Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-07-28
POWER OF APPLICATION.


busy world of ours? What is the cause
of their failure It was not from dis
sipation, for they were temperate. 1t
was not from indulging in games of
chance, for they did not gamble. Tt
was not because of Incidence, for they
were industrious. It was not from
wastefulness, for they were saving, and
not spendthrifts. What, then, is the
reason for their want. of success We
reply: They lacked application. 1t was
"a little while here" and ''a little while
there" "Many things commenced,
nothing finished" Such persons be-
come 'jacks at all trades, and good for
nothing at any"
Admit the facts but who is to blame?
When child is left to seek its own
pleasure or pursuit, it is not likely to
practice self-denial to any great extent.
On the contrary, it seeks amusement and
diversion. Catering to its fancies, in
stead of directing its mind and energies,
the thoughtless mother and the igno-
rant nurse ''let it have its own way"
which is aimless, purposeless. Or they
take it In doors and out, whirl it hither
and thither, and permit it to think of
nothing long. Later, when sent to
school, it is piled with-how many diff
ferent studies? Formerly a lad of ten
or twelve years of age found it enough
to do in one school season to master
reading, writing, and common arithme.
tic, with geography and grammar added.
How is it in fashionable schools to- day? {?
How many different studies is the juve-
nile expected to master? All the fore
going, and as many more. He must at
tack the languages, ancient and modern,
natural philosophy, political economy,
chemistry, rhetoric, etc.,-a mass Of
mixed study, enough to confuse the
strongest adult mind, much more the
soft and tender brain Of growing boy
or girl. Think what jumble, what a
confusion of ideas, such course must
produce. Is it surprising that such a
mind lacks application
Let parents begin early with a child,
and teach it to think and act consecu-
lively to apply itself to given OBJ
jant ho If work or hA ii play till an end
be attained. If building cob or a
block house be the thing in hand, let it
be completed; then, having attained the
end sought, let the thing be taken down,
packed up, and carefully put away for
use on another occasion. But, while
about the work, let nothing call the
mind away, or divert it, till completely
finished.
By pursuing such course you cult.
vate both application and method, SC
, also Constructiveness and Imitation.
The boy would make knife, boat. OF
$ a sled. The girl would dress a doll,
r knit stocking, or make a cake. All
right, so that it be one thing at time
and that thing be finished before anoth
er be taken up
Later, the boy would choose pursuit
. One, left to himself, tries thing for {
|. year, and finding it not all play, tire
r of it, and, after floating a few months
; with nothing to do, tries something else
and again "gives it up" After half ;
dozen such attempts, he will be so de
= moralized that no dependence can b
e placed in him. He becomes "good
for-nothing." and with him life is al
It ready failure. Now, he is open fo
3 "odd jobs" He will "tend bar" at
, hotel; occasionally fill vacancy durin!
, the absence of man in a livery stable
+ 60 as conductor on freight train or O.
i horse railway; assist an auctioneer
wait on table at parties; help make u
% set in dance set up ten pins; kee
e a drinking saloon, a cigar stand, 9
: sweep the streets; peddle peanuts, clea
spittoons, play second to 'mock aut
is tioneer," sell bawdy books, 60 to stat
to prison, serve out his sentence, and the
l. be cast out into the world miserabl
pauper, awaiting place in the potter
" feld-or, cheated of this, his miscrab
Al 81 body is put to use on the dissecting t;
,e BILE. And so ends the career of one VIII
as under judicious training and direction
might have made life splendid success
1g The chronological organ which
10 most essential to give application
IA called Concentrativeness, or Continuit
en- and is generally small in American
When found large, the person makes
oy a rule to do one thing at time. and
us finish what he begins. He also min
~ his own business. He succeeds.
he The organ is found large in tho
nd who pursue single branch of art or
ks mechanism. The weaver, spinner. fl
cutter. etc who keeps his mind co
'iy stantly on the one thing. has it lare
We vs But the counter-jumper, school teach,
II ''clty items editor, and scores of othe
. who seek variety, come in time to ha
ed more versatility than application.
10 Reader, learn to chain your though
together let there be no broken link
drop no stitches be not diverted FRI
l,so the duty or the matter now in hand
= not got s.too n,anu ;ronc In Tho Gre