The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1890-02-05
The VALUE OF MINUTES. ;

THE VALUE OF MINUTES.
Different xieus ResardIns the interesting
ouestien OF wasted Time.
There are many different and more
or less conflicting views as TO what
constitutes waste of time Severe
that IS not devoted to productive work
or necessary sleep or rest They would
make of man mere machine, TO be fed
TO maintain his energies, To be allowed
TO sleep a limited number of hours to
prevent wearing out, but would have
him devote all his othcl. hours TO work
of some kind.
Other people. little broaderin their
I views. recognize the need of inteliec-
tnal culture and would permit GER
tain amount of time TO be given to
reading and study without conntingit
a waste The liberals recognize an
other need of humanity. and allow
some hours for recreation and arnuse-
nent- But there may be waste of
time under any of these limitations.
and they may be to some extent vio-
lated without waste Time Is wasted
/ that does not produce benefit of some
kind TO the individual, but the kinds
OF benefit TO which he is susceptible
are so many and the needs of different
men 50 various that there IS an almost
4 may be ttsefully employed The test
as TO whether time is being wasted
must, therefore. be applied in individ-
ual cases, and the only question is
whether it is being benefcially en-
I ployed- -,
That time devoted to recreation or
amusement Is not wasted IS expressed
IN the old proverb; 'sAn work and no
play makes Jack a dull bow" a
cheerful disposition is such an impor-
tGnt factor IN energetic work that to de-
prive man of the enjoyments of life
Is 10 curtall his working power. If,
however. due proportion is not
maintained between work and play
there IS waste of time In the opposite
direction. Too much amusement pro-
LIotes a distaste for work.
The hours devoted To reading and
study are beneficially employed. not
wasted, when the line of study Is such
as to promote the welfare of the in
diyidual, but time may be wasted in
reading that which is Of no benefit or
that which distracts ones thoughts
from necessary occupations. Time
may even be wasted in productive
work If IL should be of a kind that de-
other available kinds of work. But
by far the greatest waste of time comes
from want of method. 1t is constant
hour by hour, and like the constant
dropping of water on stone, produces
am effect apparently out OF ali propor-
ton to the cause.
Every one has noticed that in n we'll
ordered household or shop every tool
mas lts place and work proceeds sys-
tematically. One thing is no sooner
done than another IS ready at hand.
and the tools are always In order and
ready To be taken up. On the other
hand, IN a disorderly household or
shop, working without method, there
are frequent Interruptions or DELAYS
while the question is being considered
what to do next, or while search is be-
ing made for tools that when found
have TO be put in order before the main
| work can be begun. A few minutes
out of an hour may be wasted in such
delays, but IN the aggregate they
amount to total that shows this to be-
one OF the most common and almost
unnoted sources of the waste of time.
In large establishments emplovino
thousands of men the employer has 10
look after the possible waste of time.
oy as many individuals as he EMPLOYS.
and ms prosperity or failure may turn
upon this simple question of waste of
time. In such case the loss by the
individual Is so greatly multiplied that
IN single day il may amount to
enough TO offset the profits Of a close
business. This Is the reason for the
attention given in manufacturing es-
work and for the strict rules s,over,,s
ing the admission and departure Of
workingmen.
To the individual il sometimes seems
unnecessary TO close the doors al
o'clock and compel n man who is one
minute late to lose quarter of a dav-
but little calculation shows the ne
cessity for such rule. It Is not only
the individual who would lose time II
such rules did not exist. The whole
establishment would be demoralized RI
they were not established and en-
forced, thousands of dollars worth of
machinery would lie idle. along with
the workmen. and it would be iTnpoSsi-
BILE TO keep the work moving from de-
partment TO department so as 20 avoid
further waste of time. tl7i -
In workshop employing 8, 200 men
I'VE minutes wasted time by each man
in day would mean the loss of. the Ia
Dor OF twenty-five men for a dav of
ten hours, besides the incidental LOSES
uue 10 ldle machinery and the diff
Guilty OF keeping the whole establish
ment constantly employed II there
should be uncertainty as to the ont
put from any department. The ex-
treme case Of large establishment
only serves TO point out what
takes place on smaller scale in snalI-
er factories and workshops where tber,
Is lack Of method or disregard Of TaIes
as TO the hours of labor.
The particular ways In which time
should be employed always assuming
they are not positively harTnfull are
really of less importance than fhat
there should be method In the use 81
Tune and avoidance of the smaller
items OF waste that result from care
lessneSs IN preparation, thoughfless-
ness and neglect Of system. m.eBalti-
more Sun -
The Pope's Gold Ross. 80
The gold rose, of which so much IL
i - =,