"I Read That Before"

Every once in a while one of our readers tellsus: "I read that idea before in the C. L. M."

And just as often we tell him: "You sure did, and you'll very probably have a chance to read it a couple of times more."

This gives us a very good opening to enlarge a little on the policy of this publication and to explain the very powerful reason back ofthis repetition.

Among the many services we conceive it our dutv as well as pleasure to render to our subscribers, is one which we have often set forth in our editorials; to-wit:

"This Journal is edited in the belief that the live business man of today is less interested in the little things that happened last week than the big ideas that may help his business next week."

It is our aim, in furtherance of that belief, to present in each issue, or at least as often as possible, one or more constructive suggestions which, when putinto operation, might benefit our readers.

These suggestions, in their form as printed, are not overnight fancies. They are the result of days and weeks, or months and years, of thought and study and investigation and research and comparison

They have been talked over, discussed, debated and wrangled by and with men of experience, and rvithout exception they have been successfully tried out in actual business practice before we present them for your consideration.

Should we have what we think is really a novel idea, as yet untried, you will note that we say so, very clearly. We ofier it merely as a thought, to be mulled over and experimented with.

It is not human nature to accept as gospel everything we hear. We don't do it ourselves and tn'e don't expect others to do so. But before tve say anything, 'ive endeavor to be sure; and our record of the last dozen years gives us good ground for the somewhat egotistic statement that the suggestions we make are well worth trying ottt.

Of course, if every one of our readers read every issue of the C. L. M. fully and carefully and remembered and acted on every suggestion as soon as published, this present writing would never have been Coronaed-

But that can never be the s25s-2nd should not be-or we would never have the face to ask a measly little two yen for twenty-four-qesn1 'srn-tlventy-four big, meaty, valuable issues each and every year.

The article is read and the idea seen-but it is laid aside for further action. It may be lost entirely by hasty reading under business pressure. The next issue will come along and a newer, fresher idea will be seen and predominate.

Yet that first idea was good. We knew that or we would not have printed it. And we still believe so thoroughly in its potential benefits that we want those who missed it last month or last year to cash in on its value next month or next year.

We re-print it.

And then some active, snappy, energetic reader catches it and tells us he read it before.

Sure he did. And he is very apt to read it again-providing always that it is of such timely value as to merit its reappearance.

Some of the thoughts to which we gave published form a decade ago are just beginning to bear fruit. It took ten years ofdrilling and preaching and example and proof to get those ideas over.

But we KNEW they were good ideas and worth repeati.g. And we intend to continue that policy with every good idea we can originate or borrow or beg or steal in the years to come.

What tree its old age sadly cries ? Elder. And from what tall one comes low sighs ? Pine. Which bears the mark of a smouldering fire ? Ash. And which to chastise you takes your sire ? Birch. Which one do you carry about in your hand? Palm. And which one tall and slim doth stand ? Poplar. Which one bears fruit so golden and round? Orange' And which one hears the sea's deep sound? Beech. Come, tell me, which is a stale joke ? Chestnut. Ancl which from a stale acorn awoke? Oak. Which tree is cloth and fuel in one ? Cottonwood. And from which does sweet fluid run? Maple.