Omaha daily bee., 1884-05-10
stick TO One Thinn.

ALLOW us to make one remark 10 cont.
tcucc. DO not permit your talent, what.
| Avcr it may he, whether great or small 4,
oe wasted by diffusion, or distribution IN n
dozen different directions. Concentrate. con.
ccntratc, should be the watchvord. While
there are but very few minds cnpablc of
attaining n high degree of excellence in
several distinct avoCations mt the same
time, there are still fewer, PERHAPS. who
may not attain CminCnCC in some one call
ing. One of the great draw baCksof Young
men in this country is, that as a general
thing they do not set out in life with any
definite object or end in view. They arc
not educated with n view to filling any
special station. The cases in which the
sous are educated TO follow the occupation
of their fathers are the exceptions and not
tho general rule. The sons of our thrifty
working men, in ncarlyall the branches OF
mechanical labor, especially, are very npt
to enter the realms of manhood with the
most indefinite idea of what is really " he
their life work. In the common schools
and in the high schools, and perhaps the
college, they acquire u fair general cduca-
ION without an idea ~ to what uso they
1. 20 put their education when acquired.
The ruling idea is that they will finally
land in some occupation or profession in
which they will be relieved of manual la
Dor, which is voted by the young men es-
pecially, to be n lower grade in the scale
of Responsibility.
We say to every young man, find out at
tho earliest day what trade, profession or
business you would like to follow, and II
possible choose that for which you have
some natural talent, bent or inclination.
The int lligcnt parent should he able to
decide that question himself For his son, or
at least to materially aid in the decision.
But suppose the young man has to decide
for himself. When the decision is once
made it should be final and practical, and
whatever it may be, let the education, men
tai and physical, hencetorth be directed in
that direction. 1t matters little whether
it be n trade or profession, the education
should be equally thorough, but concen-
tratcd and not dilfusivc. No man knows
of what he is capable until he has conccn-
trated all his energies upon the attain
ment of some given end or object. The
world stands with open arms for earnest,
concentrated human energy. In every
walk in life the high positions are waiting
to be filled by such material. While tAS
undecided, inefficient Observation-Disclosures"
IS knocked around from pillar to post" in
lis struggles for q bare subsistence, the
nan who has made himself master of al
most any one calling, steadily rises in the
of his fellow citizens, and with
,ut apparent effort of his own, acquires
wealth, fame and position. These are the
men who are in the common parlancc of
he unthinking are said TO be born lucky"
while in fact there is no luck about it. 1t
S the only Legitimate effect that follows
he cause. How often we hear the remark
rom those whose whole life has been q
series of iailures-"Well, luck is against
mel" when back of all luck, bad fortune
II ~mischance, the real cause will be found
. want of concentration OF life energy upon
single aim or object.
The most important factor in the Won
lerful progress of our industries to-day
S to be found in this same concentration
Of energy and intellect upon some chosen
vocation. Look in any direction, and in
my branch Of industry, and we will find
hat representative names and representa-
i've establishments have been built up from
he most unpromising beginnings by this
concentration of life force. A young man
"a mechanic forinstance-without friends,
capital, starts out with his unaid-
III sidlluS, Duu WIFI concentrated tIcISy W
success. He is not swerved from
lis purpose by difficulties, nor by tempo
AIRY failure. Slowly but surely he builds
rom the foundation, until finally, without
hardly being conscious himself of how he
las accomplished the wonderful work, he
counts his gains by the million, and has
not only established q business that sup
ports hundreds, perhaps thousands of work.
men, but n name that is known to the ut
parts of the earth, and that of it,
'elf furnishes u capital for his children and
lis children children long after he has
passed to his final rest and reward. Such
S the force of concentration of the human
mind upon one aim and object. 1t really
makes but little difference what the aim
md object may be, so that it be legitimate,
honest and honorable. 1t is the concentra-
ion, the steady perseverance. that COM
hands success, and not the calling to which
t is devoted.
Say we not well, then, "Young man,
waste not your talent by diffusion, but
Concentrate your energies upon some chos-
object or aim" Life is too short, and
ability is too circumscribed, to be
weakened and wasted by being spread out
'ver too extended II surface. The river
spreads its waters over too broad n
,ed is of no service. Ii hardly floats n
light canoe. But concentrate its waters TO
narrow channel, and mighty ships float
Ipon its bosom, carrying the Of
world Western Manufacturer.