Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1857-12-24
Proverbs

Himself must either hold or drive"
1t is dangerous business for any
man to attempt to break loose from the
comprehension of that primal sentence,
in the sweat Of thy brow shalt thou
eat thy bread Often has labor turn
ed the curse into blessing, and often
has idleness armed it with bitter stings.
Life has its work that can hot be dele
gated, and the penalties of id'eness do
not admit Of proxies. Well has the
poet said:
'Lsbor is iife It's the Sill water faileth,
Idlensss eve, dsspaireth, bewaneth,
Keep the watch wound or the dark rust assaileth'
Yet in spite Of this, there are those
who would commit their tasks or bust
ness into other hands, and so spare
themselves. They do not see or read
the handwriting of Providence on the
walls Of human experience warning
them of their folly. They neglect a
lesson that has been streotyped since
the days of Sodom, when fnllness of
bread pampered to idleness and chali-
enged the vengeance of Heaven. But
there is temporal retribution, moving
as sternly as the failed Nemsis, along
the paths of life, and making Incidence
in palace or howell feel the sting OF its
lash. The laws of success or failure in
business arc inexorably rigid, andgold
can not buy immunity from their grasp.
No position Of eminence or superiority
cxempts nan from acting out in his
own person the part assigned to him.
AS he values his own interests or pro-
jects, he must supervise them himself
No man can hope to succeed by de-
putting his own proper office to stran-
ger. 1t is like setting tailor to make
his coat without giving him his meas
urc. 1t is like tlinging out seed at ran
dom on the green sward, to take its
chance of terminating All business
requires oversight, and none can be
his to whom it belongs. The price Of
neglect is failure.
We uni ormly find the most success
full men in any pursuit are those that
were bred to it. Taught by their own
experience, they cen leach and direct
others. They know when thing is
done right, and they know how to do
it themselves. They can upon emcr-
gency take their place at the wheel or
the desk, or on the bench, and correct
mistakes or set an example.
Besides, the influence of Incidence is
contagious, and never more 80 than in
those who are looked to as leaders,
A general who would inspire his troops
must some times be seen at their head.
The farmer who would bring his men
up to the standard Of efficiency, must
be able to take the lead in the swarthc
or row. His labor is something, but
his example and participation are far
more. Even the first might be neces-
sary to turn the scale between profit
and loss. The men who toll, must
earn more than their wages, if they
support besides, an indolcnt employer.
Moreover, the most careful supervis-
ion comes often from actual partici-
patton. A man must hold or drive if
he would see every furrow is turned.
Unless he did thus, he would be scarce
likely to follow the track of the pillow
and secure fit preparation for the
seed to be sown. And the manner in
which work is done, is Of no small &C.
count. An ill-culturcd soil produces
but half a harvest. An ill-cut garm-
ent only spoils the cloth. An ILL.,
ground grlsi is no better than proven
der. That labor loses half its value
which is illi-directed. Counsel al d
direction though fruitless in thcmsel-
YES, yet when combined with energy
that they control, are like ciphers az
fixed to diglts they multiply their val
ne tenfold. Brute strength is cheap
by the side of that which combines
skill and experience with it. An OBJ
servant eye is sometimes worth dozen
hands, but none will observe like him
who stands by the side Of his workmen
and teaches them their task, or insplrits
them by sharing it. and lending them
the force of his example.
"Pompey did you take the billet to