Napoleon Hill
You'll recognize the city by its description, if you are familiar with this part of the country. Sunday bylaws have closed up all the restaurants on Sunday. Railroad trains must slow down to twelve miles an hour while passing through the city. Keep off the grass signs are prominently displayed in the parks.
Unfavorable city ordinances of one sort or another have driven the best industries to other cities. On every hand one may see evidence of restraint. The people of the streets show signs of restraint in their faces, and in their manner, and in their walk. The mass psychology of the city is negative.
The moment one gets off the train at the depot, this negative atmosphere becomes depressingly obvious and makes one want to take the next train out again. The place reminds one of a graveyard and the people resemble walking ghosts. They register no signs of action! The bank statements of the banking institutions reflect this negative, inactive state of mind.
The stores reflect it in their show windows and in the faces of their salespeople. I went into one of the stores to buy a pair of hose. A young woman with bobbed hair who would have been a flapper if she hadn't been too lazy, threw out a box of hose on the counter.
When I picked up the box, looked the hose over and registered a look of disapproval on my face, she languidly yawned: They're the best you can get in this dump!
Dump!
She must have been a mind reader, for dump was the word that was in my mind before she spoke. The store reminded me of a rubbish dump; the city reminded me of the same. I felt the stuff getting into my own blood.
The negative psychology of the people was actually reaching out and gathering me in. Maine is not the only state that is afflicted with a city such as the one I have described. I could name others, but I might wish to go into politics some day; therefore, I will leave it to you to do your own analyzing and comparing of cities that are alive with action and those that are slowly dying with the dry-rot of inaction. I know of some business concerns that are in this same state of inaction, but I will omit their names. You probably know some, too.
Many years ago Frank A. Vanderlip, who is one of the best known and most capable bankers in America, went to work for the National City Bank, of New York City.