wenty-five as he
thought he did. When he is ready to learn from others he will begin to
grow wise. And when he reaches that state where he is willing to
concede that he hasn't a "corner" on knowledge in this world, he will
be stepping out of the chrysalis of youth.

* * * * *

There is another point upon which young men are often in doubt, and
that is, just how far it pays to be honest in business. "Does it really
pay to be honest in business?" they ask, and they are sincere and in
earnest in the question.

Now, the simple fact of the matter is that a business success is
absolutely impossible upon any other basis than one of the strictest
honesty.

The great trouble with young men, nowadays, is that their ideas are
altogether too much influenced by a few unfortunate examples of
apparent success which are prominent--too prominent, alas!--in American
life to-day. These "successful men"--for the most part identified in
some way with politics--are talked about incessantly; interviewed by
reporters; buy lavish diamonds for their wives, and build costly
houses,--all of which is duly reported in the newspapers. Young men
read these things and ask themselves, "If he can do it, why not I?"
Then they begin to look around for some "short cut to success," as one
young fellow expressed it to me not long ago. It is owing to this
practice of "cutting across lots" in business that scores of young men
find themselves, after awhile in tight places. And the man who has once
had about him an unsavory taint in his business methods rarely, very
rarely, rids himself of that atmosphere in the eyes of his
acquaintances. How often we see some young man in business,
representative of the very qualities that should win success. Every one
agrees that he is brilliant. "He is clever," is the general verdict.
His manner impresses one pleasantly, he is thoroughly businesslike, is
energetic, and yet, somehow, he never seems to stick to one place.
People wonder at it, and excuse it on the ground that he hasn't found
the right place. But some day the secret is explained. "Yes, he is
clever," says some old business man, "but do you know he isn't--well,
he isn't quite safe!" "Quite safe!" How much that expresses; how
clearly that defines hundreds and hundreds of the smartest young men in
business to-day. He is everything else--but he isn't "quite safe!" He
is not dishonest in any way, but he is, what is equally as bad, no