The Portland daily press., 1883-06-01

Sfils, anu udS lauSnb US THAI NATURE Hds no
mysteries to those who have the patience
and intelligence to seek their cause. 1t has
widened the field of professional benefcence
by directing its energies to the prevention
and removal of diseases, as well as to their
treatment and cure.
To-day medicine is one of the most invit-
Ing, perhaps / may say the most inviting
field to the intellectual activities of the race,
and, though say it,, who perhaps ought
not, compared with law, 1t presents
immeasurably greater attractions to STU
dents in all that stimulates to en-
thusiastc labor and thought. / almost
wonder that men can study the dusty tones
of my profession, while the doors of yours
stand oper, inviting them to the fascinating
study of nature and her works. We're II not
for the advantages which the law offers as
stepping stone to public life. fear that the
number of its votaries would soon grow less.
1t is question whether the intimate rela-
tions of law and politics, as commonly I'M
derstood and practised, are not TO the decd-
ed disadvantage of the former.
The student who has just received bis de.
gree in any profession has but very imper-
feet idea of The field he is about to cultivate.
His previous study has only taught him its
general outlines. His real difficulty is to
know whether he has any special fitness for
the wok. The tests of student-ife are at
the best imperfect and partial. They do not
measure the students real powers--his skill
In adjusting himself to new Relationships
readiness in applying the principles of his
art--his resources in emergencies-his self
possession and self-confidence. These are
important factors, and fortunate is the man
who has measured himself against his fell
lows, In his student days, sufficiently to
know that he starts in the race with fair
chances of success, handicapped by no
special weakness or disability. This knowl-
edge gives him confidence that can ba
acquired in no other way, and without
certain amount of confidence in himself no
man can do his best work. Yet there is
danger that men may get wrong estimates OF
themselves from the contests and experiences
of their student-life. They start at very
different stages of development, and with
very different mental equipments One
man does easily at first what another has to
labor hard TO attain. The disparity between
them is apparently great, but as the days go
by 1t begins TO disappear, until ut last the
temporary advantage, which was due to
accidental circumstances, Is overcome by
superior energy and industry, and the race
is finally won by men who In their early
days showed up to little advantage by the
side of their more favored fellows, but who
subsequently, developed powers of labor and
endurance which have thrown the latter
completely into the shade. This is one of
the reasons why it is so difficult to foretell
the relative success of men as they start in
their professional careers. There Is no fixed
standard by which to judge them. We can
not sell measure them against each other.
Their potential energy is variable quantity,
and there Is no unit of power by which to
gauge 1t. And yet there are certain quail
ties which enter as controlling factors into
the result. Among them there is none more
important than the capacity for hard work.
If in any case this can be aseertained in
advance, we can predict with reasonable
certainty the result. In thus placing a
capacity for hard work among the most
important conditions of success in profess
sional life, it 10 not to be understood that
ignore the natural differences which exist
among individuals in the matter of mental
endowments. / recognize those differences
and the fact that they are sometimes very
great. We occasionally meet with men SO
far superior to the average of the race in
range and quality of mental power as to
place them in category apart. Such men
are not subject to the ordinary conditions of
life-they suffer from none of its competi-
tions, Their success is phenomenal and
rare, and the average man is little aided by
its study. Geniuses move in orbits of their
own, the eccentrieities of which cannot be
safely followed So far as the consideration
of the ordinary conditions of professional
success is concerned, such cases can be
properly disregarded.
My observation of professional men leads
me to believe that they differ less in natural
ability than in mental training and habits.
While am disposed to recognize the fnfu-
ence of heredity as an important factor in
mental development, | still hold that the
g
much more uniform than is generally be-
lieved to be the case. In my own profession
would stake average intelligence, combined
with marked industry and good habits,
against exceptional abilities accompanied
with irregular and spasmodic efforts. The
fable of the hare and the tortoise is con-
stantly illustrated in the careers of profess
| sional men. 1t is so easy toe account for
| differences in results by assumed differences
| in natural powers, that we are constantly
inclined to overlook the important part
which education plays 10 the history of the
individual. Systematic training makes the
most of maD,-it brings out all there is in
him. We see that this is true in the matter
of mere physical skill and power, and 1t is
quite as true as regards mental skill and
power.
The aim Of education is to teach the mind
how to work 10 adyantage,-to enable 1t 10
do with ease whatever is within the range of
its powers. If well directed it not only
accomplishes this, but also augments its
power. 1t establishes regular and har-
monious action of the mental faculties, and
at the same time stores up mental energy.
If the process is carried tar enough, it pro-
duces marvellous results.
The work and drill of the professional
school is but one stage in the process. The
work must be kept up afterwards; and this
is where men usually fail. Alter admission
10 their profession they relax their efforts
They abandon habits of systematic work and
study. They lose their early enthusiasm
and impulse. Their work is desultory and
careless. They fail to master the details
aud minutie of their profession, without an
accurate knowledge of which success is i'm
possible. There is no daily increase in pro-
fessional skill and knowledge. They are
content to live on the outskirts of the pro-
fession and never penetrate to Its arcana
For such men the professions are only a
livelihood means Of exploiting the ignor-
ancesand follies of the race.
From any pointlof view such course is a
mistaken one. The world has need Of
skilled and learned lawyers and physicians
and is willing to pay literally for their ser
vices. The rewards of the professions are
worth working for. They fall to those who
know how 10 labor while other
men sleep. The successful professional
men to-day are men of large skill
and requirements which have been
attained only by tireless and persistent prac-
tice and labor. They are the men, as a rule,
who know more than their fellows, and
the world is willing to pay for their knowl-
edge: fNutld dies sine Inca should be the
rule Of professional men,
am aware that the first few years OF
professional life are the years that tax ones
courage and patience, and yet they are the
years in which the foundations of profess
sioDa success are laid. They disclose the
quality of the man--the scope and character
Of his ambition, as well as bis tenaclty and
mental grip. If they are years simply of
waiting and loafing, and not Of intelligent
and well-directed labor they are sure TO car
ry disappointment In their train. If young
professional men could only be persuaded
that hard study and hard work are the Sc
crets of professional success, and that their
is just so much drudgery that every man
must go through sho a.tains eminence In
his profession, believe we should see them
buckliDg down earlier to their tasks and
have 10 record fewer lamentable failures.
Professional life has its public as well as
private duties, and to this rule the medical
profession Ia no excpDtion The important