How Herman Corning Paid the Ptice

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 484, 23 August 1905, Page 8

How Herman Corning Paid the Ptice

*" By HOMER TISM. ICopyrlffht, I*J*. bjr D*Uj Motj Pub. Co.l

HERMAN CORNING made up his mind when a mere boy that he would become a successful business man and the possessor of great riches. From his earliest memory he had hated the narrow village life and thecramped home existence, where every penny had to be watched In order to make both ends meet He dreamed of great establishments with hundreds of busy workers, all pliable to his-will, as expressed from the Inner office. He dreamed of meeting the greatest and most powerful men of affairs and dictating terms or forcing them to compromise with him. Among all his playmates at school but one sympathized with his ambitions or believed in him. That one was Hannah Curtin, the grave-eyed girl with the high forehead, who always stood at the head of her class. All the rest derided him.

"I believe you will succeed, Herman," said she, seriously, "and when you do I will marry, you." "Will you?" asked Herman, eagerly. And then he added with a stubborn set of his square Jaw, "You may have to wait a long time, Hannah, because if I don't succeed at first I will keep on trying."

So the compact was sealed and one fine day, when Herman was 15, he fulfilled the worst prophesies of the vlliage gossips by going away to the great city. He .was able to scrape together barely money enough to get him there, hut he feared nothing. He had heard the expression "merchant prince" and it attracted his imagination. He resolved to enter mercantile life.

| Upon reaching the city he went directly to the biggest wholesale house in the city, Hope, Norris & Co., and sturdily walked into the office of the head of the concern. te

• He was a trifle perturbed at the vastness of the Institution and the exclsiveness of the office of the great Mr. Hope. But he rallied in a moment. "Am not I also to be a great merchant" he said to himself. "He is no hetter than I am —only older." So Herman walked boldly into the presence of the great man, .who frowned at the intrusion. . : I "Well?" he demanded. ■ Herman looked him squarely In the eye. His momentary timidity had vanished. He was in the very inner sanctuary, which was the home of his dreams. He felt fully confident "My name Is Herman Coming," he Bald steadily. "I have decided to become a merchant That is why I came to the city. I want to learn the business and get a start That is why I came here. I am not afraid of hard iwork and I can live on small wages. £Will you give me a trial?" The merchant had turned away with an Impatient gesture when Herman began. The odd way of putting the proposition arrested his attention and the intense earnestness of the boy attracted him.

i "Why did you come to me?" he said sharply. "Don't you know that department heads hire the employes?"

■ "I wanted to talk to the head of the Chouse," replied Herman simply. The merchant pushed a button and fL man appeared instantly. '-'Take this boy to Hopkins," (commanded - Hope, "and tell him to eet him to work."

And so Herman Coming found himEelf launched in merchantile life as assistant stockkeeper at six dollars per {week. He worked hard and gave no thought to anything outside the business of the department He did so much work that his fellow employes disliked him. Hopkins noted the improved condition of the stock, however, and after a few months Herman ihad his wages raised to eight dollars. He cared little for this. He was perfecting his knowledge of the stock and of prices. Meanwhile he watched the salesmen and customers like a cat , There was a whole shelfful of buttons of ancient vintage, which Hecman noticed were never called for. One day Houston, a salesman, was trying to attend to two customers.

"Here, boy," he said to Herman, "pull down some buttons for Mr. Parkins. L'll he right back and give him prices." '

Parkins was from a crossroads town. Herman pulled down the buttons that never sold. He knew the prices. Ultimately Parkins bought half the entire lot

This transaction so pleased Hopkins that Herman was called on frequently to take a customer when the salesmen were busy. Two years after Herman entered the place he was made a regular salesman at S2O per week. He always sold the things that stuck on the shelves. Mr. Hope learned of this and Complimented him on this point. "Wouldn't it be easier and cheaper to have a buyer who did not load dead stock on us?" asked Herman gravely.

