The Washington herald., 1911-01-29

produced. Half the trouble in play writ
ing. says an eminent authority, comes
in getting your play accepted. Some
times it may be observed the other half
comes after it has been produced. So 1t
is with the ambitious boy: like the good
play. he is widely sought after. and when
he finally makes Il place for himself he
is much applauded. but in the meantime
he may have worn out many a pair Of
shoes
Surely no one has sympathy for the
young man who upon being told there
were 500 ahead OF him returned home
with the determination to rest until they
had found places. The truth is that the
man who wants a job must be on the
spot early In appreciation of this early
bird theory some young men when the
time comes for them to look for work
may be found just outside the press room
waiting for wet copy of their daily pa
per in which appear advertisements Of
Help Wanted" Oftentimes it is a case
of first come first hired, in which case the
start OF few minutes may mean the
landing of a job.
Figuratively speaking. every applicant
for a job. consciously or otherwise. brings
10 his prospective employer a first card
of introduction. This is the appearance
OF the applicant himself; his personal
attire. his manner of behavior and speech
and the general impression he creates.
Ordinarily this unwritten card of intro
duction spells one of three words:
'Desirahle-
Doubtful.
undesirable
Appearance, therefore, is one important
consideration. What are the others? ?
\ few days ago 4 young man asked the
manager of a big New York firm the
question:
Most Desirable Qualifications.
What is il you consider the most desir-
able qualification in those who come to
you for employment"
The answer came at once:
Character"
The manager continued:
while We get good impression from
4 we'll appearing boy. we by no means
consider this impression final II all
depends upon what We learn of his char
acter. II the boy is slovenly at first
sight We can remedy that fault. If he
is made of the right stun he is not only
willing but anxious to improve his ap
pearance. But for the boy without any
character We have no use"
How do you first get in touch with
Through employment agencies con-
Quoted by the churches and other relig-
iouS associations
Included in the card questions signed
by every employe of this firm is the
inquiry: DO you use Intoxicating liquors
as BEVERAGE
Such. IN brief. is the testimony Of
corporation employing thousands OF
young men and women as we'll as hun
drcdS of boys and girls.
Further testimony along the same line
is given by an examination of the "Appli
cation for Empovn!IT.' card of a leading
New York City bureau. on which there
also appears the question: DO you
smoke cigaretteS?'
From cigarettes to college is a wide
step. but the subject of qualification also
takes up the question of education and
the old riddle. Does a college education
pay?"
Would the Audience Be:
Perhaps the best way to answer this
question is to quote the familiar speech
credited to G. Bernard Shaw. who. when
called before the curtain on the occasion
of London first night. remarked.
Ladies' and gentlemen: | came here to-
night knowing my play to be a success.
The only question was whether the audi
ence would be-" SO it might also be said
by the president of the college: Fathers
and mothers: l come before you to-day
knowing my college to be success. The
only question is whether your boy will
be
Certain ii is. other things beng equal.
it is the boy with the trained mind who
has the advantage, and a college course
aims to train the mind. But, as you may
,rAIt h<,x-
be trained, and so there you are again.
There is no question that the value Of
Il college education is increasingly recog-
niZed. Only a few years ago it was pos
sible for a boy desiring Il professional
education to attend leading schools of
law and medicine without a preliminary
college course; but not so nowadays.
Gradually the entrance requirements have
been raised until now the best of these
schools demand what is equal to four
years course of study in n recognized
college. The same thing is true. though
in a smaller degree, in the business world.
in those lines where a trained
mind is needed at the start.
1t is the little things that portray the
boy. or the man. and IL is these selfsame
little things for which the employer is
on the alert There was once
an employer advertising for a bright
ed and answered his perfunctory ques-
tions, giving him an account of their
experience ard their ideas of the work.
Made No Choice.
In turn he took their addresses. but
without coming to any choice. The young
man next in line answered his questions
no differently from the others. gave his
address and had reached the door when
he paused. and quickly returned.
Il want this job. if it hasn't been filled
yet" he said, earnestly.
Il have twenty other names here" re-
piled the employer.
THAT may be true, but l want you to
give me first chance"
WHY"
Because I have made up my mind to
go into this business. and I know I can
succeed in IT."
Very we'll. it is yours on trial"
In this case of the young man who got
his job. it was simply his much to be de- |
sired quality of persistence that won him |
instant favor with the employer.
The persistence idea again was made |
use Of by the boy who applied for place |
in the morning. only to reappear the |
same afternoon.
But you were here this morning." in |
.erposed the employer.
II know" said the boy, but there were |