davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-11-26
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOURSELF;
OR, LOW AIMS AND HIGH ONES.

- NE Of the most famous men in Ger,
many during the latter part OF the
nineteenth century, from his birth
~ until long after he reached manhood.
lived in the direst poverty. In his
"reminiscences he says, speaking OF himself
and his brother: For many years our sup
pers consisted only OF a piece OF bread Of
moderate size upon which some jam or but
ter had been spread thinly. II we complained
that we were still hungry, which ne did
every day, our mother replied regularly,
The sack must be tied sometimes before II
Is full She could do no better"
1t is not surprising that a child so insufi-
cIently nourished should be a weak boy, as
this ons was. It Is also not surprising that
his brother died early and that his other COM
panions in poverty found early graves. As
for him, It would seem as though some mys-
terious vital spark-it may we'll have been
his ambition-kept him alive, just as hope
has kept alive other men who have suffered
every persecution, and delicate, frail women
who have lived through unbelievable hard
ships. Sometimes he used surreptitiously to
cut a slice Of bread on for himself. trying
to do It as his mother did, but she was never
deceived and he was punished for his at
tempt. 1T is easy to understand" he says,
why my ideal was for years to eat my fill
OF buttered bread"
Notice that he speaks OF the future good as
an ideal. In a sense It was perhaps a low
one, yet many men have started as he did
with the idea or ideal that the best thing for
them was plenty Of well buttered bread and
have ended by not only securing the bread
but gold plates to eat It from and the privi-
lege OF eating 1t in company with the great
ones Of the earth. There are often wide and
luminous margins Of possibility about real
aims In life. which grow in time into solid
realities. A sincere and not unworthy aim
can hardly be low, although its object may
seem 50. for there is about 1t always some
excess.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-11-26

yourself. even though It be an unconscious
one, the higher the thing you believe in as
best for yourself, the nearer 1t comes being
the best for everybody.
Quite the opposite OF this. you may settle o.
what is commonly called practical way Of
looking at life and action, reducing the best
for yourself to so homely an ideal as that
honesty Is the best policy. Honesty. TO be
sure, is included In all high ideals of behavior,
but this ideal does not include much of any
thing that is high.
The fundamental impulses Of men are in
spring genii. says great philosopher Self
interest is undoubtedly one of these impulses
and it is an impulse that Is in general dis
credit. At its worst it is responsible for a
Pecksnin, Squeers. or a Daniel Quilp, but
at its best 1t accounts for Sir Galahad or
almost any Of the aspiring and sanity indi-
viduals who for their souls sake have over
come every temptation and hardship.
p =
Se1f-IntereSt, High and Low.
Self-interest at its worst Is so hideous that
its effects overshadow any good that might
be credited 60 this natural instinct or i'm
pulse. There Is q great difference between
seh-interest which stimulates a man to
make the most OF himself and that which
fastens itself like a leech on society.
The self-interest Of few individuals mr.
doubtedly cost q nation a continent. The old
fur companies did not want the great west
the home OF the beaver, settled, for Il wouId
destroy their business. The owners OF the
great cattle ranges tried to keep the small
farmer out. yet they bad In time to give way
and great territories are now divided into
small divisions, supporting millions OF men
instead Of thousands Of cattle. Self-Interest
must finally yield before the pressure of So
ciety and no mans life Is usually so short
that he does not feel this pressure before he
dies. Self-interest Of the worst sort Il SO
sure to overreach itself that its overthrow
cannot be delayed.
But all these things need not put this in
stinct or impulse out Of countenancs. There
In no doubt but that II IL always active, save
In the exceptional few IN deciding the aims
Of life. and It would sometimes seem as
though It were q sort Of self-interest. some
thing in which their souls took particular
delight, for them to be considered among
the meek and lowly Of the earth
A laughing philosophers definition OF this
impulse, or instinct. points to its constant
presence IN deciding action. He says, When
the house II on IRE one forgets even the
dinner-yes. but one RECEIVERS II from amongst
the ashes" A poet says that Where there
IL nothing more to see or grasp there aIso-is
nothing more for men to do" and be ala
not mean that this statement should Be 4
Eneer.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-11-26

