C. U. C. p. ALUMNI JOURNAL 



79 



by some persons, in a course of study bearing 

 the title this one bears but, when it is remem- 

 bered that conditions, actually existing condi- 

 tions, need lo be treated and that it is intended 

 to remove, as far as possible, all hinderances 

 to commercial success, criticism upon this 

 point, at least, should be withdrawn. Indeed, 

 our best efforts should be directed towards 

 rescuing the one stray sheep, while congratu- 

 lating those more highly favored. It has been 

 oftentimes and generally reported that the em- 

 ployment or continuance in employment of 

 many technically qualified assistants has been 

 impossible because of their very apparent un- 

 cleanly condition, which, of course, would ren- 

 der them objectionable to discriminating cus- 

 tomers. It is also well-known that the out- 

 rageous want of personal cleanliness and the 

 disgusting habits of some able pharmacists, 

 who have been in business on their own ac- 

 count, have not only been the subject of much 

 derision, but the real cause of financial failure. 

 It is positively dangerous, then, for a young 

 person seeking a creditable position in pharma- 

 ceutical or business life, not to have proper 

 standards for his body and its keeping, or not 

 to live up to these standards. Home training, 

 it is admitted, should have provided for all 

 this, but its failure should not be allowed to 

 make commercial disaster certain. Let each 

 individual make of himself, so far as possible, 

 something of a model for those with whom he 

 is to be associated, then, surely, he will not 

 fail. Besides, next to a physician, surgeon or 

 nurse, who should l)e more cleanly in person 

 and habits than a pharmacist, and who, as a 

 salesman or man of business, seeking to make 

 favorable impression, should be more attract- 

 ive? The standard for personal cleanliness 

 should be fixed at the highest possible point 

 and should be intelligent!}' and conscientiously 

 met. 



Dres.s. 



Xothing can add so much to the business 

 man's attractiveness as proper and careful at- 

 tire, and nothing will so greatly detract from 

 natural personal advantages as will careless 

 and improper dressing. It was Disraeli, the 

 great Lord Beaconsfield, who won distin- 

 guished and substantial success against the 

 most trying obstacles, who said a man's success 

 in life is largely dependent upon his tailor. 



Dress is a subject that requires observation, 

 thought and study. To the possessor of ample 

 means, it is a comparatively easy matter, but 

 when one has correct and sufficiently high 

 ideals in this direction, with but scanty means, 

 it offers a serious perplexity at times. It is, 

 however, a business difficulty which must be 

 overcdme in a business way. A pharmacist 

 had better slight his store and stock than his 

 wardrobe. 



The selection of a tailor is a matter of near- 

 ly as much importance and about as difficult as 

 the selection of a physician, a dentist or even 

 a pharmacist ! One is no more able to prop- 

 erly treat personal ailments than he is able to 

 properly fit himself with a suit of clothes or 

 select the proper quality of cloth. It is often 

 because of their presumed abilities, in this re- 

 gard, that so many persons are oddly and 

 badly dressed. Warning is made against the 

 average clothing salesman whose one object 

 seems to be to sell, and who frequently makes 

 veritable monkeys out of his too confiding 

 customers. 



Warning is as earnestly made against your 

 own personal oddities, generally, and, espe- 

 cially, in this matter of dress, which often lead 

 to the wearing of conspicuous and inappropri- 

 ate apparel; including, of course, head and 

 foot wear. 



It is a perfectly safe rule that keeps one 

 inside and along the middle lines of fashion, 

 but away from extremes and fads. Season- 

 able dressing is important, not only for rea- 

 sons of personal comfort, but for effect, also, 

 as is respectful dressing. Respect and defer- 

 ence are always due customers, especially 

 ladies ; shirt-sleeves are never and nowhere re- 

 spectful. Dress should be consistent with one's 

 age and station. A professional man should 

 invariably maintain the dignity of his profes- 

 sion in dress, as in every other respect. 



If personal cleanliness is important, so is 

 cleanliness in dress; indeed, it is paramount; 

 to it, style and quality are secondary. Fine, 

 fresh linen is the stamp of the gentleman, and 

 the reverse is a heavy handicap to anyone who 

 aspires to hold the position of a gentleman 

 and win favor with the more refined. The 

 pharmacist must be carefully dressed; it argues 

 well for his prescription case and for his soda 

 water counter. Surely it is most unfortunate 

 ignorance or the direct necessity that leads 



