The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-10-01
oerrlNe SOMETHING no DO.

Ihere ls hardly largo establishment
OF any kind, whether it be newspaper
Office, q mandatory or a trade estab-
lishment, that has not applications con-
stantly from young men who want
something to do. It is often painful to
see the hopeless look upon the appli-
cants' faces as they turn away disao-
pointed, and the scene becomes the
more painful when it is reflected that
many of them doubtless have capacity
for remunerative work, and would
faiShfully attend to it if they had the
chance.
Phe 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 1t had need of them
before 1t was willing to give them
subsistence. So true is this that it
might almost be laid down as an axiom
of success that it is only to DO won by
hard struggle. 1t 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.
Tho question of "getting n position"
resolves itself into two grand essentials
first, proficiency of some sort, which
stands for dollars and cents in tho
worlds market place, and, next, tact to
demonstrate this proficiency in way to
attract the worlds attention.
1t Is mistake to depend on sin
fiuence" to get work in legitimate call
ing; influence belongs moro properly TO
the domain of politics. AS a rule, too,
1t Is O mistake to ask or to expect en-
ployment on the ground of charity-not
that charity and business arc incom-
pahble, bQt that each should stand on
It's own bottom. The best recommends
ton Is q sample of your work; that, with
frank address and neatness of appear
anoe-for 1.-THE apparel oft proclaims
the man"-may often prove the "open
sesame" to success.
While 1t is good to have due appre-
citation of ones abilities, it is not good
to be too exacting as to the field for
their display. The distance between
the foot of o ladder and the top is but :,
short span to him who has within him.
self the power of rising.
The writer heard of young man who,
being in needy circumstances, went
bravely to work at the first thing Mt
hand-trench digging for o contractor.
That was his first opportunity. One day
his employer-not we'll educated man
needed some one to keep time roll of
the men. The young man volunteered.
The contractor took fancy to him,
found him increasingly useful, and the
10 l.
1t is another requisite of tho success
full worker that he shall be in love with
his work. If he is mechanic, he will
take pride in his tools; if he is book
keeper, he will plume himself on the
merits of his pen and on the neatness
and forwardness of his accounts. Julian
Hawthorne counts among the pleasures
OF authorship the satisfaction got from
good writing materials. AS the late
Colonel Forney once said to youthful
member Of the staff, ga man must work
con amore to have his work worth any,
thing"
a young lady who wished a place as
typewriter got it in common sense
way. She wrote out half dozen "re-
plies" 30 to speak, brief, businesslike
and respectful, setting forth her expert
ence, qualifications and ideas as to pay,
putting her figures rather above the
market rate. Next morning there were
four advertisements for typewriters.
She promptly mailed her four replies di-
rectly at the main postotfice, inclosing
q two cent stamp in each. One of the
four shots brought down her bird.
That evening her position came to her
by mail.
1t is not true that the world is u better
market for muscles than for brains. The
difficulty is that brain matter, whatever
its native brightness, is practically
worthless without training and expert
ence. For one play produced by man
ager thousand are rejected. The nc
copied one may be inferior in many re-
spects to many a rejected one, may have
less talent in it, but it is from a trained
head and it suits the managers want
and that is enough. 1t is so with story
writing-with headwork Of every kind.
Suitability is the quality that gives it Dc
cuniary value
Men and women who, with certain
brilliant qualities, fail to realize this
truth often fancy that the conditions
of success are hard and limited. Yet
theatrical managers, magazine pub
fishers and many others are subject to
the very same law themselves. They in
turn are employees of the public. They
must suit it, or it will turn elsewhere
for what it wants.
Finally, it is not necessary that IL want
should be proclaimed i'll order TO exist
Sometimes it may be anticipated. Some
times 1t may even be created Whoever
can create want for his wares or his
work is on the way to mastcrful success.
-Phi1n1olpbi, o,l,.ox