear
confident.
OF course he made good. and in a big way.
Tor his success was contrasted in his boss
mind against Q background OF half a dozen
failures
TINS man was positively fortunate to have
landed a job where q string OF men JUS: be
fore him had failed. for his success certainly
was appreciated
The Washington herald., 1913-02-23
Learning from Others Mistakes.

My best advice, said the man. is that
you have nothing to do with that bunch Of
fourflushIng highwaymen."
He then launched into TRADE Of accusa-
tons. while his visitor took down mental
notes Of all the reasons why this man
thought he had not made good. Hesaw that
this man was pretty much Of taIker. for
one thing and he said to himself: Maybe
The Washington herald., 1913-02-23

{ : : !: :: 5:
ship:
''ne day a man looaed at the Air guns
which We're In a rack on the counter
80 Could sell you one. sir?' inquired
'''1 guess You could If they shot straight.
bu. Of course they're a hopeless case when
It Gomez to accuracy
am fair shot myself. SO I said. DO
YOU see that calendar down at the END Of the
a:sie"' pointing at one which hung on the
F.a.l some seventy-fye feet away with an
Illustration of two Indians In a canoe. III
bet you the price Of the gun that can shoot
the left eye out Of the Indian with the red
feather in his hair
The Washington herald., 1913-02-23
GzNzaM Among with Hand Brain EG9&.z]
Precepts Of Any Business Help
Man to Make Most of Himself.
BY c. S. MADDOCKS.

winch. he says. was undoubtedly bad. At
any rate That is what the teacher consid-
cred II. This man, addressing the boy be-
fore the whole class asked him from what
province he came. The answer brought
smiles to the faces Of all the students, espe-
cialiy as the teacher added that he would
advise him to return there. But this was not
what the boy intended to do, and at the end
of the school year he was the only one in the
class to win a prize. one Of the few prizes
offered by the school
Industry Prerequisite of Success.
There is a great gain Of time II young man
can go to some Of the great manuals Of nv-
ing. Sometimes he may get an invaluable set
Of principles from the addresses of men of
experience but ofsen such are hardly more
than SO much babbIins to him. because h
has not learned 10 recognize the significant
statement among others that are but explain
atory.
Sir Joshua Rey ynolds says: If you have
great talents. industry will improve them:
IL you have but moderate abilities. industry
will supply their deficiency. Nothing is de-
MED TO we'll directed labor: nothing is to be
obtained without it. Not to enter into meta
physical discussions on the nature Of genius,
l will vanture to asssrt that assiduity IN
absted by difficulty. and a disposition eager
Il directed 10 the object Of its pursuit, will
produce effects similar to those which some
call the result Of natural powers"
The great things that men learn they come
b.. " not by felicity Or successful baza: d. but
BY care and sagacity." and often by a chastis-
ing OF the mind. Understanding is enlarged
by variety Of knowledge and this is only
gained at the price Of indefatigable diligence.
The Washington herald., 1913-02-23
Got Window Trimmer's Job.

was receiving but 50 week when l was Il
years OF age. So increa Sc in the last year and
in the same position in whtch had started
Then saw what conceived to be my oppor-
tunIty-the chance for which / had SO long
waited.
One Of the older employees announced he
The Washington herald., 1913-02-23
Notes from the World of Science.

The combined area of the corn fields OF the
United States is nearly equal TO the area of
France or Germany.
Boiling graniteware utensils in soda water
once in a while will remove grease and keep
them fresh and wholesome.
The coal miners Of the United States now
The Washington herald., 1913-02-23

number nearly three-quarters OF a million
about one-ffth Of them being employed in the
Pennsylvania anthracite fields.
South Americas largest telescope having a
twenty-four inch objective lens will be erect
ed at Cordova, Argentina, by the govern
ment Of that republic.
The Washington herald., 1913-02-23
Saved Money for Firm.


All this work did in my spare time. I
further saved the frn considerable money by
doing most OF the carpentry work around the
store such as building new shelves. tenn
rorary counters. ard making minor aitera-
tions I mention these that you may know
was loyal to the firm and endesvored to Stve
Il the hest there was in me. I was then re
ceiving a salary Of S12 weekly
Things ran along smoothly for period OF
four years. all Of which time ! was acquiring
rev knowledge. studying evenings and dur
ing my spare time and otherwi seAitt!nR my
self for larger duties ! had applied for a
raise several times but each time my en-
p.oyer put me OF with promises
At last when II seemed that promises were
al; was to get applied for position with
another firm and was accepted. Then went
to my old boss and told him
Now you don't want 20 leave here" he
said suave!y, " and Just when We were going
to give you a raise. too
How much were you going to give me-
! asked politely
We We're just going TO make your salary
sI5- 4 raise OF So a week-thinE Oft
did-so seriously, in fact, that refused 10
stay at that price.
We finally compromised on the salary and
l agreed TO stay for SlI week. with the IN
Outstanding that / would receive $50 the
amount had asked for. one year from that
date. ThTCs continued thus for a year. when
I married l bought a lot and borrowed
50. 600 TO build a home. Then the crisis came
! called my employers attention TO our
agreement made a year previously and the
fact that I was married telling him that 1
really needed more money to meet my obl!-
cations and that had counted upon his liv-
ing up to his agreement. He. seeing that
would find it !nconvenient to make change
at that time under the circumstance put me
off again and again with promises
The Washington herald., 1913-02-23

