Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-04-15
"KNOWLEDGE Is POWER

out much thought being given to 1t
Is generally associated in mems
minds with the idea of great knowl
edge and great power. Bismarck
and Gladstone, for example, attained
positions of great power through
their knowledge and ability.
But knowledge is power in small
| things as well as in great. The hum,
Dlest tradesman who has superior
knowledge of his craft finds that il
gives him power or advantage.
n salesman in dress goods house
gets salary Of two or three times
as much as the general rate paid for
similar services. Why is he paid an
extra salary? Because he has ex-
traordinary knowledge which makes
his services of extraordinary value.
When he entered the business he
made study Of colOrs and color
harmonies, training his mind and
his eye in an art school, not that he
might become painter Of pictures,
but to obtain the kind of knowledge
that would help him in his business.
lie thus acquired extraordinary
ability in the matching of colors and
good taste in making combinations
0fcolor. His abilities became known
to the women customers, his fame
spread so that he brought customers
to the store, his services were sought
by rival storekeepers and he was
given higher and higher wages that
his services might be retained. And
though he gets two or three times as
much salary as other men in similar
positions he is not paid any more
than he is worth. Through his
knowledge he commands an amount
OF business justifying the payment to
him Of an unusually large salary
The kind Of knowledge he possesses
may not he regarded generally as of
very high order, but it has money
value, it represents power.
Thus it is in all trades and callings,
knowledge gives power. There is
another mistake commonly made
about knowledge with respect to it's
influence upon the lives of men,
Some people assume that book knowl-
edge or that which is gained in
schools is of greater Importance than
any other kind of knowledge. The
reverse of this is nearer the truth.
knowledge is gained in many differ
ent ways-by experiment. through ex-
perience, by observation and thought
and knowledge of various kinds
it is of things as wellas what is said
about things i'm books; it is of men
as we'll as of the doings of men as
told in histories; it is of business i'm
all its ramifications and with all its
unwritten customs as we'll as of busi-
ness forms.
Some Of this knowledge Is gained
by uncultured men, who use it as
powerful lever to advance them
selves to positions of power. Sur
prise is sometimes expressed that
this or that man has risen from pow
erty or from low position to one of
commanding influence in political
affairs, although he is uneducated
and perhaps vulgar. But he will
generally turn out to be man of
knowledge of some kind. He NAV
know nothing Of literature or his
tory, of finances or of the rules cf
English grammar, but he may know
great deal about men and how to
manage them, this knowledge hay
ing been gained by experience and
long contact with men Of all classes.
His power comes from this knowI-
edge as truly as the power of Glad
stone comes from knowledge which
is, in the main, cultivated or derived
from study.
The moral to be drawn fro m this
reflection is that every man, how
ever humble his calling, should aim to
obtain such knowledg as will be USE
ful TO him, knowing that its posses
sion will give him power Of some
kind that will be of service. Every
one should aim to become a master
in his trade or profession, if in moth
ing else, for extraordinary knowl-
edge of ones calling gives it's pos
SCISSOR a degree of relative power
that is in itself sure element of
success. - Baltimore Sun.
WHEN HIS " UNCLE" WOKE UP.
While Il well-to.do Partisan was re.
turning recently by train from Havre
during the first hour his only fellow
passenger i'm the compartment was
young man who made himself very
agreeable. Then others got in and
talk was general Finally the Pa
risian dropped asleep. Presently
the young man, turning to the other
passengers, with wink toward the
sleeping man, said, in an undertOne,
" l'll play good joke on my uncle -
and he unfastened the strap by which
a small travelling bag was slung over
the shoulder of the sleeper. "TIl
change in rext compartment at the
first stop, and my uncle will wake
up and think he has been robbed
1t will be fun to see his face, and /
can watch through the little glass in
the partition. Don't give it away"
The Others grinned appreciatively,
and the young man presently slipped
out with the bag. Soon after the
owner of the bag woke up. He
missed the pouch from the strap,
and jumped up in great excitement,
eXclaiming:
l'Ve been robbed 20
The response of the fellow -passen-
gers was a roar Of laughter. This
added anger to the victims excite
ment, and he stOrmed furiously.-
Finally one Of the passengers assured
the angry man that his bag was all
right; his nephew had 1t in the next
compartment.
my nephew !" shouted the be-
wildered man; "I haven't any
nephew. 1 never had a nephew.
don't know anything about any
nephew"
Then it was the turn Of the other