1943 And The Dealer

When Rome was in the heyday of her glory, the proudest boast of her people was: "Civis Romanus Sum," which meant, "I am a Roman citizen."

This was no empty title. It meant something definite, something real, something vital and active. No sluggard, no weakling could be a Civis Romanus. He had to prove it by his deeds.

Time was when to say, "I am a retail lumber dealer," carried with it no special meaning other than what it showed on the face of it. That went on for a lot of years.

But it's different now, and don't you forget it for a moment. In the year 1943 that is now approaching, it's going to take something besides just the name to make a man a retail lumber dealer. He will have to have something more than just a title. In fact, he will have to haveor at least will NEED to have-many other things.

He will need intestinal fortitude. (They call it by a rude word, but you know what I mean.) He will require the three famous W's-Wim, Wigor, and Witality, but mostly Witality. He will need the three notable I's-Intelligence, Industry, and Intestines, but mostly Intestines.

No quitter, no sluggard is going to stay in the retail lumber business through 1943. It's going to be a man's job, full size. He will have to meet problems that will call on all his grit, his nerve, his sticktoitiveness, and his sense of humor, to get by. It's going to be a tough year, and it will try the fiber of the individuals. Those who come through it will have qualified for the full He-Man's Diploma. He will, sho nuff!

We don't mean that it can't be done. It can. It will. But it won't just happen. Every dealer is going to have to be like the old nigger who met the bear. When he saw the grizzly had him cornered, he got down on his knees, and prayed. He said:

"O Lawd, I nevah axed You fo nuthin befo, an if'n You'll hep me dis time, I'11 nevah axe You fo nuthin ergin. But, Lawd, if you lvon't hep me, jest don't hep de bar, but stand back, Lawd, an I'11 show You de doggondest bar fight You evah seen."

We suggest that attitude for the retail lumber dealer for the year L943. Most of the dealers are going to live through this, but the ones that pray and fight are going to be in the best shaoe when they come out.