○  russell conwell : acres of diamonds  ○

she did not care if all the world did gaze on her, then he studied her bonnet, and by the time it was out of sight he know the shape of the frame, the color of the trimmings, and the crinklings in the feather. i sometimes try to describe a bonnet, but not always. i would not try to describe a modern bonnet.

where is the man that could describe one? this aggregation of all sorts of driftwood stuck on the back of the head, or the side of the neck, like a rooster with only one tail feather left. but in john jacob astor’s day there was some art about the millinery business, and he went to the millinery-store and said to them: “now put into the show-window just such a bonnet as i describe to you, because i have already seen a lady who likes such a bonnet. don’t make up any more until i come back.” then he went out and sat down again, and another lady passed him of a different form, of a different complexion, with a different shape and color of bonnet. “now,” said he, “put such a bonnet as that in the show-window.” he did not fill his show-window up-town with a lot of hats and bonnets to drive people away, and then sit on the back stairs and bawl because people went to wanamaker’s to trade. he did not have a hat or a bonnet in that show-window but what some lady liked before it was made up. the tide of custom began immediately to turn in, and that has been the foundation of the greatest store in new york in that line, and still exists as one of three stores. its fortune was made by john jacob astor after they had failed in business, not by giving them any more money, but by finding out what the ladies liked for bonnets before they wasted any material in making them up. i tell you if a man could foresee the millinery business he could foresee anything under heaven!

suppose i were to go through this audience to-night and ask you in this great manufacturing city if there are not opportunities to get rich in manufacturing. “oh yes, “ some young man says, “there a

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