the wood to fit it until It is snug.
For holding pen nibs and similar articles
hammer the little round depression in front of
the ink well, and make a long narrow trough
in front of that running down part of the
length Of the piece in front. as shown.
Hammer the piece all over, to give It finish,
and heat 1t as before.
Cut holes in the base to let the projections
you have hammered down pass into the
wood, as shown in the sketch Of the wood
base, and At again till all is snug.
Now you can punch the holes at the COR
ners for the brassheaded tacks which will
fasten the copper to the wood. When all
is put together side section will be like
the lower right hand sketch. This shows the
metal cover to the wood base. and how the
stand and ink well stick up through. with
the flaps below to hold them in place.
The beauty Of the continuance and It's util-
fly will all depend on how much care you
spend in the making and IN the quality Of
your work.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-11-26
Decides to Start Bakery.

This man taught me the lesson had not
learned in a score of years. He taught me
why had not my own home to show for all
those years of effort for somebody else. I
felt my being swell with renewed hope and
Joy. I walked out of that little shop a
changed man. Already I saw the shelves of
my own little dream shop. the bell on the
door, the clang Of the cash register. and the
joys that success brings to the heart of man.
I found myself planning how to begin.
felt the 20 cents that remained Of my slim
capital.
VERY WELL" told myself So much the
more credit will be due me when succeed,
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-11-26

had changed for me. The kindly hands OF
my wife stroking my brow, her soothing
words of comfort did not do much for me
In my misery. had not concentrated my
thoughts-I did not even dream Of what l
might do for living. Matchmaking was all
I knew. In our city there were only two
plants, ours and the American. I well knew
that the American would not employ me, as
I had turned down their offer OF a position
two years before. had only IS coming to
me at the plant, which 1 might draw the
next day and DEMONSTRATION.
A man doesn't learn to take that broad
view Of life that often saves the day when
he has toiled in the confines Of dingy, out OF
the way workshop for the greater part ofhis
life. He hasn't worldly nerve nor aptitude
to face a crisis. He is no manager Of HIM
self. He is all right when things are running
smoothly, but he is not resourcetul when an
unusual situation comes up. He does not
learn to do battle with the unexpected.
= &
Lacking in Resources.
Now on the day that was fired had no
resources whatever BY this do notmean
solely that had no money or property. I
mean that I had no mental resources. I
was never capable Of scheming, and never
had been trained to ideas beyond my work.
I had not missed 1t until the time came when
I should need It most. I told this all to my
wife, who consoled me and said that could
easily find work and that the " firing might
prove a blessing In disguise"
The next morning, after a sleepless night l
arose from bed and then. after scant break
fast. We took stock. Here was the situation;
LIABILITIES.
Grocer bill lo-Vo
lncidentah ...-..... ........'.'.'..''''''' low
- ASSETS.
Cash on haho.- .''-'''....'' ..''..''.'''''' o'oV
property ............ NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. oO.OV
My earnings for FIVE years had been from
$50 to $50 per week though there were dull
seasons when I was put on piece work. and
at those times 1 ran as low as SO for six
half days work. This cut deeply into our
savings, and then sickness, medicine. and
doctor bills did the rest. Also, had 81. 900
insurance, which. taken out at the age OF 30
cost more than could afford. Our furniture
didn't amount to much and wouldn't have
brought much over $50 II sold outright for
cash.
My wife sat at her kitchen table and began
to figure out how we stood with the world.
sat IN the broken chair with my eldest
child on my lap. brooding silently over con-
ditions. At the end OF our conference one
thing was decided upon. and that was that
must brace up and look for work.
And here came the rub.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-11-26
How to Make
Bv JACK KNEIFF.

~HERE are any number OF simple things
that can be easily made out OF ham
mered copper; the cost is little and the
materials needed few.
Not all need to be followed out ike
the fruit bowl of last week. but simple
patterns cut from sheet metal and hammered
to give them the right surface can be mad"
into any number OF useful articles. OF when
l cen mention only a few.
OF course, candlesticks and match boxes
are first thought OF. The candlestick can have
a nice copper shade with colored glass Or
silk panels II you want; or it can be made
larger with a wooden base covered with
sheet copper hammered to a finish. with a
well shaped shade to make an electric read
ing lamp.
A smoking set can be simply designed, the
base being made much like that of the Idea Of
the drawings. With this start you can exer-
else your own ingenuity and art ability to
devise what the object will be and when 1
tell you how to make the beautiful writing
set shown in the drawings, you can use the
same method Of work to make other things.
OF course in making anything care and
patience are the first requisites OF good
workman. so don't hurry things Measure the
parts carefully and mark out everything,
but il the work is not worth your very best
effort, don't start It.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-11-26
Roller Blotter Easy TO Make.

