His competitors did all in their power to equal him, but he distanced them all.  One of them adopted a most startling expedient.  He obtained permission from the Legislature of Massachusetts to change his name to Chickering, and at once sent out his instruments marked with his new name, his object of course being to deceive the public, and Jonas Chickering had the mortification of seeing the inferior instruments of another maker mistaken for his own.  He promptly laid before the Legislature a petition for redress, setting forth the facts of the case and the motives of his rival.  The result was that the Legislature reconsidered its action, and compelled the bogus Chickering to resume his original name.

Mr. Chickering was noted for his simplicity and straight-forwardness in business transactions.  Conscious of his own integrity, he listened to no proposition of a doubtful character, nor would he ever allow his credit as a merchant to be questioned with impunity.  Upon one occasion, he applied through his clerk to the bank, with which he had dealt for many years, for an accommodation which he needed.  The president of the bank sent for him, and told him that security would be required.

“I shall give you none,” he replied.  “I have done my business at this bank for a long time, and if you do not know me, I shall apply where I am better known.”

The president was firm in his position, and Mr. Chickering applied to another bank, which readily granted him the desired discount, and to which he at once transferred his business, which was worth to the bank about ten thousand dollars a year.  Shortly after, a director of the institution at which he had formerly dealt called on him, and urged him to restore his business to the bank, assuring him that in future it would readily grant him any accommodation he might desire.

“No,” he replied; “I will deal with no institution which, having had the opportunity of knowing me, suspects my responsibility.”

Again having need of accommodation, he sent his notes for a large sum to one of the city banks for discount.  The president said an indorser would be required.

“I shall indorse them myself,” said Mr. Chickering.

“That will never do,” replied the president.

“Very well,” was the simple answer, and, without further words, he took the notes to another bank, which promptly loaned him the money on them.

He tolerated no irregularity in his own business.  He was true to the spirit as well as to the letter of a contract, and never, during the whole course of his long life, was he guilty of a transaction in which the most rigid moralist could find a taint of sharp practice.  What a refutation of the theories of those who hold that cunning and trickery are unavoidable some time in the course of a long and successful mercantile career lies in the story of this man, who, beginning life penniless, filled with a burning ambition to be rich and famous, never swerved from the straight path of integrity, and by the exercise of only the highest traits of his nature more than realized his boyish dreams!  Ponder it well, young man, and learn from it that honesty is indeed the best policy in any calling.