ANNUAL WINTER MEETING. 49 



without our using any effort, exertion or endeavor, and if we 

 do not succeed, there is someone else who is at fault. 



The general tendency of mankind nowadays is to get the 

 best end of every bargain, or something for nothing, to be more 

 explicit. And is it not the tendency with nearly every one to do 

 as little in return for favors, benefits or services received from 

 mother earth, or his fellowman, as possible? 



The sooner we turn our attention inward and come at a true 

 knowledge of ourselves, review our covetuous desires, and di- 

 rect our thoughts towards our own omissions and faults, the 

 sooner we shall find where much of the real cause of our dis- 

 satisfaction lies. The key note to every man's success is his 

 reputation, character, responsibility, reliability, promptness 

 and thoroughness in the dispatch of whatever he undertakes; 

 this, with long continued active experience in any business, is 

 a great advantage, and helps fortify him for the smallest 

 venture as well as the greatest enterprise. Whatsoever the 

 employment, the person in charge must possess a high grade 

 of thoughtful intelligence and know his trade thoroughly from 

 the smallest plan of procedure to the largest affairs in his par- 

 ticular vocation. In other words he must be competent to 

 grapple courageously and with confidence all its requirements. 

 You must not only know how to produce, but the demand and 

 supply, the resources and outlets for your particular wares,, 

 that you may make the most profitable sales and derive the best 

 possible returns obtainable. It is one of the first duties that 

 everyone owes to himself and his business, to have able and 

 competent assistants, over whom he should exercise personal 

 supervision; with constant care and attention to all the minute 

 details of his business; this will insure success; not more so 

 with the merchant prince than with the amateur or professional 

 gardener and horticulturist. No matter what the calling in 

 life, there must be untiring vigilance vested in each and every 

 action. 



As much depends upon the man's creative genius in any un- 

 dertaking in life as upon the material acted upon. No matter 

 how much or how little the capabilities of the business are, un- 

 less conducted by the right kind of intelligence, it is not a suc- 

 cess. Theory, no matter how good, unless based upon correct 

 principles, is of little value. Quickness of perception and ob- 

 servation, combined with extended experience, are some of the 

 best teachers to help men to great accomplishments. The 



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