The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1905-01-10

the ship off its course. It would take
us perhaps days Or weeks to regain
our course, or perhaps we would never
be able to do so. We might land In
China, as dishonest captain made the
pilgrim fathers land on the cold, bleak
New England shores when they had
set sail for the southern lands. No
matter how good q mans purpose may
be, If he knows not the laws Of navi-
cation he cannot guide his boat to the
right harbor."
. What; would you think of laborer
who should enter your sickroonh and
say: Discharge the doctor. Let me
be your physician and prescribe your
medicinesr' What would you think
Of mechanic who would try to con-
duet case In court when he did not
know the first A B C's of the law?
What would you think of d minister
who would try to build the Panama
canal when he had never taken a
course in engineering? And yet the
landlubber trying to pilot ship, the
hodcarrier trying to cure sickness. the
layman trying to draw up his own
"last will and testament,' the clergy
man trying to be the chief engineer of
Brooklyn bridge, is no more absurd
than the ordinary men and women try
ing to perform their tasks In life with
out an intelligent knowledge Of their
duties.
We must have intelligence to fit our
selves for the duties of life. How do
most successful men get that neces
sary, intelligence? I will tell you. 1t
is by improving the few moments, the
few stray moments Of the day and the
evening, which, as sacred fragments.
crowd areund-~,them. One farmer
works and works hard, but he does
things merely because his forefathers
did the same things. He plants wheat
in one field because his father and
grandfather planted wheat in that
field. The other farmer says to him-
self, II am a farmer, but l am going
to be an intelligent farmer" He sends
to Washington and gets the latest re-
ports from the agricultural depart
ment. He buys the latest books sent
ont by our great agricultural colleges
He finds, by studying during the few
stray minutes that come to him almost
every day and night, that his farm has
just the right kind OF soil for peach
orchard. He, plants the peach trees.
He stops growing wheat. He increases
the value of his farm from So per acre
annually to $40 per acre. Think not
am telling an imaginary case. l am
drawing my illustration from the own
ers Of two farms among the Michigan
hills. Both the two farmers worked
hard, but the successful farmer, by
jealousy guarding his spare few mo-
ments each day. doubled and trebled
and five times increased the value of
his property.
Look Ont For the Halt Hours.
Young man, be careful about the few
which you have been wasting
Zach day Guard those extra few mo-
nents for intelligent study Look out
for that wasted half hour during the
midday meal Look out for the time
rou have been accustomede to spend
every morning and evening in the
street car on your way to business
ooking idly around or trying to pass
t away In reading the advertisements |
n the sporting columns In the daily
Look out for that half |
lour which you fool away In your
DOM before you turn In for the night.
! gigantic work of intellectual growth /
an be done IL only the few wasted mo- I
nents Of each day are gathered up for
lose application to books. One day /
Philip of Macedon. father Of Alexander
he Great, was talking to Dionysius.
he son Of Dionysius, the great general t
i Syracuse. He said to the son: Il do
lot believe your father Golild have ever I
written the odes and tragedies attrib-
tied to his pen during his busy military
Ife." II father, the son replied.
wrote those masterpieces during the
ime yon and have wasted at our
ab1es In feast: . Young man, better
improve your stray moments as did
)ionysius the Great than fritter them
way as most folks are doing, with
heir lips pressed against the chalice OF
leasure. Better consecrate whole days
q LIES journey to making yourself
'etter and truer than to drop them into
selessness, as we lost our Thursday
d the smooth waters OF the Pacific in
ur Journey around the world.
But, though many minutes, which hi
he aggregate amount to many days,
re lost to tie service OF Christ on az
omit OF our own follies, how many
re lost to Christ by reason Of people
rho seem to have nothing TO do them
elves and who seem to be possessed
Vfth the idea that we have nothing to
OF Alas, how many mornings there
ave been when we arose with clear
alnds and hearts anxious for study!
shese thoughts, like great fiock Of
yfng doves, seemed ready to roost on
ur study desk Then ideas came not
4 solitary scouts, but marshaled In
reat armies, ready TO wheel In line to
tack at our command. Then horror
eemed to palsy. our fingers. The door
ell rang. In came q threatening no.
1ad ready to encamp upon our prem
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