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Literary
May 8, 1890
The Advance
Jamesburg, Middlesex County, New Jersey
What is this article about?
An essay on how office boys can achieve promotion through hard work, initiative, and loyalty, featuring examples of Fred advancing from $3 to $12 weekly at a book house and Ben from $3 to $20 in three years at an office, contrasting with lazy peers.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
THE OFFICE BOY.
Are office boys never promoted, then? Certainly. I have known several cases, and will give a free translation of two. I wrote a note to a book house that ran after this fashion:
"I want you to try a boy, Fred. He is plucky, means business, will not whine about promotion, will work as early and late as you wish, will hold his tongue, and will earn $2 for every one you pay him. He will be content with $3 a week."
I received this reply in substance:
"I have no vacancy among the boys, but such a boy as you mention will always pay twice over. It was a loud commendation you gave him. If you dare stand by it, send him along. I shall keep your indorsement for ready reference."
Fred reported for work the next morning. He began at the bottom, sweeping, dusting, cleaning up, taking away books, carrying off waste paper, etc. In a short time the store looked as it never did before. He was the first there in the morning and the last at night. He never asked what to do next, but found something to do until new work was assigned. He kept his mouth shut, eyes and ears open; and his thoughts and feet active. The fifth week they raised him to $5, gave him work over four youths whom he found there. At the end of four months he was raised to $12 a week without asking it.
Ben went from high school into an office at $3 a week. They told him plainly that there was no probability of promotion, as nobody had been promoted for twelve years, but there was a possibility. There was nothing about him that was promising. He had not stood high in his school, was not strong physically; but he went to work with the full determination that he would get there.
A few days after, a senior member of the firm saw him going to the post-office, and was so delighted with his evident intention to boom the mail business that he said to his associates: "I wish there was some way to label Ben. This boy is from the house of It is worth something to have such an exhibition of business on the street."
In the course of a few months another boy was secured and Ben was given $6 a week, until in less than three years, he is getting $20 a week, making a place for himself by the way he did everything. In those three years a thousand other boys in Boston had changed from place to place and were still working for $3 or $5 a week.
The boy who is merely an office boy will never be promoted, neither will he who is above being an office boy: who is lazy, indifferent, talkative, meddlesome, envious, jealous, afraid of doing more than his share, and bound not to earn more than he is paid. He will be promoted who makes himself equal to emergency, who loves work, learns how to work, how to be cheerful and loyal, lending a hand everywhere; who puts brains into his work; who lets his "head save his heels," who will work anywhere, at any time, at anything without complaint.
Are office boys never promoted, then? Certainly. I have known several cases, and will give a free translation of two. I wrote a note to a book house that ran after this fashion:
"I want you to try a boy, Fred. He is plucky, means business, will not whine about promotion, will work as early and late as you wish, will hold his tongue, and will earn $2 for every one you pay him. He will be content with $3 a week."
I received this reply in substance:
"I have no vacancy among the boys, but such a boy as you mention will always pay twice over. It was a loud commendation you gave him. If you dare stand by it, send him along. I shall keep your indorsement for ready reference."
Fred reported for work the next morning. He began at the bottom, sweeping, dusting, cleaning up, taking away books, carrying off waste paper, etc. In a short time the store looked as it never did before. He was the first there in the morning and the last at night. He never asked what to do next, but found something to do until new work was assigned. He kept his mouth shut, eyes and ears open; and his thoughts and feet active. The fifth week they raised him to $5, gave him work over four youths whom he found there. At the end of four months he was raised to $12 a week without asking it.
Ben went from high school into an office at $3 a week. They told him plainly that there was no probability of promotion, as nobody had been promoted for twelve years, but there was a possibility. There was nothing about him that was promising. He had not stood high in his school, was not strong physically; but he went to work with the full determination that he would get there.
A few days after, a senior member of the firm saw him going to the post-office, and was so delighted with his evident intention to boom the mail business that he said to his associates: "I wish there was some way to label Ben. This boy is from the house of It is worth something to have such an exhibition of business on the street."
In the course of a few months another boy was secured and Ben was given $6 a week, until in less than three years, he is getting $20 a week, making a place for himself by the way he did everything. In those three years a thousand other boys in Boston had changed from place to place and were still working for $3 or $5 a week.
The boy who is merely an office boy will never be promoted, neither will he who is above being an office boy: who is lazy, indifferent, talkative, meddlesome, envious, jealous, afraid of doing more than his share, and bound not to earn more than he is paid. He will be promoted who makes himself equal to emergency, who loves work, learns how to work, how to be cheerful and loyal, lending a hand everywhere; who puts brains into his work; who lets his "head save his heels," who will work anywhere, at any time, at anything without complaint.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Office Boy
Promotion
Work Ethic
Diligence
Loyalty
Literary Details
Title
The Office Boy.
Key Lines
"I Want You To Try A Boy, Fred. He Is Plucky, Means Business, Will Not Whine About Promotion, Will Work As Early And Late As You Wish, Will Hold His Tongue, And Will Earn $2 For Every One You Pay Him. He Will Be Content With $3 A Week."
The Boy Who Is Merely An Office Boy Will Never Be Promoted, Neither Will He Who Is Above Being An Office Boy: Who Is Lazy, Indifferent, Talkative, Meddlesome, Envious, Jealous, Afraid Of Doing More Than His Share, And Bound Not To Earn More Than He Is Paid.