To go with this set a roller bIotter is not
hard to make, the sheet metal pattern being
cut as In the separate drawing and bent over
block Of wood cut to the right shape.
The top il hammered out to q design, ham,
mering from the inside. plain oval on the
top being sufficient. Where the wood shows
blacken II with ink.
After the blottef is run ground the under
side Of the block It Il Tapped over the end
on top and held By the pressure Of the cop
per cover on top Of II Tai, Is held by the
handle, which screws down through hole
In the center. An ordinary black screen
door handle will Do. The tighter this Is
screwed down the safer the blotter Is held.
OF course the sheet metal for this II given
the same hammer treatment as the rest Of
the set Just sketchsd In 70 q paper knife 70
complete the~outit. whose design u left to
the reader.
Time Is short, % don't delay II you are to
make many things for Christmas. and for
this season Of the year something made Is
worth more than something bought
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-11-26

~ wO months rent unpaid on my three
room fat, an SIS grocery bill Of three
weeks standing, one sick child and
another weak from a siege of the
measles sums up my economic condi-
ton on the day my foreman stepped over to
my work bench and said: " Hargis. guess
you better look for another place
could scarcely believe my ears. had
worked for the firm twenty years. had
grown up in the shop. I was considered the
best patternmaker In the country, and had
DEVOTED all my life to it But the foreman
had only a passing interest IN meo The old
members Of the firm had long ago passed on
to the other world. They had appreciated
my long and faithful services, but the new
management did not believe in running
business organization on sentiment andH
meant no more to them than any other of the
twenty workmeA many Of whom had only
been at work for a few days. looked up,
probably with a startled expression.
You meant am to be let out7'
He nodded.
Hard times We must let some 60. You
are named on the list. 1t is not exactly my
doing. I was ordered to let just so many 20
this week and find your name among
them" 81
He regarded mo with nervous curiosity
turned on his heel, pausing to examine the
pattern before my neighbor. I sat inert on
my bench, STAGING at the tools before me
I held an augur in my hand and this cIattered
to the floor. Starvation-ruination-d
baby stared me in the face! For the first
time in my life, I might say. was face to
face with an emergency. This was the first
Jolt In the rut that had smoothly travelled
in all these years. 1t struck me deeD-my
pride-my faith in men and my regrets that
had allowed such thing to happen.
A little while later, as I sat brooding and
wondering the foreman strolled back to me
and leaning over said:
You might go up and see Curtis I am
sorry this has been necessary. We don't like
to lose you and I am sure things will pick
up and that you will be taken back in the
spring"
In the spring. retorted. bitterly. In
the spring I may be dead. I can't get Job
this time Of year. I've got sick baby home
and no money-nothing. I don't see why
the firm should let me out. I've spent most
Of my life here"
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-11-26
DISCOURAGED at Non-Suceess.

did not know how. l shrank at the
thought Of asking for job. 1t was a new
ordeal for me. And yet cursed myself in
wardly for being such a coward had al
ways told myself that the people I saw
succeeding In life all around me were OF
different fiber than myself. Unfortunately
1 had not read much and did not realize that
a man is largely what he makes himself.
regardless Of birth or environment. Conse-
quently had the idea that could do moth
ing but make wooden models, work that is
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-11-26
Young Men Crowd Out Old.