We go 10 puSlueB9 tuciis
A scholars or artists. or to the writ
wv ings Of those who have been greatly
successful. We shall ind but one or
two fundamental precepts Of perfec-
ton, The man who feels the strainings of
ambition within him will soonest learn that
it is not by essaying some titanesque task.
some terribly formidable business by which
finally to realize his hopes II he will go to
the carefully considered testimonies Of those
who have been recognised by the world as
accomplishing great ends ends not accom-
plisbed by might but through INFINITE dill
gence and industry.
1t does not matter that these testimonies
come from men who worked with pen or
brush. while he must work With men or na-
ture. the principles Of success for every kind
of effort are Identical Only methods vary.
Having acquired sound principles any man
OF likelihood can work out the means OF put
ting those principles into working order.
1t is a misfortune that some men have
minds that cannot recognize principles They
never get beyond that stage Of youth which
IN studying a page Of history Is blinded by
the details OF an event. and cannot see the
fundamental fact or truth behind these de-
tails.
II is quite useless to send such men to books
OF biography or cssays-some of which are
perfect manuals Of principles-becauSe they
cannot see anything but the details. can see
nothing Of the fundamental thought.
Finding" Oneself Personal Matter.
few years ago We were fond Of the ex-
preston " finding himself" This finding OF
oneself Is q personal business, In which
others can help but indirectly. And herein
consists the wisdom OF great teachers. They
do not entirely despair of a dull student until
they have placed before him what We may
call many kinds Of fodder. Somewhere iD
this may be the head Of clover. the chewing
OF which Will open his eyes almost as bS
fairyike enche tment. when II he had been
fed on a diet OF nothing but timothy grass
he might have left school with the brand of
Ounce.
But even when teachers are not wise there
may be something among the associations he
has perhaps blirdly longed for that will
arouse in q student a something sleeping
within him that Will lead him on 10 great
goal after goal.
An eminent Frerchman has recently re-
told the experiences OF his youth. When a
green boy he went up from an obscure prov
ince to great school. and one Of his first
tasks was 10 write an essay in Latin. an essay
The Washington herald., 1913-02-23
This Worker Says He Has Failed;
Earns $l25 a Month at Age Of 81.
By LOUIS GEORGE.
By LOUIS GEORGE.

was going to quit. He had been a window
trimmer in connection with his other duties,
and when he told me one morning that he
had accepted a place with another firm
resolved that l would succeed him. That
same morning applied for his place and the
manager told me he would give me chance.
How l worked! And when night came 1
would go home and far into the morning l
would study over the lessons Of a corre-
rspondence course in window trimming. I
made good, as I thought would. and when
a little later change in the organization
created a position floor walker applied
and was given a tryout. this in addition to
my regular duties as window trimmer.
The success l attained as a window trim
mer inspired me to increased efforts. l be-
gan looking for further opportunities II
they wer~ not before me 1 would crea to them
and l did.
The head OF the firm had been doing his own
" ad writing. and as he was too much oc-
cuped with other tasks to give itpeeded at
tention 1 thought saw a big ch5 ee for me-
So l started out to prepare myself as an
- ad writer first, however. learning card
writing for my window displays. I took a
course In advertising. and as far as was
able without practical experience qualified
myself for the work before l sought the
" boss
Mr. ~ said. Il think can now
relieve you of your work Of ad writing"
What's that? What do you know about
it?" When l explained how had acquired
my knowledge he expressed his approba
ton with a grunt, but finally acquiesced in
my plea for trial.
Again I made good. and without boasting.
but merely 10 show you that I have made the
best Of the opportunities as I found them. I
can show You in some OF the leading trade
journals OF that time pictures OF various bits
Of my window displays and reproductions Of
ads wrote at that time.
But this was not the only way in which I
made myself useful to the hrm-nany Of
them outside OF my department. For In
stance. I had picked up little knowledge
Of electricity and wiring ard had installed a
complete system OF electric lighting for the
show cases. etc. In fact during the twelve
years have beer with the firm have wired
and installed complete fixtures for 80 in
candescent lights, ranging from the basement
TO the second floor as We'll as changing the
entire system of wiring IN windows and the
store proper
The Washington herald., 1913-02-23
Most Jobs Hard at the Start;
New Man Meets Rough Tests.
By DONALD SCOTT. .

- ULLY 30 per cent Of the men that
" make good with us during tine first
few weeks OF their employment
can as a rule. thereafter hold down
The Washington herald., 1913-02-23

81 is one of the inexplica Bile traits OF
~ human nature" remarked a stock
broker recently. " 10 grab at a posi-
bility in preference to a sure thing
The Washington herald., 1913-02-23

- yHETHER we go to business men,
4 scholars or artists. or to the writ
" ings Of those who have been greatly
successful. We shall ind but one or
The Washington herald., 1913-02-23

4 conception of success is to have
attained at least within haillng dis
tance Of the salary your ability and
experience would justify il you were