Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1902-05-22
H. j. JOHNSON, Publisher.
ASLEEP IN LIFE.


turbed by the onward rush OF life
around them. Deaf to the progress OF
science, invention, business methods;
deaf to the stirring music of the con-
quering hosts of wide-awake progress
sionists which is marching on to the
accomplishments of newer, grander,
better things.
What an overwhelming majority
ceases to learn after certain age
Early education or training enables
them to attain to fixed degree of eff
ficiency and there they remain. They
fall fast asleep in the contentment OF
having done thus much and allow the
hurrying crowds of younger, brighter,
less easily satisfied men to pass them
in the race of life. How many young
men and women leave school and new
er look again at book containing
knowledge which would be of service
in the race of life? How many bust
ness men follow well-defned lines to
certain point and stop where they
have managed to barely hold their own
in competition with others equally as
unprogressive as themselves?
A homely illustration will serve to
emphasize the point. Who is there who
prefers to patronize the grocery where
the counter and shelf displays are of
shop-worn goods, where the litter on
floor and counter suggests carelessness
and want of energy on the part OF the
owner and his employees? Who would
not rather trade in a store where the
goods are set out attractively, an effort
made to tempt the purchaser by dis
play of delicacies and even the staples
are set out in orderly neatness? The
old want of system, with the coal oil
tank adjacent to the cheese, and the
bacon cheek by jowl with the sulphur
matches. is no longer endurable, and
purchasers desire to see q brightness
and orderiiness which is an outward
indication of care and industry
Or in ordinary life, who wins the
more appreciation; he who knows moth
ing of the progress made in science,
invention, literature and art since he
closed his school books with a sigh OF
relief. or he who keeps in touch with
current events and is posted on the
things which are happening day by
dav. widening the worlds knowledge
of natural phenomena and making life
easier and more enjoyable for the
mass?
Take the merchant who 10 years ago
embarked in business. He adopted all
the up-to- date systems OF that day.
His store was a model OF attractive
ness and custom focked to him because
he was more enterprising than his
business rivals. A decade has passed
and he still conducts his business on
the lines of ten years ago. Younger
men have entered into the race for
commercial success and nave called to
their aid newer methods. The mer-
chant of 10 years ago is handicapped,
for he is fighting with antique weap-
ons. His methods of advertising are
crude; good enough for the time when
advertising was not business, but on
" an incidental to business. His store
system is cumbersome. wasteful, be-
hind the time, and custom is attracted
to the newer, brighter, and more pro-
gressive firms which have kept
watchful eye upon the advancement
along all lines which have been taking
place since he started out 10 years
ago.
What newspaper can hope to sue
coed which contents itself with the
methods of time past and does not
awaken to the need of newer, more at
traGtive methods? What farmer may
hope to profit from his business pro-
portionately with his neighbor who
walls to adopt similar modern nipple
ments and methods of cultivation?
What teacher may hope to cope with
others who adheres to the crude course
of instruction OF times past?
And so all along this line. Half the
men and women in the world are
asleep. They are oblivious to the
progress around tn Lull ID into
contented apathy, quoting with salts
fed complacency, Sufficient unto the
day is the evil thereof" How can they
be awakened? Some never can be.
Nothing short of a catastrophe will
bring them to realization of the need
of action, and in the catastrophe they
are likely to be overwhelmed. "The
price of success is eternal vigilance"
Too many begin their daily task
with distaste and unwillingness, per-
form it mechanically and reach the
end, having done just SO much as they
have to and no more, with unconcealed
relief. Thomas Edisons advice to