308 



The Weekly Florists^ Review* 



DECKMi'.Ki; ::i, 11)05. 



BEFORE AND AFTER. 



lij certiiin lines of businoss the stiung- 

 ewt testimonial is Kupiiosed to be the be- 

 fore and after illustration. During the 

 summer .lohn lireitmeyer 's Sous, Detroit, 

 have taken a very strong duse of incon- 

 veuieuce, interruption, iiivostinent and re- 

 habilitati(Mi. The comiiarative result is 

 shown in the acr(iiu|>an_ving illustrations 

 and it promises a large and satisfying 

 permanent improvement in tlieir business. 

 One jtieture sliows the P>reitmeyer eorner 

 as it appeared >)U April 1*4, 190."), just 

 l)efore the workmen began teoring down 

 the old storf to give ]ihne tc tiie h.and- 

 some eiglit-stoiy sleel building shown in 

 the other ilhistr.ation. the ])hotograpli "f 

 which was made on tlu- afternoon of De- 

 rember IL' and siiows the crowd which 

 liad assembled in anticipation of the for- 

 nial publir (i|KMiing ef tlie siorr. Tlie 

 (piartcrs in which the linn l;ad spent the 

 summer are shown in the jnwei li'fi-hand 

 corner of the I'ictnre. 



Pliilip Breitmeyer has dexeteij the 

 larger ]iart of ilie past year to planning 

 the new store. It is in every respect one 

 of the linest in Ameiien. The furnish- 



llP'S .-lie in the Uiesl excellent taste aiid 



absence of the employer, is much safer, 

 and much more economical, than low- 

 paid, irresponsible help. 



Good help being so hard to obtain, 

 many emi)loyers are trying to solve the 

 problem by engaging a low class of 

 labor. ii;iior;iiit. without a trade of any 

 kind, without intelligence and without 

 interest. Althougii this in:iy possibly be 

 unavoidable, it is very detrimental to the 

 business interests of the employer. Cheap 

 labor is dear labor. Constant watching 

 is required to keep them working, and 

 the results are unsatisfactory. There is 

 also to be considered the fact that they 

 dis|>Iace good laltor. One gond man 

 with a knowledge of his business is worth 

 four who are ignorant, and knew no busi- 

 ness, and d(i not care to learn ene. The 

 problem for the employer te sohe is 

 whether it will not l)e more prelitable fm 

 liini In engage good men who are sntis- 

 fartory in their work but <leni;uid fair 

 |ilay. 111- ti) engage incMi wlm care iiotli- 

 ing aliont Ili(> work but want Snturday 

 night and the dollar. 



The ideal eni])loyer is human. riii!sidei> 

 the natural feelings and instincts of his 

 lielji, and does not seek to dn them any 

 injustice. lie dues not try te iin|iiise 



The Old Breitmeyer Store and Building. 



on them because he feels they may, to a 

 certain extent, be subject to his ■will, 

 but remembers that they are made of 

 tlesh and blood like himself, and if they 

 possess the qualities of gentlemen, are 

 gentlemen. Possession of capital does 

 not entail gentility or su|>eriority. There 

 are, in fact;, many employees who are in 

 every way superior to their employers. 

 The employer has this in his own hands. 

 If he wishes to be sufierior. as every em- 

 ployer striving for res]ie<t and position 

 should be, he should lie superior in his 

 manners and conduct. He can, by treat- 

 ing his employees sipiarely, meeting their 

 just demands, and attending strictly to 

 business himself. g"in their approbation 

 and confidence. 



Before giving mders tn the employees, 

 the employer would do well to thoroughly 

 consider what his plans are to be, and 

 when once he has given his orders should 

 not retract unless sumething very seri- 

 ous should prevent his carrying them 

 out. An employe) win) is fair in the 

 treatment of his men does much toward 

 commamling their respect, .and if this is 

 cduiiled with good nmral i'<induct toward 

 them, and in their ineseiice. harmony is 

 facilitated. 



Swearing and nagging >imply irritate 

 the men and they will nut tolerate such 

 it there is any chance nt' doing better. 

 When giving an order, oi\e it in a quiet, 

 distinct voice. If misuinle]'stoo<l, it is 

 useless to tly into a rage and lose control 

 iif oneself, which also means the inevi- 

 table loss of control over the men. 

 One who cannot master him-'elf is surely 

 not fit to master other-^. 



The employer should be a leader 

 among his men. and should understand 

 his business thoroughly. A thorough 

 knowledge of the busines'- in hand is 

 essential to success. 



It is necessary for the employer's in- 

 terests that all the work should lie faith- 

 fully e.xecuted. but he wouhl do well to 

 consider carefully before discli.nging a 

 man for any seeming negligence. In 

 vcstigatc fully and give him a li(>aring. 

 It is a bad i)l;in to recommend an em- 

 plovee to another employer if he has 

 not proved worthy but give liim a high 

 character if he deserves it. .N'ever try 

 to hold the workingman d..un. for he 

 also has .ambitions. 



everv con\enience i- .-iriorded for the 

 proper handling: of a very large busi- 

 ness. It goe- withoiii ^ayiiio that the 

 investment i>^ a lienxy one. but the public 

 interest in the entei|.iiv,- is ■something 

 lieyoml the .•inlici|.;it ions ot its origina- 

 tors and a prohtable incr(>a-e in bu-iness 

 jv aliendy assured. 



THE IDEAL EMPLOYER. 



lAii cssiiv liv Aitliur f. Calicrs, Auhiiin. l!. I.. 

 silliIllilKMl "in ilic S. A. I . cMii\»Miticii cciilc-l Inr 

 tlic r.catty i.ii/.cs.; 



The itieal employer is one who con- 

 scieiitiouslv endi.'avois to do unto his 

 men as he would like ihem to (lo unto 

 liiii!. The einplo\er demand- lione<ty. 

 ,lili(., iM-e. raithfulne-> in the fiilliHing 

 ,,f The mutual contract. :Mid |0-om|.l lies:-. 

 :ill of whii-h ai-e essential in an einplovee 

 ;ind jii'-t as .-sential in an eiuployer. 

 In' order to ninke a good be-inning it 



1< wi-est tor the ein]ilo\.-r to ellga-e men 



\\liii ;ire well recommended ,-ind with 

 some intelligence. He can then be -are 

 that lie liav the best material with which 

 l^) van hi- . sinldishment. (uiod help 

 which cnn be iruvted in the tempoi-ary 



Au^aiting the Breitmeyer Opening, December 12. 



