Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-09-30
GETTING SOMETHING TO DO.


There is hardly large establishment |
of any kind whether it be a newspaper
Office, a mandatory or a trade estab-
lishment, 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 apph-
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 a |
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
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 a 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
fuence" TO get work in q legitimate call
ing; influence belongs more properly to
the domain of politics. AS a rule, too,
it is q mistake to ask or to expect en-
ployment on the ground of charity-not
that charity and business are incom-
patible, but that each should stand on
| its own bottom. The best recommends
ton is a sample of your work; that, with
a frank address and neatness of appear
ance-for "the apparel oft proclaims
the man"-may often prove the "open
sesame" to success.
While it 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 ladder and the top is but a
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 at
hand-trench digging for contractor.
That was his first opportunity. One day
his employer-not a well educated man
needed some one to keep a time roll OF
the men. The young man volunteered
The contractor took a fancy to him,
found him increasingly useful, and the
young man is now well up the ladder.
1t is another requisite of the success
full worker that he shall be in love with
his work. If he is a mechanic, he will
take pride in his tools; if he is a 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 a youthful
member of the staff, "a man must work
, con amore to have his work worth any.
, thing"
A young lady who wished a place az
typewriter got it in a common sense
way. She wrote out half dozen ere
plies" so to speak, brief, businesslikt
and respectful, setting forth her expert
ence, qualifications and ideas as to pay
putting her figures rather above the
t market rate. Next morning there were
] four advertisements for typewriters
She promptly mailed her four replies di
a rectly at the main postoffice, inclosinl
4 q two cent stamp in each. One Of tn
> four shots brought down her bird
, That evening her position came to he
by mail.
1t is not true that the world is bette
q market for muscles than for brains. Tn
difficulty is that brain matter, whateve
its native brightness, is practicall
worthless without training and expert
+ ence. For one play produced by man
s. ager a thousand are rejected. The &C
= copied one may be inferior in many re
n spects to many a rejected one, may hav
:. less talent in it, but it is from a traine
head and it suits the managers want
:. and that is enough. 1t is so with stor
N writing-with headwork of every kline
y Suitability is the quality that gives it pt
d cuniary value.
le Men and women who, with certai
If brilliant qualities, fail to realize TIL
10 truth often fancy that the condition
AZ of success are hard and limited. W
"A theatrical managers, magazine pul
:, fishers and many others are subject {
the very same law themselves. They
c turn are employees Ct the public. The
to must suit il. or it will turn elsewhel
I'd for what it wants.
he Finally, it is not necessary that a wal
at should be proclaimed in order to exis
T. Sometimes it tray be anticipated. Som
a. times it may even be created. Whoev'
d. can create want for his wares or h
- work is on the way to masterful success