The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-12-23
THE CAPACITY FOR WORK.

'HEKE is nothing better recognized by business men
than the value of capacity for work. Genius, they
say all very well in its way; but when it comes to
executing large plans, the men who can do the most
no do 1t to order in demand The master OF an extern
sive plant giving employment great many laborers
skilled and unsklled has his eye details; he is
deceived by the generaze who makes great show without
bringing much to pass Efficiency for more than
knowledge when knowledge has clumsy fingers and slow
intelligence to carry into operation 1t is the bullet that
hits the hammersoke the head of the nail that must be
reckoned with in every calculation, the workshop
And this accuracy of execution although displayed by
person not scientifically trained will command the highest
respect and reward of practical employers.
Doubtless the capacity for work is hereditary in many
ca ses but breeding here than ancestry
In word training from infancy in the details OF industry
work wonders with most unpromising natures "Wha
you do? greater question than What do you know"
Knowledge is theory, work is practice The professor
gricuure would drive crooked urrow and gain the
tempt OF real plowman gultless of single scientifC
thought; he twas bred to capacy this accurate powman
knowledge truly power when it has bsen dgesed and
simulated be part of the man. informing his faculties
and vialzng his capacities of special efficiency 1t
poeS not have to beg for respect.
Nothing is abused than education. On the threshold
of school often dazzed misled by that wio
hewp, nebulos and elusive ambition dancing over
the quagmireS Of imagination Many youth has dreamed
through college with his eyes the Presidency of the United
States and when too late found himself untitled
for the office Of Justice of the Peace. Now and then rail
for doing the work of Lincoln Garfield "Know thyser
is fine admonticn; but the capacity for work the best
acknowledges it never mlseads its possessor.
If could but discover early in life limitations we
could apply the nutrition of school training and home train
ing such Of faculties nature has made sound and
capable of efficient developments if could but recognize
the absolute and unavoidable law of fitness and be satisfied
18th the life fit for there would be great less
enng Of the heaviest and calling strain Of existence.
T he capacity for work ought suggest its possessor what
particular work demands his activity If am emineny fitted
to excel hedger and dtcher my mental training should
not be directed to destroy that fitness and lead into
the delusive dream of peddling lightning rods.
This rule OF native fitness this criterion of capacity is
perhaps applied with less judgment in the field of literary
work than in any other of ambition. Every man and
who has reached any commanding emnence in
letters has had to bear the greatest strain of and
pity caused by with persons who per-
sisted in throwing their lives reckessy away trying
impos ble-tryng find way by which of capacity
could be bdged and success in literature attained de-
spite the obvious unness for literary work cur
dream raverosly INDUCED by many excellent people
hat the whole of literary depends upon getting their
writings printed They that capacity exists they as
that there avorsn at the publishers counter that
friend make matters all right with the editors
No Of reasoning business grounds from basis
drive them from this destructive teu-
sion They do know themselves; they mistake for
capacity; they go from year year aiming at Scott or
Emerson Tennyson, and wondering in desperate wrath
when their efforts land far short of dime and doegere
Truly the capacity for work must precede ambion-Mauce
Thompson in Saturday Evening Post.