The True Joy of Positive Living Ch: 4

• The leading men's clothing store in Bellefontaine, Ohio, was owned by Emil Geiger, known for his graciousness, lovable personality, and strict honesty.

Emil Geiger's business

• Men and boys in a low economic situation had two suits: a daily suit and a "Sunday suit" for special occasions.
• Emil Geiger sold leftover suits to farmers in the countryside.
• He emphasized the suits' quality, recommending them honestly and ensuring a proper fit.
• According to Emil, the key to salesmanship involves having good merchandise that can be recommended honestly and that is needed by the customer.

Clothes-Selling Campaign

• Selling clothes to farmers provided the author with complimentary meals.
• It only took a few days to sell out my goods completely.
• Emil gave the author a bonus and said he had the makings of a real salesman.

Reunion with Emil Geiger

• Years later, Emil Geiger visited the author's church in New York.
• Emil equated the author's ministry to his salesmanship.
• Emil stated that the author loves the people, has merchandise we all need, he is honest in his belief in what he is offering, and you are a good persuader.
• He added that the author should have been a rabbi.

Memories of Bellefontaine

• Memories include the courthouse with Ohio's oldest paved street, the high school and teachers like Professor Guy Dietrick, and friends like Bob Cooke and Sammy Kaufman.
• There was also "Sport" Dietrick, who pressed clothes and later became a bank president.
• During the Great Depression, Sport Dietrick assured people of the safety of their deposits, based on his character.
• Sport Dietrick brought the author to Delaware, Ohio, and pledged him to his fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta, at Ohio Wesleyan University.

Sammy Kaufman

• The Kaufmans and the Geigers were the only Jewish families.
• Sammy and the author were inseparable companions.

Overcoming Shyness

• The author struggled with shyness, especially in social situations.
• Public speaking terrified him.
• The author recalls a time making brief remarks at a special assembly of all the students.
• A girl embarrassed him by pointing out his shaking knees.
• Prayer helped him overcome his shyness.
• He joined a debating team and had a satisfying public speaking experience.
• The problem was consciousness of self.

Discovery in the Church

• The author gave a sermon to an empty church, which his father overheard.
• The father thinks the author could be a speaker, even better than him.
• He advised putting Jesus at the center, loving the people, and forgetting oneself.

College Bound

• In 1916, the author went to Ohio Wesleyan University, chosen for its discounts for ministers' children.
• His father advised him to be honest and stick to Jesus.

College Life

• The author's first roommate, Cecil J. Wilkinson ("Scoop"), was editor of the college paper "The Transcript" and later became an influence in college youth life.
• The author's later roommate was Charles B. Mills ("Chid"), who became chairman of the board of O. M. Scott Seed Company and was a Christian layman.
• Close friends included John J. Joseph, Belford P. Atkinson, Charles H. Eichorn, Gardner H. Townsley, Doug Torrence, and Leo Wilson.

Turning Point

• Professor Ben Arneson confronted the author about his shyness and inferiority feelings.
• Shyness is a form of egotism and extreme self-awareness.
• He advised the author to let Jesus help him.
• The author prayed for help on the steps of Gray Chapel.
• He felt a sense of presence from Jesus.
• Professor William E. Smyser suggested reading Emerson and Marcus Aurelius.
• Professor Roland Walker suggested studying Paul's Epistle to the Romans.
• These studies helped lessen the author's shyness.

World War I

• The author remembers headlines about the Kaiser's troops invading Belgium.
• In 1916, military fever was rising, and students were enlisting.
• The Student Army Training Corps (S.A.T.C.) was inaugurated, and the campus became like an Army camp.

S.A.T.C. Experience

• The author became a second lieutenant in the S.A.T.C.
• One day, the captain put him in command of Company A.
• The author forgot the correct command and led the company into George Buchman's saloon.
• The war ended, and the campus returned to peace.

Unhappy Memories

• The great flu epidemic killed 21,000,000 people.
• The attitude toward German Americans became negative.

Dr. John W. Hoffman

• Dr. John W. Hoffman was president of Ohio Wesleyan University.
• One night before commencement, Prexy Hoffman told the author that he believed in him and said he had great ability and potential.

Final Message

• The professors and Dr. Hoffman wanted the author to shed self-doubt and let Jesus Christ make him effective.
• Dr. Hoffman had cancer and could no longer speak above a whisper.
• He told the author he was proud of him, has always believed in him, and loved him.
• It is a wonderful blessing to have some people believe in you.

Reflection

• Living through major crises has been both tragic and exciting.