Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-11-03
GETTING SOMETHING TO DO.

GE tlIN1 ROmE tIilNS ~ w.
A Few Practical Hints for Those who
Are Hunting for Work.
There is hardly large establishment
of any kind, whether it be newspaper
office, a manufactory or trade estab-
hshment, that has not applications con-
stantly from young men who want
something to do. 1t is often painful to
see the hopeless look upon the appli-
cants' faces as they turn away disap-
pointed, and the scene becomes the
more painful when it is reflected that
many of them doubtless have capacity
for remunerative work, and would
faithfully attend to it if they had the
chance.
The truth is that the world is slow to
take any man entirely on trust. The
greatest singers, the greatest painters,
the greatest writers have had to con-
vince the world that it had need of them
before it was willing to give them q
subsistence. So true is this that it
might almost be laid down as an axiom
of success that it is only to be won by a
hard struggle. It takes the attrition Of
poverty to bring out what is brightest
in man. 1t may be hardship, but it
seems to be law Of the social economy,
and being law it must have justice
and compensation in it somewhere.
The question Of "getting position
resolves itself into two grand essentials
first, proficiency of some sort, which
stands for dollars and cents in the
worlds market place, and, next, tact to
demonstrate this proficiency in way to
attract the worlds attention.
1t is a mistake to depend on Gin.
f1uence" to get work in legitimate call
ing; influence belongs more properly tc
the domain of politics. As a rule, too
it is a mistake to ask or to expect en-.
ploynent on the ground Of charity-not
that charity and business are incom
patible, but that each should stand Oh
its own bottom. The best recommends
ton is sample of your work; that, with
o frank address and neatness Of appear
ance--for "the apparel oft proclaim.
the man"-may often prove the "opeI
sesame" to success.
While it Is good to have due appre
citation of ones abilities, it is not goot
to be too exaeting as to the field fo
their display. The distance betweel
the foot of ladder and the top is but
short span to him who has within him
self the power Of rising.
The writer heard of a young man who
being in needy circumstances, wen
bravely to work at the first thing a
hand-trench digging for q contractor
That was his first opportunity. One da
his employer-not well educated ma
needed some one to keep time roll Q
the men. The young man volunteered
The contractor took fancy to hin
found him increasingly useful, and th
young man is now well up the ladder.
1t is another requisite of the success
full worker that he shall be in love wit
his work. If he is mechanic, he wi
take pride in his tools; If he is bool
keeper, he will plume himself on th
merits of his pen and on the neatneI
and forwardness of his accounts. Julia
Hawthorne counts among the pleasure
Of authorship the satisfaction got frol
good writing materials. AS the lat
Colonel Forney once said to youthfl
member Of the staff, ga man must wol
con amore to have his work worth an,
thing"
A young lady who wished place |
: typewriter got it in common sem
way. She wrote out a half dozen "r
plies" 30 to speak, brief, businesslil
aud respectful, setting forth her expel
ence, qualifications and ideas as to pa
putting her figures rather above Il
, market rate. Next morning there we
, four advertisements for typewriter
She promptly mailed her four replies q
rectly at the main postofice, inclosir
t two cent stamp in each. One Of ii
four shots brought down her bir
. That evening her position came to h
by mail.
1t is not true that the world is a bett
market for muscles than for brains. II
difficulty is that brain matter, whatev
it's native brightness, is practical
3 worthless without training and expel
t ence. For one play produced by ma
Q ager Thousand are rejected. The 8
8 cepted one may be inferior in many !
r spects to many rejected one, may ha
: less talent in it, but it is from train
head and it suits the MANAGERS wa,