The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1867-02-15
HAVING AN OBJECT AND sTroK-
ING TO TT,


Persistence in any chosen vocation is
an essential to success. This is a gen
eEai rule. but we desire now only to ap.
ply II TO the business of the mechanic.
So-staes Practice constant study, and
SoSssAnt application are conditions pre-
20 perfection. But even these
"'lI Oe wasted II the occupation chosen
is united to the natural o1alifca,;oDo cf
the workman. Some are born witboUt
any natural aptness for the mechapiesI
arts. Every mechanic understands what
Is meant by ttmechauicSl eye." The
want 10 the visual organs thus character.
ized does not necessarily imply that there
is disease or malformation of the optic
nerve but rather that there is no iudg.
ment to direct and guide the eye. The
infant grasps as readily at the moon as
ct his rattle within q few inches of his
face. In time. by repeated experiments.
he learns the relative distances and di-
mansions of objects. All are capable of
this amount of Judgment but in the
lpractice of mechanics a much higher
degree of experience is required aud a
much closer exercise of the judgment.
There are some men vino may practice at
a mechanical trade their whole life long
and never be even. psssable Workmen.
! They never can tell whether line is
straight, or a surface level, even with
| the aid of levels and straight edges. We
remember an instance in point, where a
young man ardently DESTROYS Of bscom-
ing machnist was compelled TO forego
his lavorite business because of this i'm
Perlection-the want of mechanical
eye" His first job was the centering
of some pieces of oundiron, seven inches
long and one and one eighth inches diam
eter. He worked with vice, hsmmer,
center punch, and bench centers half a
day on twelve pieces. yet be did not cor
reetly center single one, although he
received repeated instructions and ex-
amples from the foreman. Indeed he
could not, even with the aid of chalk
held against the revolving surfaces of the
cylinders, see ia what respect they were
not true. Such an apprentice could
never become a workman, aud his failure
would result from no fault capable of
remedy. Many employers have had q
similar experience with their apprentices,
or with those who called themselves
woTkmen. The FIRST requisite, therefore,
is to have proper object, one fitted to
the capabilities.
Another of more importance is to stick
to It, We take il for granted that every
beginner at q mechanical business enters
1t with the intention and purpose of be-
coming first class workman. If not il
Is more than probable ne will never reach
even mediocrity. If he is satisfied To
serve his time, laundering through his
work without understanding il. he will
come out one of those nuisances to en-
ployers and disgracers to workmen.
''poor tool" Such professional work.
men cannot stay long in any situation
and are compelled to accept the most dis
tasteful work with the lowest wages.
Even under these circumstances there
might be hope for them if they would,
thus late, endeavor 10 stick to their bu-
siness; but, being disheartened, they
drift about ''from pillar to post trying
this and attempting that, and succeeding
in nothing because they will not thor
oughly, and honestly, and persistenty
apply themselves to their business.
Soon apprentices think that when they
have achieved the triumph of doing one
job in a single department of their bust
ness their trade is learned aud their posi-
ton secure. They do not seem to realize
that although the customary or legal
term Of their novitiate has expired they
are still learners. New methods of do
ing work, new tools, new descriptions of
work, new combinations Of materials are
continually being brought forward, and n
the mechanic who has attained the posts
ton of first class workman by patient
practice, must preserve aud hold that
position by constant endeaYor.
There are others who ''stick to it, In a
different way. These are they who hav7
ing spent limited time in shop assume
to know all they have ever had to do and
also all they have seen others do. They
have done with learning. In their own
estimation they are perfect. When seek.
ing job they assume thorough knowl.
edge Of the work to be performed aud
the method of doing it. These men soon
find their level. We knew once of such
a prodigy who hired into machine shop
and had for his first job the turning of
connecting bars tapering from center to
ends. He asked fellow workman how
be should turn them. The answer was:
"Set the tail of your lathe over" mean
ing to move transversely the upper Por-
ton of the tail stock to the proper angle.
He understood it literally and procuring
a crow bar was swingiog the lathe frame
out of liae with the driving shaft when
the foreman discovered him. His serVi-
ees were incontinenIly dispensed with.
Mechanical art does not need such help
ers. Ii needs men with purpose; m',n
who are willing and ardent TO learn; TIen
who are not dismaysd at obstacles bat
who take pride in either removing or
overcoming them. Only such will ever
become mechanics worthy the name.
The others are abortions.-S Scientific
american.
ANOTHER SNAKE SFoRY.-The Vicks-
burg Times, of the 18Th, is responsible
for the following.
Some hatboatmen at Milliken's bend,
not long since, saw on the bank, long
lo;1iIy xUasabin0 tha gradually