thousand dollars a year than five hundred. What is to
the young man's interest is much more to the interest of his employer.
A five-hundred-dollar clerkship is worth just that amount and nothing
more to an employer. But a five-thousand-dollar man is generally worth
five times that sum to a business. A young man makes of a position
exactly what he chooses: a millstone around his neck, or a
stepping-stone to larger success. The possibilities lie in every
position; seeing and embracing them rest with its occupant. The lowest
position can be so filled as to lead up to the next and become a part
of it. One position should be only the chrysalis for the development of
new strength to master the requirements of another position above it.

* * * * *

The average young man is extremely anxious to get into a business
position in which there are what he calls "prospects" for advancement.
It is usually one of his first questions, "What are my prospects here?"
He seems to have the notion that the question of his "prospects" or
advancement is one entirely in the hands of his employer, whereas it
rarely occurs to him that it is a matter resting entirely with himself.
An employer has, of course, the power of promotion, but that is all. He
cannot advance a young man unless the young man first demonstrates that
he is worthy of advancement. Every position offers prospects; every
business house has in it the possibility of a young man's bettering
himself. But it depends upon him, first. If he is of the average
come-day go-day sort, and does his work in a mechanical or careless
fashion, lacking that painstaking thoroughness which is the basis of
successful work, his prospects are naught. And they will be no greater
with one concern than with another, although he may identify himself
with a score during a year. If, on the contrary, he buckles down to
work, and makes himself felt from the moment he enters his position, no
matter how humble that may be, his advancement will take care of
itself. An employer is very quick to discover merit in an employee, and
if a young man is fitted to occupy a higher position in the house than
he is filling, it will not be long before he is promoted. There are, of
course, instances where the best work that a young man can do goes for
nothing and fails of rightful appreciation, and where such a condition
is discovered, of course the young man must change the condition and go
where