The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-08-11
Influence OF GOOD -. :.
MAN IN WORK SHOP
Sickle Tells Interesting Story of
Experience With Two Shop
Mates.
How One With Naturally Slow
Movements Became Speedy
by His Machine.

Rev. Charles Sickle, In his labor
newsletter tells a rather interesting
story this week of a shop experience,
and how the machinery changed the
character of the operators. He writes
as follows:
I well remember two lathesmen in
the old machine shop in which I work.
ed for eight years. Miller had charge
Of the speed lathe gang. He was al
most as big as an elephant, and to
look at him one would suppose that
his movements were slow and ponder
Gus. But the swift little machine that
he had been operating for years had
SO Influenced him that it set the pace
for his every movement. Thompson
ran six foot lathe down in the base
ment, where the heavy machinery was
installed. He was a typical American
tall, muscular, alert. But young
Thompson had also come under the
control Of his machine. His lathe made
only one revolution to that Of hundreds
OF the 'Dutchman's," and he moved
about with all the deliberateness Of his
slow-moving iron monitor. Both men
were unconscious victims of their en-
vironments. Every mechanic can re-
call how the rhythmic sounding Of g.
hammers blows seems to set the pace
for the movements Of the entire. shop.
Whether that young fellow whistles
merry tune or one that Is heard most
frequently at funerals means either
profit or loss to the employer.
Every man carries about with him
a tremendous influence. Sometimes
he is conscious Of 1t, but most fire.
quently he sways others lives, I'M
mindful that he is moulding destinies.
Scientists speak Of the magnetic
circle. Artists express the same idea
by the halo of light which they paint
about the heads Of the saints. Bust
ness men sometimes seek to create
an atmosphere that will unconsciously
influence prospective customers. The
fakir arranges the furniture in his
"office," and endeavors by suggestion"
to so captivate the mind Of his dupe,
that he falls into his mare an easy
victim.
History reminds us Of conspicuous
illustrations of the possession of this
magic power. When King Saul sent
officers to arrest young David, his
hated rival, they came into the pres
ence Of Samuel the prophet, and for
got their commission. A second COM
pany sent by the king remained to
praise. Finally Saul himself, full Of
rage, became subdued and confessed
his wickedness.
The soldiers sent to take Jesus
Christ captive returned to their super
iors without Him. humbly declaring:
Never man spake like this man."
PLATE, who had legion Of soldiers
to protect him, and boosted Of 1t,
trembled before his silent prisoner,
when Christ was finally betrayed into
the hands Of his enemies.
Julius Caesar, captive on a pirate
ship, won the heart OF the captain.
The first day he dined with him. The
second day he was made first mate.
On the following day he won the men
and made the captain prisoner, and on
the fourth day he sailed the ship into
a Roman port, prize.
There is in each Of us the same kind
of power. Great men are simply COM
mon men capitalized. The impression
that we make upon others Is a repro
duction Of what we are ourselves. No
man can give to others what he him.
self does not possess. It is therefore
worthy thing to make the most Of
ourselves. The apostle Paul once
wrote: ''Covet earnestly the best
gifts" Needless to say, whatever the
gift-natural or cultivated-it must
be used for the good Of mankind. That
man who uses it simply for his own
Qualification will soon have 1t taken
away. The Great Teacher has re-
minded us that 'he that saveth his
life shall lose 1t, and he that loseth his
life shall find It,"