The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-06-15
Teachers. Department.
Conducted by Geo. G.. Hodges, School Com
missioner Of Abbeville County
Attention to Details.

SASiuSi'e aLt8lItOn 10 III" details; on
their work. Absorbed in the .uinutim.
they fail to grasp the whole idea OF til.
object to be accomplished.
Many r:ore, however, err in an orpo-
site direction. Some earnest aim or
great idea may fill their minds. They
may feel inspired with energy to do
something worth doing, or to become
something worth becoming and, with
high hopes and fair prospects, they set
cut on the journey Of life. Bv and by
difficulties multiply and are not over.
come, the path grows more and more
obscure. and their bright anlicipations
end in encouragement and failure.
They marvel ut this result; and, re-
calling their good intentions and their
,fervor at the outset, they conclude that
fate has been cruel to them. The truth
IA, they have neglected the dctuils.
Gould they by n tremendous effort
have reached their goal, they would
gladly have made it but they did not
realize that it was only by patiently
taking one step at a time that final sue
cess could be gained.
4 boy begins n business career, with
glowing visions Of becoming a prosper
Gus and honored merchant. He finds
himself entrusted only with the simple
duties of keeping store or office in or
der. doing errands, copying letters, and
Similar manual work. He wearies Of
details that seem to him to have no
connection with his aim, and, failing to
perform them with fidelity, he loses
ms situation. and, of course, all chances
OF promotion.
An artist forms a grand conception Of
q scene he wishes to portray but after
months of disultory labor, he gives it
up IN despair: He has lacked the dill
gcnce, or patience, or self-denial to
follow out, one by one, all the ~prosaic
and iaborious details of its execu-
ton.
Many a lawyer loses his case many
a physician loses his patient; many n
writer fails to give his thoughts to the
world; Many a mother fails to make a
happy home !; Many a statesman fails to
further the copntry's welfare, simply
from neglccting the small but numerous
details which are the cal materials ont
OF which their hopes must be r~ealiz,d
if at all.
Much OF this calamitous short-com-
ing is owing to a lack Of training in
cary lie. Parents are fond Of present.
ing to their children large ideas. of en-
.courag'ng them to high endeavors. Of
putting before them fine models and
this is right. But they are less sol,ci-
stous to incnlcate habits of faithful and
accurate performance in every detail Of
life. This can be done without over
sburdening their young minds, or over
taxing their tender powers.
1t Is lar better to limit demands upon
them to a very few, carefully showing
them how to fulfill them in the best
way, and insisting on promptness and
accuracy in each detail, than to crowd
upon them numerous vague commands
ana general directions which we ought
not to expect them to observe with anv
degree of th~oroughness or exactncss {
Let them be we'll grounded in one
study, rather than have a smattering Of
ten. Let them learn how to do one t
thing ENTHUSIASTICALLY and complete. t
than twenty in a desultorv S
and feeble fashion. +
When men apply this attention to do t
tails, to the cultivation of their moral :
and spiritual natures. they find il M
neeedful to any true and permanent /
growth. They wish to be truthful a
honest, just and kind 60 thew then i
guard their statements 10 avoid cxao- e
geration Do they discharge each oh. +
as it arises? Do they refuse to a
take advantage of another's ignorance, t
or to profit by his mistake or misfor- n
( Do they shYn all gossip and ill., :
natnred criticism. and seize every 3D..
.portunity Of adding TO the cup of han.
oincss Of each one who comes with s
n their infuence2 Character is made u
Up OF little things. and it is ONLY :. y
trough constant watchfulness over tho 5
letaiis Of right and wrong that we can K
IoPes TO build j. into fair or enduring b
,roportions. 49, Philadelphia Publics5 i
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