The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-09-30
The Practical Wan.

The practical man is the one, of all
others, who knows just what to say aud
DO, and who says and does it. He always
comes to the point, regardless of rules or
forms. He sees just how to suit the word
to the action, and the action to the word ;
and the right word and the right action
come and produce their effect.
While others hesitate he strikes; and
the work is done before they have decid-
ed how they would do it. lie is always
doing, but does only what needs to be
done; he is always learning, but learns
oLly what be can use. His world is real,
and not soft bed for ease and dreaming.
If he makes speeches he tells people
what they ought to know; if books, he
fills them with useful facts or practical
truths if he be worker, he makes things
for service and not for show
lie is no machine, but a live man with
perception and force peculiarly his own =
and he has an inherent energy of charac-
ter which brings everything around to his
way.
He is never at a loss, bat everywhere
takes his place, and so we'll does he act
his part, that all men acknowledge that
he was made for it.
He has that clear perception. and that
prompt, steady, and determined purpose
which produces efficient aoton.,
His will cannot be baked for he has
only to see that thing must be done,
and his only concern then is how; it ney-
,er occurs to him that he can fail.
His ends are real, and the means he
pscs precisely adapted to promote them !;
80 that he certainly secures and actually
enjoys the object for which he labors
He takes hold of life with firm grasp,
and wresrs from it the good which he finds
in it, He does not whine because he is
not better off, but sets about making HIM
self SO. He does not envy those who are
higher, but climbs above them if his place
is there.
1t is his ambition to accomplish posi-
tive and proper result, and not to make a
: show; SO that pretention is his especial
dislike. He thinks more of the thing
done than the thing known; more of the
power than of the name to do. He talks
because he has something to say, aud not
for the sake of talking; and lives for a
purpose, and not because he does not hap
pen to die. He is no football Of men or
circumstances, but himself plays with
yigor and wins the game life. He con-
suits utility in all things. Money to use,
a borsa 10 I;yo ~ looJ +o t;I1 olCtbar b,
wear, victuals to eat, horse and wagon
to carry things-nothing for the mere
make of having it, or of letting other peo-
pie know that he has it.
He will do the proper thing if it be
agreeable, or if it be not. He INDUCES
men by the force and equality of their
character, and not by their appearance.
IF man does this Or that which he says
he can, let him do it;-but he has no
sympathy with dreamers.
Efficient doing, he thinks, is the chief
end of man; and all knowledge which does
not lead to this he deems worthless He
regards the world as q great workshop,
and those who accomplish nothing Tor the
general good as drones unworthy Of any
federation.
Let them work, and thus earn the right
to live.
In short the practical man possess good
sense, and with this he makes rules better
than any he finds in books; for the short
est, plainest, and surest way of attaining
his object is the best for him.-LJc Illus
trate1.