Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1901-04-04
THE WORLDS DEMAND FOR MEN.
Address by Prof. G. Lawrence before Y.
M. c. A. Sunday, March 10, 1901.

M es "A. cuhuSyb Nh"'Sh w. 'o"A'
We stand on the threshold Of the
most wonderful century that man has
ever witnessed. Even present pro-
gress dazzles the imagination; and a
glimpse into the future fills one with
inspiration. The young man OF today
is stepping into a field Of opportuni-
ties, OF possibilities, of unrealized
achievements unknown to the young
man of the past. The world is loudly
calling for men of integrity, Of sterl-
ing worth and OF action. In every
business and profession there 10 a
most marked demand for such men.
1t may not seem, on first thought,
that there really is an urgent call for
men. Competition, we say, is fearful
in every department OF life. But do
we no look at the world from the
stand point Of self, do we not imagine
that because we are not called, there
is no demand? And so we are content
to declare that opportunity is chance.
and that success 10 luck. No, my
friends, 1t is not. Get away from self
aud its immediate interests and see.
Come out into the sunshine Of the
worlds success and enjoy its cheering
and healthful influence. Look at the
experiences of our greatest men In
government, 10 literature, and In
business. What is the record? Gould
you endure the SCOTS, the jeers and
the ridioule, the privations, the sacri-
fees, and the suffering that Washing
ton or that Lincoln endured az the
price of success? Listen to the words
of that king OF modern poets, James
Whitcomb Riley: "For twenty years
/ tried to get into one magazine; back
came my manuscripts eternally. ]
kept on. In the twentieth year that
magazine accepted one Of my articles" !"
Have you such a reco. d as that?' Are
you willing to make It such?
No, men, opportunity IS not chance;
success Is not luck. The very fact
that we may not hear the call for
men Ia absolute and positive evidence
that the fault is not In the worlds
demand but In you, in me. Don't
wait for a call, create demand; don't
wait for an opportunity, make one
don't wait for something to "turu
up" turn something up. No man
ever became a successful educator
without first securing an education;
no man ever became a captain OF
industry without first being indus
trious; no man ever successfully
governed others until he had learned
to govern himself: no man ever did
the world a lasting good whose inten.
tlons and purposes were not pure and
true. ..-
What are your aspirations, young
man? II you do not realize them,
then you have not fully prepared your.
self for that work. II you have quail.
fed yourself and still there is no de-
mand, you have not put yourself on
the market. To succeed, there must
be mutual demands. The world must
want your service, and you must want
what the world offers. But back OF
all must be ability to meet the needs
of the demand. There are too many
men who want twice the pay they are
worth, and too few men who are worth
the pay they get. Have you one
friend who is really qualified for a
certain work and that has not found
1t? Have you one acquaintance who
does not possess ability and qualifica.
tion and yet has successfully filled
and held a position? Position with
out ability to fill 1t is one of life's
greatest misfortunes and results 10
its worst failures. Ability and hon
esty, preparation, position - these
make the opportunity that leads to
success.
Dead indeed is he who does not care
to succeed. To live In the same way,
to do the same things, to think the
same thoughts, to make no improve
ment, no progress year after year
must be monotonous. l believe every
man owes to the world his best In
effort and in character, and that the
true man longs to improve his condi-
tion, would increase his business
there is satisfaction In growth, Graves
new truths that he may become a
better man and live more happily.
1t takes perseverance and will to
achieve this; spasmodic efforts count
for but little. 1t is he who keeps
steadily on the push and makes the
most of his opportunities, that goes
the farthest, that climbs the highest,
that gets the most out OF life. And
this is but right and just. But no
man can do his best or realize the
most from his labors, unless into the
work at hand he can enter with all
his faculties unfettered and wish