San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-07-25

GSl az & q II
fence in orders is the one thing needed.
There is not only necessity for this
but there is a fitness in it that demon
strates the close affinity between these,
| fitness and necessity. Only the man
who can obey orders is fit to give or
| ders. Only the man who comes him
self under discipline is fit to exercise
| authority. This is one reason why
the higher posts in government and
railway and steamship service are so
| largely filled by promotions. 1t is
not alone that those who have serv-
ed in the lower capacity have learned
| the routine of their official work, but
that in learning it they have learned
self control, learned to obey orders
| themselves without questioning, and
are therefore the more likely to insist
| upon those those under them exercis-
| ing the same self control and render
ing the same unquestioning obedience.
Submission to discipline is largely
| included under these heads just con-
| idered. 1t is distinct from them, how
ever. Submission to discipline faces
| US towards the failures we commit
and the penalties imposed for them.
Under it we grow to learn that no pun
ishment for the present il joyous but
grievous, also that it does yield peace
able fruits of increased manliness if we
will be corrected and improved there
by. This discipline of the camp is a
good thing, for it teaches one of the
needs of all life, civilian as well as
military. All life must be disciplin-
atr-xy
Unpruned the vines may be luxurious
in their growth, but they will be a
tangled and unfruitful mass.
Promptness, is another of the les
sons that are learned in camp as they
are learned nowhere else. 1t is not
| obedience to orders, when you get
ready, that satisfies the commander
of the camp, or the drillmaster on the
field, or the officer of your tent. 1t
is obedience now. In the actual con-
tests Of war battles are lost or won
on the movements of a minute. The
prompt conclusion, the prompt issue
of the order, the prompt delivery there
of and it's prompt execution are what
saves. 1t is the delay in these that
loses the battle. In camp you learn
the art of war, particularly those ne
cessary movements, and not less the
manner and spirit of their execution,
by which the work of war is perform
ed.
These lessons are as valuable in your
| life as a civilian. Promptness is the
soul of business and professional sue
cess. The old proverb has it that he
gives twice who gives promptly. He
who masters, in this or any other
camp of military instruction, this les
son of prompt execution of all orders
! issued to him, learns the lesson for
! life, for the counting room and the Of
| fee and the factory and the railway
line and all else. You who are really in
! earnest in mastering these lessons OF
the encampment, are laying up richly
and building wisely for your future in
all that pertains to your success in
life. 1t is impossible to learn these
things and not be better fitted for life's
work.
Neatness, cleanliness, were mention
ed as some of the minor lessons that
the camp life inbreeds in us. These
one pertaining more to outer matters
and the other to personal, are strong
factors in the sum total of that which
makes for your business advancement
1t is the neat mechanic, clerk, appren'
tice, professional man, student who
is priced. The stress is put on here II
your camp inspections. The good in
spector is not satisfied with surface
inspection. The inside OF your bunl
and your gun and knapsack are in
spected as well as the outside. You
accountrements and dress must be IL
one all over Hence the expression
Every inch a soldier"
ComradesI 1t is not that you do no
know these things that these words ar,
spoken in your ears by the Ligh
preacher, this morning. You do know
them better than he, but it is in plac,
to stir up your pure minds by way o
remembrance. Particularly II is il
order to remind you that not one o
these camp lessons but will have al
important bearing on your lives in al
the walks of civil life. The habit
of self control, obedience to orders
promptness, submission to discipline
cleanliness, neatness and soldierl
bearing demanded in camp, will b
, valuable in every avocation of lif'
} Carry them with you out OF camp an
. into the home and the school and int
l business and you will find that the
; will be each to you as a pearl of gres
, | price. Break Ranks