The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-12
EVIL OF PRocRAsTINAT1oN.

A New York newspaper makes the
bold statement that more men mako
failures of life because OF procrastina-
ton than by reason of intemperance.
However absurd this may sound at
first thought, a few moments of refieo-
ton might serve to corroborate rather
than diseredit the statement. The man
who succeeds is the man who does
things, and does them at once. The
temptation may be strong to put off a
task for just another day" but with
each succeeding day the viii becomes
weaker and the man Of good intentions
may find himself in the clutches Of in
dolence so strong that it cripples his
usefulness and destroys the confidence
of his associates.
There is certain literary club in
Topeka which might be used TO point
this argument The members-or at
least most of them-are men of more
than average intelligence The pro-
gramme for the years work is made
up months in advance and every mem
Der knows for a period of from three to
six months when he is expected to read
an original essay. Still this is what has
happened this year:
One of the most brilliant lawyers in
paper in November. He was not ready
and a fellow member whose assignment
came in March exchanged places with
him on the programme. When the time
came he was stin unprepared. One
week a friend would come from the
east" TO keep him from his duty. Dur
ing another he had to devote his time
to making garden" and of course he
viii never be ready to perform the task
which few hours application would
have completed months ago. This man
loses more than the members of the
club through his failure
Another delinquent is the holder of
an important federal Office. He, too,
had an early assignment on the pro-
gramme. First he was occupied in Sc
curing his Office. Then he was busy
learning his new duties; then the sub
jeet given him was not satisfactory,
and so on from week to week and from
month to month he has avoided his
small task and deferred the actual
work hoping to commence next week, -
simply because of a lack of mental
energy, which of course he possesses to
a smaller degree now than he did when
he began to put off till tomorrow"
In this same category are a prominent
slA+SAf ala cAAtdfOt 4iiSA III MS pEDleS-
sion and a county Office holder who is
recognized as young man OF bright
promise and unusual intellect.
It is not because these men are busy
that they have made failures of this
almost insignificant duty. but becaus,
they simply would not begin. The MAI
who shirks duty can always find al
excuse which to him is entirely salts
factory. All great men Save been IneI
! of decision If Grant had waited til
/ next week. this would not now be
/ united country. If Columbus had wait
ed for his opportunities there nigh
now be no America If Napoleon Vvoule
have waited for more propitious skie
he would never have been the creates
general of modern times Men who be
gin by Sinking their small duties vii
end by negleeting the important ones
and sooner OF later there WIN come
time when there viii be no inportan
ones before them.
It is men of decision who succeed
Some one has said: IT want any
thing done at once always get a bus
man to do it The busy man is sinnpl
the man who does not wait for oppor