The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-07-02

and skunk traps and lot Of other odds and ends.
The other merchants Of the town predicted ruin
for the youngster. SO did tie banker Of the com
munity.
He'll never be able TO compete with the city
stores he said.
But the young merchant surprised them He
sent letters 10 list Of prospective customers
The women's wear was sold in two weeks
From that time on he gradually turned the OLD
general store into woInens and chlidrens store
He did not specialize clothing But be limited
his stock 10 those things II which a woman is
naturally :nreres1ed-elothing and house furnish
ings and groceries.
And he adyertises- That is Of the main req
sons for his success The Town alone could not
support his store. One new business idea he uses
is very effective. He has appointed agents In
the surrounding small towns. Their Work Is 70
report 10 him weekly, on printed forms, any il
formation that viii put him in touch with new
customers II girl becomes engaged, or couple
is married. he knows about il and Is after the
business that usually results from such events
He knows also whenever new house is built
or al old house is remodeled- or lew family
moves into his territory.
In seven years this young has built up
business that is known for miles around Ssv-
enty-dve per cent Of his business is done with
farmers and their families. who drive or motor
son why during the past year. he has been able
TO do business Of more than $4,000 in town
whose population does not run much over -So
Hundreds of small towns hold similar oppor-
tunities for young men IL ever there were golden
opportunities" sInan-town merchandising noics
them today. For American farming Is fast oecon-
ing mighty fine paying business Wealth is ae-
tusIly increasing faster in the rural districts than
ia the cities And the American farmer and his
family are no longer satisfied 10 exist On the very
barest necessities Of life They are buying lux
uries and conyeniences in large quantities Ine
introduction of electricity alone into farming COM
munities is creating tremendous demand for
cieanerA Water system. porcelain sinks. waH
paper. paint and yarnish. better house furnish
ings-these are only a few Of the things that are
selling heavily in the rural districts
An expert has figured that the American farm
market has a wealth of $S8!000OOOO0O. Part OF
that market is around you The chain stores are
spreading ouf from the cities The mall order
houses have secured quite hold on the farmers
trade But il you decide to build up business
in your community you need not worry over their
competition The mail order houses give no bet
ter values than it is possible for local merchant
to give And man woman always prefers 70
trade with friend whenever that Is possible The
young man with a capacity for friendship and
goody share of brains and energy has every as
But merchandising is only one of several fields
In which the small town offers excellent oppor-
tunIties.
The president of one of our big Pacific coast
banks devotes an unusual amount of time 10 the
development of his employees One day he called
two clerks into his private Office
Il believe he said that you two young men
are going to make good at banking. But you need
\ little broader experience with banking problems
than your work here affords you In big place
like this you know, you are liable TO lose your
sense of perspective
Il have made arrangements with two of our cor
respondents There is job awaiting each OF
you in a country bank On these jobs you VIII
he called upon to do a little Of everything. You
viii become banking factotums. When your edu-
cation is completed there is an executive position
here for each of you You have week to think
ii over"
The Young men thought well Of the PROPOSE
fion and disappeared into the bushes But the
presidents plans weE awry. Neither man re-
turned 70 him One wrote him long letter Ia
which he listed some of the advantages OF
smal,-toxn lob over a city job-fhe cheaper living
eos. the more healthful surroundings. and the
chance to make more intimate friends. The other
man. in a telegram, quoted Caesar, according 10
Lonsfeilow: Better be FIRST in little iberian
village than second in Rome.
There are something like thirty thousand banks
toSa are situated in towns of less than ten thou
sand popuIatiou Ii is In these smailtown banks
that many of our future banking leaders are oeing
formed for here q new idea In banking is being
developed
AZ one banker has said. it has been found good
husness to take interest In people as Wen as Hom
Thorn. In other words. the bankers of the country
are going out of their WAYS to help their clients
to grow richer.
I could mention many instances OF the rise OF
vounx men in the banking world because OF their
ability in this direction But space permits OF only
one
In 4 certain Eastern farming community there
were. few years ago. two banks They were
xerx strong competitors A young man in one OF
fhe banks said to the cashier:
there is just 50 much money in this community.
Roth banks here are falling over each other. Try
ing to induce farmers to bring their business to
them. We have . great many good accounts al
ready. Why not roll up our sleeves and help our