West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-07-13
ONE OF THE PATHWAYS TO
ii' SUCCESS.
Baltimore Sun.

to much advice as to the aims they
should pursue and the means of at.
tanning success. 1t is an important
subject, on which too much advice OF
the right kind cannot be given, for
if a commencement address or a
newspaper article serves even to
guide one student to right ways OF
living, it has done noble piece OF
work for the individual and for the
community. Many elements control
the choice of purpose, many condi-
tions arise that determine the best
course of action to be followed, but
there are q few guiding principles
that ought to be impressed upon the
young. Singleness of purpose is an
important condition of successful ef-
fort. 1t is not necessary to be mar
row in order to be specialist, but
there should be one dominating and
controlling aim in life to give direc-
tion to study and effort. This can
seldom be judiciously selected in ad-
vance of experience, but it should be
sought out as early in life as posi-
bic, that vacillating disposition
NAV be not be developed before it is
found. Another important condi-
tion of success is devotion to the
work in hand and to the interest of
the employer of ones labor. There
are counter-duties on the part of the
employer, but whether these are OBJ
served or not the workman should
train himself to rigidly observe his
own obligations. If he finds his eff
forts unappreciated and unrewarded
his remedy is not neglect of duty,
but q change of place. For the time
being he should be thoroughly loyal,
eager to serve, counting his employ
er's interest as his own. Reward is
sure TO come IN some shape. If the
employer is blinded by selfishness
and narrowness of view to see and
reward faithful service, others will
do so and offer advancement to the
faithful worker. There are some
trades and callings that can easily
be regulated by q time table, in
which there is no such thing as eX
ira service or that permit an easy
adjustment of extra pay for extra
hours. Even in these there is op
portunity for the greatest difference
between hearty, willing service and
evasion of duty. But there are other
trades and callings where at partic-
ular seasons of the year extra work
is required, for which the customs
of the trade provide no extra pay.
There are jobbing and building
trades in which the mere disposition
of the employe may mean the differ
ence between profit and loss on his
work to those who engage him. AS
sn illustration of principle that
extends to all work, but is more
clearly shown in some trades than
others, take the case of house mech
anics who are sent out to do small
Jobs, for which their time must be
charged by the hour. The workman
who is thoughtful of his employers
interests makes sure that he takes
with him from the shop the neccs-
sary tools. He arranges his work
so as TO have as little lost time as
possible. If he finds that by q lit
tie extra work at moor or after six
o'clock he can complete a job so as
to save a second trip from the shop
to distant place, he does not hesi-
tate about doing that extra work,
though he may not get no pay there
for. Such workman helps to build
up his employers business and thus
indirectly benefits himself. When
a dull time comes and the force of
wolkmen must be reduced, he is pre-
fcrred as one to be kept in the shop,
even at temporary loss to the en-
ployer. Other master mechanics
observe him, and thei, shops are
open to him if for any reason he
should desire to make a change. 1t
is far different with the workman
who adds to the cost of small jobs
and discredits his employer by fire.
quent trips to the shop to get tools
that n little foresight would have
provided him with; who loiters on
the way and who is jealously care
full not to DO stroke of work dur
inc the noon hour or after 6 O'clock,
and who will not exert himself to
complete q job in one day, though
the carrying of it over may involve
half day of charged time. Such
workmen help to break down the
business OF their employers and
thus deprive themselves of work.
When dull times come they are the
first to he discharged, and If their
habits have become known they are
the last to be employed in other
shops. The one workman is cheer
fully advanced to partnership when
opportunity offers, the other remains
Journeyman; the one may start
business for himself sure that his
reputation for cheerful industry will
find him engagements, the other is
debarred by his reputation from en-
ployment by those who know him,
and has difficulty in gaining the
confidence and help OF strangers.