The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-07-23
9 THERE'S ROOM AT THE TOP"

The young man ambitious to succeed
in any line of business should always
bear this in mind. There are those in
plenty of mediocre ability. superficial
requirements, and inadequate prepara-
ton, but the thoroughly trained and
competent are scarce. The standard
of modern professional requirements
has been greatly elevated by the adj
vances which the world has made with
in a few years past, and still higher de-
mands are constantly being made.
The demand for men who have COM
plete knowledge of every department
of their business has always been felt
The extent of that knowledge Widens
every year, as improved methods and
facilities are introduced. The ship
captain, for instance, who a few years
ago needed only to be acquainted with
centuries old theories of navigation,
with what more recent geographical
explorations had added thereto, now
finds himself, in this age Of steam,
working under totally different condi-
lions. What he formerly knew is
equally necessary now, but the sue
cessful management of a ship propelled
by steam calls for an entirely new set
Of ideas and experiences, and the cap
tain who would at present be thor
ough master in his profession should
not only know how to run a steam en-
CINE, but be practical hydraulic en-
gineer, with good knowledge also of
pneumatics and electricity, in order to
avail himself of all the advantages
which recent discoveries and inven-
tions have placed at the disposal of
navigators, whereby more efficient
work may be done and higher degree
of safety attained. There are captains
in plenty who are sailing masters only,
but in proportion as they are also COM
petent in these other departments,
whereby they become in fact indepen-
| dent of their subordinates, do they at
tain the higher positions and greater
responsibilities of their profession.
And what is true in this instance
may be said of nearly every branch of
business, as we find like necessity for
greater amplitude and thoroughness of
preparation in all lines of professional
activity. The discoveries in chemistry
within few years past have been of
far reaching Importance, and many of
them have been such that first-class
doctor cannot remain ignorant of the
advances made and retain his position
in the front rank Of his profession.
With lawyers, also, greater familiar
| ity is expected with all departments of
modern science, SO that many members
of the bar at the present day may be
really classed as experts in the tech
nicalities of important industries.
And with these demands for higher
standard Of preparation the facilities
for it's attainment have been SO null
ttiplied that they are easily within the
reach of all who have the disposition
and the energy to avail themselves of
the opportunities offered.
One popularity in the conduct of our
leading industries, however, has oper-
ated rather to hinder the attainment OF
this higher standard of excellence
among workmen in many cases. The
+" division of labor" now carried out in
such detail in most branches of bust
ness has given us great numbers of
Workmen who know only small por-
tion of trade, and, unless the mechan-
| ic be ambitious to rise in his avOcatiOn,
he becomes little better than machine.
Blacksmiths, machinists, carpenters,
masons, painters, shoemakers, etc., are
now divided into separate classes of
workmen who are masters only of some
speciality in their trade, rather than
the whole trade, and but seldom en-
deavor to reach a practical knowledge
of all the other departments of their
! Town business. Toillustrate from what