The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1888-08-10
"Jacks aud Tinkers'"

Josh Billings said, III believe in tho
universal salvation of man, but j
want to pick the men," 1t is about
the same with men who call them
selves ''all-round mechanics and
profess to do everything, from cleo
trio lightning to driving u nail.
There are men who seem competent
to successfully carry out anything
they undertake, and there are men
who cannot do the simplest work
without long practice and persist
ent application. Some men will pick
up q pursuit, one of which they know
absolutely nothing, and by using
their brain, soon make themselves
competent and even authority there
III.
On the other hand, other men who
try to ''pick up" u new occupation
meet with failure from the start, and
every move is disastrous. The man
who succeeds first makes himself ac-
quainted with the principles of the
new business. Then he studies up
everything which has been done by
Others. He is going to benefit by
their experience, and commence where
they left off, instead of beating over
the same ground, and failing on
things which other mems experience
should have taught him to avoid.
In steam engineering some meT
seem to know from intuition just
what is necessary. They do the right
thing at just the right time, and
everything runs smoothly. These
men are new, perhaps, to an engi-
neer's life, but they have brains, and
know how to use them. They never
see q doubtful thing without giving
the matter a thorough Investigation
at the first opportunity. They find
out the reaso why, and when the
time comes the kn~owledgeis already
for use.
The 'jaeks and tinkers' who sue
coed are not known by such objec-
tionable names they are fitted out
with far more acceptable names, and
often tack on professor, IN. E."
or Consulting Engineer" to either
front OF rear of their names
At present the electrical field is
filled with "jacks and tinkers'; fur
thermore, O large number Of''cranks"
disgust the art with their presence.
The successful '.jacks and tinkers'
are getting famous and rich, while
the unsuccessful ones are getting
maledictions for their pay. These
men do not know enough to do the
work they attempt, and neither do
they know that they are failures.
They go on, and become the pest of
all manufacturers of material, sup
plies and Instruments. If the appa-
to- the makers substituted, even when
the first might be best suited for the
work in question.
To sum up the whole situation, n
maH must not attempt work he
knows nothing about, without ex-
pecting to work up from the very
bottom of the science, the n OF
working up to depend upon the a
Some men grasp the situation
and become competent in u very
short time. They may have the APP
pearance of "jacks and tinkers' az
far as length of time in the business
is concerned, but they have mastered
both principle and details of the mat
ter, and know their business.
When q man wants to go into
something new, let him make sure
that he can become capable before he
starts. Ifthere be any doubt in his
mind, then don't start at all, or the
rank and file of the LACKS ard tfnk-
ers' will receive another crank in
their midst.
A man must learn it all, but how
quick he can do it depends, like Josh
Billings's universal salvation" up
on the man..