The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-07-18
wANTED-Co,,PETrNT MEN.

wANTED-COMPETEN MEN.
The old and trite saying that there is
always room at the top" can never be
gainsaid but similar sentiment might
be more forcibly expressed in tbe state
ment that "the world is ever looking for
the young man who thoroughly under
stands the business" 1t matters not in
what line il may be- or what particular
branch Of the differentiated industrism Of
the present day: that business is hun
gering for the young man who has mas
tered it and its controlling spirit is ever
seeking for him.
The professions and trades viii never
be crowded until human nature has been
reorganized and chronic laziness has been
wiped from the face Of the earth. They
may seem crowded. and, in fact, it must
be admitted that they are always crowded
so far as the majority Of the young men
Of the present day are concerned. but
this does not in any way prove that they
are in reality overcrowded. and that there
is no room for the young man Of push,
honesty and industry. There was never
a better opportunity offered to such young
men than at the present time when, in
what is called a state Of advanced clvili-
cation. young men are INDUCING in the
vices and deteriorating tendencies that
characterize the age in which we now
live
The majority Of young men living in
this. the close Of the nineteenth century,
and engaged in the several trades ana
professions. have acquired extravagant
habits which they are exerting their best
energies to crafty. They long For the
close of the days work. when they may
keep some engagement or crafty some
pleasure. If the work of the store or
office keeps them five or ten minutes be-
yond the regular time for leaving they
grumble and think they are being abused.
They learn their duties so they can be
performed mechanically and then rest
content with their achievement. If they
can hold their positions, that is the
summit of their ambition. Outside of the
daily routine of their work, in "A certain
department of the business they are as
ignorant OF the general operations as
though they were engaged in some en-
tirely different line. They may work a
month. a year or a lifetime in one de-
partn1ent or at one desk. and yet when
specific work and no other.
1t happens that some day there comes
a change in the management of the bust
ness and some promotions are to be
who is the favorite among his fellow
employees or the young man who has
mastered the duties of one department
and then rested content? Not at all.
The one who is called is he who has been
patiently laboring for months and years
to understand the workings of the entire
business; who has mastered the details
of all departments, has read and studied
patiently until he is competent to be the
advisor and assistant of the head of the
concern. He may not have the dash,
the brilliancy or the distinguished ap-
pearance Of the .others-but he has the
energy and he has had the necessary
perseverance. The others look at him,
as he steps up to his new duties. and call
him a lucky fellow. They never stop to
consider that luck had nothing to do with
it. It may be a comforting thought to
them to call it simply luck. but it is not
the truth.
: Had the other employees also been
studying to master the business by inqui-
ries and reflection, by reading and intel
ligent conversation upon matter relating
to the business. then there would have
been competition when promotion was
to be made, ana then it would have been
that other qualities would have been
taken into consideration But, as the
rule during the present age. there is no
competition. Very frequently it happens
that there is not even one in the entire
list Of employees who has taken the trou-
BILE to master the business or who has
shown sufficient interest in the business
to deserve promotion to place Of trust.
In that case another is called from with
out the walls OF the establishment and
ne is regarded with envy; but the stran-
ger is the young man who has picked
up. by degrees. information enough to lay
a foundation for thorough comprehen-
sion of the business. and his reward
came.
This is why the world is looking for
young men who thoroughly understand