The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1884-03-06
81" and "It."

1t is one of Ruskln's plthy sayings
that "the obstinacy of the mean man
is in the pronunciation Of 4, and the
obstinacv of the great man in the pro-
nunciation of IT." This difference
may be said to divide all energetic men
and women into two general classes,
those who are bent upon establishing
themselves, and those who are bent
upon establishing something which they
hold more important than themselves.
Each of these characters may be seen
in every station Of life, and every oc-
cupation. Two men are performing
the same manual labor with equal in
dustry; one is calculating how much
labor he need expend in order to salts
fy his employer and keep his situation:
the other, while fully conscious that he
is earning an honest livelihood, is also
Interested in the outcome of his work,
and is anxious to see it we'll done.
Two men are deeply engaged in poll
tics: one puts forth all his force and
ingenuity to secure for himself some
coveted position; the other is equally
energetic in pushing forward a needed
reform, or in securing the best man for
an important post, that the welfare of
his country may be promoted. Two
scientists are both earnest in maintain
ing recent theory, or in diffusing
| recent discovery; one because he hopes
thus to lift himself into notice in the
scientific world and be looked up to as
an authority; the other because he
firmly believes in it and desires that
mankind shall benefit by it. Two ar
lists are putting forth every power; one
for the sake of fame. the other for the
sake of embodying his conceptions and
giving them to the world. Two women
are capable teachers; one is planning
solely to secure her. own promotion;
the other is melted by the idea of ele-
waiting and enriching the young minds
intrusted to her care. Two others are
diligently engaged in works of charity;
one in the hope of being called Lady
Bountiful; the other desiring nothing
near so much as to lift some of the
heavy burdens of the poor, and to let
in ray of sunshine upon the afflicted.
In every case the one is absorbed with
the thought of II, " the other by the
thought of cit" Though working ap-
parcntly for the same purpose, and
using perhaps the same methods, their
aims and aspirations point in opposite
directions, their hopes and fears are
centered around different objects, and
the success of either one alone would
appear like failure to the other.
1t may seem at first sight that, if the
energy of each of these characters is
equally expended in the same direction
the difference of their secret motives
cannot concern any one but themselves.
If their work is done, and done well,
what more has society to askp 1t will
be found, however, that only 10 a GER
tain point can any work be performed
well when the aim is wholly selfish.
There comes time to each man and
to each woman when his or her own in
terest and the excellence of the work
seem at least to clash.
Perhaps a larger view would show
that there really is no such conflict,
that eventually the good of the worker
and the good of his work will be iden-
tical But at present, at least, we are
not always able to take this larger
view, and, whenever they seem to US to
come into collision, one or the other
must give way. The self-seeker has no
hesitation. His own interest is upper
| most in his mind, and if he imagines
that is to be promoted by Stacking his
efforts or adulterating his goods, or
giving short weight or measure, or
catering to what he knows to be a cor
rupt taste, or sacrificing some public
benefit, the die is cast, and society is
by so much impoverished and injured.
I He who on the other hand keeps his eye
fixed on excellence as the chief good.
can stoop to none of these things. II
his own interest is to suffer it must suf-
fer, for he has higher hopes and nobler
aspirations that he will not sacrifice.
Whatever stands in the way of his best
accomplishment must yield, and thus
it is in every case the man who empha-
sizes ..It, not he who emphasizes Il "
who is the highest value to the world.
Every employer knows how to prize !
conscientious subordinate who makes