A week later he was made assistant manager of the department and entrusted with a considerable share of the buying. Shortly after this, when H» rman was Just turned 19, he went to Mr. Hope. ■ "I am going to resign," said he. "What's the trouble?" demanded (Hope. "Ain't you getting enough?" "Oh, yes, sir," replied Herman, "that part is all right—everything, in fact, is ell right, but I want to go into business for myself." ' "Go in for yourself?" exclaimed the merchant "Have ycta got any capital?" "About SSOO that I've saved," replied Hermanj _„" That wilj buy a team and

wagon and .* ire ne something near s2o* tor r » « c ! . That ain't quite enough, but yoi: will trust me for two or rhi • .r. . ' more on my outfit." "What are you going to do?" asked the merehrnt. "Peddle," replied Herman sententiously. "until I can make enough to buy a -'-re." "Oh, come now, you are doing better than any j; jjjg inan we have ever had," cxsestulat >i Hope. "Don't make a fool <f" yourself. You will be head of a department in a few years." "Than >. >ou, sir," repliod Herman. "I wonldn'L stay for a job as general manager. I am going in for myself. I have learned aii I can as a subordinate."

And that was all there was to it. Herman started out with his wagon. He made good selections of merchandise and his sa'.as wars beyond his hopes. Within two years he had piled up $3,000. Then'he r;n across a store in a small town which was for sale. The owner had made a failure, but Herman thought ho saw why. He bought it, paying part down, la two years he was out of debt and doing a business that was the wonder of all the country about The town had only 15,000 inhabitants and Herman chafed at the limitations. He found a purchaser at a fancy price, and at 23 went back to the city with SIO,OOO in hia pocket.

He then started a jobbing bu?iness in a small way and by his indefatigable energy and application began to make inroads in the business of the larger houses. He did well from the first, but his resources were so limited that he could not move fast enough to suit his ardent spirit. Then Norris, Hope's partner, died and Hope sent for him.

"Corning, you are a wonder," he said. "I need such a man as you. Besides you are cutting into our business. I will'take you in and sell you a quarter interest, at whatever the business inventories, take over your stock at what it inventories as part payment and your note for the balance. You can pay out of the profits. You can handle the business as manager and I will look after the finances."

This was a great lift, but it only fed Coming's ambition. Still he was not a dominating factor in the business world and he found after a year or so that he must remain subordinate to Hope, whose conservative methods drove him to distraction. He wanted to lead, Hope was content to run along smoothly on the old lines. Besides he was not making money fast enough to suit him. To be-sure his share of the yearly profits ran way up in the thousands, but he could not see new he ever could become a power in the financial world at the rate he was going. While he was struggling with these problem's, Hope's health failed. Knowing Coming's daring disposition he did not dare go away, as the physicians ordered, and leave the young man in charge of the entire business. Finally, threatened with death, he offered to sell his interest at a very reasonable sum if Corning could find a backer, While the sum was reasonable considering the value of the business,, it was a vast amount for a young man to raise. All of Coming's profits had gone into paying for his quarter interest. In the meantime Corning had made one or two social connections. One was Peter Holdbrook, a wealthy retail merchant, with whom he had come into business relations and who had admired the young man for his business talent. He had invited Corning to his home several times and had presented his daughter, a frail, rather pretty girl, whose strength of character, if she ever had any, had been eliminated by her father's dominant methods.

Just about this time Peter Holdbrook died and his daughter had called on Herman for advice, knowing that her father had trusted him. The girl was the sole relative and heir and the responsibility of the great estate frightened her. i

To Herman came a great inspiration. He would marry this pale-faced girl, who would be putty in his hands. This would give him money enough to buy out Hope, besides making him master of the great Holdbrook store. He would combine the two businesses and make himself the greatest factor in the business world. There was a sincere pang at the thought of Hannah, because, besides having a real affection for her, Herman had made her a part of his scheme of life and his nature revolted at changing his plans. But he saw no other way and within two months had married Lillian Holdbrook, and soon after became absolute master of two great stores, one wholesale and one retail.

The rest the business world knows well —how he reversed the old policies and struck out into new methods with a daring which stunned all observers; how the business gtew until Herman Corning was recognized the world ever as one of the greatest merchant princes; how fce branched into oiher lines of business and finance until his name was on the directorates of many banks and corporations and his real estate holdings became the despair of assessors.

When Herman Corning was 35 his wife died. A few months later he went back to his old town fcr the first time since he left it. He found Hannah Curtin still unmarried. To her he told the story of his success and the reason for his marriage. He told her it had been without sentiment, as his heart belonged to her—but had been necessary in order to achieve success.

"I knew you would come Lac." said Hannah, quietly. "That is why I never married. Z\len must, work jluc women n:>■-•: .vait."

Just a yr.3- -nd a day after the death of his fir; "rife Hrrman Con:'::? -.nd Hannah Curtin were married. It is to be presumed they lived haprv ever .ui ;-i ward. If not, nobody else knew it.