The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-03-28
Having an Object In Life and Stick.
ing to it---A Chapter for Young Men.

Persistence in any chosen: vocation is
an essential to success. This is gen.
eral rule, but we desire now only to sp-
ply it to the business of the mechanic.
Constant practice, constant study, and
constant application are conditions
precedent to perfection. But even those
will be wasted if the occupation chosen
is untitled to the natural qualifications
of the workman. Some are born with
out any natural aptness for the me-
chanical arts. Every mechanic under
stands what is meant by a "mechanical
eye" The want in the visual organs
thus characterized, does not necessarily
imply that there is Il disease or NAL
formation of the optic nerve, but rather
that there is no Judgment to direct and
guide the eye. The infant grasps as
readily at the moon as at his rattle
within few inches of his face. In
time, by repeated experiments, he
learns the relative distances and d.
mensions of objects. All are capable
of this amount of judgment, but in the
practice of mechanics a much higher
degree of experience is required, and n
much closer exercise OF the judg-
ment. There are some men who
may practice at mechanical
trade their whole life long and
never be even passable workmen. They
can never tell whether line is straight,
or surface level, even with the aid of
levels and straight-edges. We remem-
ber an instance in point, where young
man, ardently desirous of becoming a
machinist was compelled to forego his
tavorite business because of this i'm
perfection-the want of a "mechanical
eye." His first job was the centering
of some pieces OF round iron, seven
inches long and one and one-eighth
inches in diameter. He worked with
h nl,
centers half day on twelve pieces, yet
he did not correctly centre single one,
although he received repeated instruc-
tions and examples from the foreman.
Indeed he could not, even with the aid
of chalk held against the revolving
surfaces of the cylinders, see in what
respect they were not true. Such an
apprentice could never become work.
man and his failure would result from
no fault capable of remedy. Many en-
ployers have had a similar experience
with their apprentices, or with those
who called themselves workmen. The
first requisite, therefore, is 70 have a
proper object, one fitted to the capabili-
ties.
Another of more importance is to
stick to it. We take it for granted that
every beginner at a mechanical busi-
ness enters it with the intention and
purpose of becoming drst-class work.
man. Ifnot, it is more than-probable
he will never reach even mediocrity.
II he is satisfied to serve his time, blum
dering through the work without un-
derstanding it, he will come out one of
those nuisances to employers and dis
graces to workmen, a "poor tool" Such
professional workmen cannot stay.long
in any situation, and are compelled to
accept the most distasteful work with
the lowest wages. Even under these
circumstances there might be hope for
them if they would, thus late, endeavor
to stick to their business; but being
disheartened, they drift about from
pillar to post" trying this, and at
tempting that, and succeeding in moth
ing because they will not thoroughly,
and honestly, and persistently apply
themselves to their business.
Some apprentices think that when
they have achieved the triumph of doing
one Job in a single department of their
business, their trade is learned and their
position secure. They do not seem to
realize that although the customary or
legal term of their novitiate has ex-
pired, they are still learners. New
methods of doing work, new tools, new
descriptions of work, new combinations
of materials, are continually being
brought forward, and the mechanic
who has attained the position of a first
class workman by patient practice
must preserve and hold that position
by constant endeavOr.
There are others who "stick to it, in
different way. These are they who
having spent a limited time in a shop
assume to know all they ever had to do
and also all they have seen others do.
They have done with learning. In
their own estimation they are per-
feet. When seeking job they as
sumo thorough knowledge of
the work to be performed and the
method of doing ii. These men soon
find their level. We knew once of such
a prodigy who hired into a machine
shop and had for his first job the turn
ing of connecting bars tapering from
centre to ends He asked a fellow
workman how he should turn them.
The answer was: "Set the tail of your
lathe over" meaning to move trans
yersely the upper portion of the tail
stockt to the proper angle. He under
stood it literally, and producing a
crow-bar was swinging the lathe frame
| out of line with the drifting shaft when
! the foreman discovered him. His SER
vices were incontinently dispensed
Mechanical art does not need such
helpers, 1t needs men with a purpose;
men who are willing and ardent to
| learn: men who are not dismayed at
obstacles, but who take pride in
either removing or overcoming them.
| Only such will ever become mechanics
worthy the name. The others are
i