The Washington herald., 1913-10-19
Pays to Acquire a Side Line;
A Few Instances That Prove 1t.
By PAUL KELLER.

- GOOD rule is to cultivate the happy
~ medium between knowing the one
~ thing only and knowing everything.
Besides the main vocation take up
something elss as side line. and IL
II Is something for which one has q natural
aptitude. 30 much the better. II may prove
the open sesame to bigger Job.
The owner and manager OF a department
store desired to take rest and was making
quiet search for capable man to take
his place. There seemed no lack Of first
class material at hand-department heads.
men who had worked their way up from
the bottom Of the ladder and who were Of
long experience When friend remarked
that he would not have far to look for an,
efficient manager. the owner replied:
Yes. they are all good men. but each one
fits into his place oRly too well. They are
faithful and reliable. .sbutla bound by the
threads Of routine and precedent; they know
only the details Of their departments. and
too little Of the world to become managers
Of men. They are not constructive. they,
cannot develop. and lack Imagination and
inspiration. want q man who can see ahead,
who understands more than goods. can an
slyze what experts tell him. and can plan
policies-a natural leader of men,"
=
Picked Up Ideas from Others.
Then think can get you the very man
you need" said the friend. 81 and you can at
least give him a trial He Is also depart
ment head, but not one OF long standing.
Started as an once boy. but from the first
he made II a point after business hours to
frequent the pIEces whore business men
gather.
Social recreation Of a certain kind be-
came his pastime, and he is a leader at that
I have heard him say that sometimes a
dinner party was as good as a labor exchange
when IT came to landing some jobs. and men
see an advantage in that.
% His tact and adaptability has won him
place in leading club. Sammy in society
has long been q joke with his boss. but Sammy
knows how to make the game pay: he Is no
puppet. Besides all this the man has force
and ingenuity in mastering intricate matters
and settling disputes. He Is the man you
need"
The owner made Inquiries about sammy,
and the result was that the young man was
offered the place as manager, which he filed
satisfactorily. He had fund of fresh and
practical ideas. for his mind was continually
versatile. not dulled by the mastering Of one
class OF details alone.
q .
Wits Lifted Him from Small Job.
But to come down to the average man. A
duplicating machine company hired a young
man as general office help At the same time
he took this place ne began the study Of the
best selling English during his spare mo-
merts. not only from books but from the star
salesmen, by paying heed to their line of
talk In making sales.
He watched his opportunity and tried his
hand and tongue At demonstrating machines
One day the boss told him to ride along With
the express wagon driver to assist in deliver
Ing machine to the Magee company. The
young man took advantage OF favorable
opening to dilate upon the good points of the
duplicator to the purchaser himself Several
days afterward Magee Sr. met the boss and
remarked:
That was bright young demonstrator
you sent out the other day with the machine;
he knew II from A to lizard. Can talk well.
too. Knows what he Is saying, and that's
more than some OF the old ones do
The young man did not stay in the once
long after that. He is now a valued salesman
for the company. but he knows the worth OF q
good side line.
An underpaid bookkeeper spent his time