II know" replied the foreman, but you
cant tell much about firms. Curtis believes
in employing young men. you know. Con-
sequently he keeps the young men and lets
the old ones go Go over to the American"
he said as he started OF towards the office.
they might need some men
The American wouldn't hire me-" re-
torted, 'and you know It. I turned down
an offer from them two years ago because
this firm promised me better wages and
steady work as long as wanted to stay. So
much for that"
He continued his trip to the ONCE where
foreman" was emblazoned on the glass
door and I saw him while later, staring at
me over the top of his desk, as slowly gath
cred my tools together.
l believe that the most bitter ordeal Of
mans life comes when he is laid on. No
matter what the reason. he feels the blow 10
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-11-26
By c. S. MADDOCKS.

may work for something as definite and
practical as more bread and butter and find
that this, worked for with hopefulness.
comes to US accompanied by a better posi-
ton IN life or work, increased opportunities
and, not least new and very hopeful ideals
Of a higher sort. The fanatic, may affirm
that he prefers to trust IN a sure thing
rather than in an uncertain something. Such
confidence wins its own poor reward.
In our efforts to choose the best thing to
work for, the best thing to get we may be
in some perplexity as to what things are
good IN themselves and what are good for
US; what conduct is best and right for US as
distinguished from that for other people.
In this latter consideration we Immediately
come In contact with the moral law, which
is so variously Interpreted and so frequently
defled.
Benjamin Franklin, with his easy going
morals and very material philosophy. says
in his autobiography that it Is a fine thing
to be a reasonable creature, for you can ind
a reason for doing anything you want to do.
Some Of the oldest philosophers believed thai
every man was tempted to interpret the good
as being what was good for himself-self-
interest always deciding. Socrates, with
his apparent generosity. said he had never
heard OF a good that was not good for some
one, which is much the same, perhaps as
saying that It is an Ill wind that blows nobody
good.
Internal Force the Secret.
II you are to choose what Is truly best, to
have a high aim. II you genuinely wish to
make the most Of yourself, you must have
internal force-it may be strong hopeful
ness II nothing more-as well as an external
stimulus to help you to realize what you want
A rose will not flower In the dark-it needs
the sun to draw out its beautiful possibilities;
and a fern will not flower anywhere-it has
not the internal force
This internal stimulus has been described
as some kind Of a small. Independent clock
work. which. when wound up. works away In
dustriously in the making Of a man. It II q
matter Of indifference whether the aim. which
may depend almost wholly on external stimu-
Ius for its realization and may be desire to
be a doctor q lawyer, merchant, priest,
is one thing or another, the little clock goes
right ahead forging the character OF the man.
No matter what profession he has decided to
follow, the internal force can make him high
minded, kind. and unselfsh. His aim to be
so may be more or less unconscious. He had
decided II was besS for him to choose the line
Of work he ala, and II turns out that what he
Is is best for everybody. He gave the Internal
force the right direction
You may seek the best things for any num-
Der Of reasons. but the higher your ideal for
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-11-26
Starting the Work.

The copper sheet can be fairly thin, for we
are not going to draw the metal out much.
First get a small square glass ink well.
such as may be had at the stores for ten
cents and like the one shown in the draw
ings at W.
Next make the pattern to cover this. Mark
out four squares on the copper, edge to edge,
as in the upper left hand corner of the big
line drawing. Each square is a little larger
than the side of the glass ink well, larger,
in fact, by the thickness Of the sheet metal
only, so that when the piece is cut and folded
the sheet will At all around the well.
Along the top edges are flaps Of metal with
cut on corners between, and at the bottom
flaps with square corners. These bend the
top ones In and the lower ones out, until the
whole piece when bent up and done looks
like L
This VIII be little box into which the glass
ink well will Just 1T The flaps above keep
the well from sliding out. and below the pro-
5ections will hold the case in place as de-
scribed later.
Before bending the piece up to At. lay It
on q block and with a round nosed or " ball.
peen machinists' hammer-not a nat ham,
mer-dent the surface OF the metal all over
and then heat Il to redness, cooling It In
water to color It. The dull finish is better
than the shiny, and the colors that Will come
as the work grows old will well repay.
when the piece Is folded and on trial found
to AZ. the loose edge may be soldered from
the inside. nap being left for this purpose.
II you wish.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-11-26
His Eyes Opened.

How long have you been across?"
ventured.
Six years." he said interestedly. his honest
face beaming with pride. He ran his eyes
over the clean shelves, the immaculate coun-
ters.
You came over poor?"
Two dollars" he calculated. and now"
he glanced around once more at the shop
You have done all this in six years
on capital Of 1922" fairly gasped.
"Of course" he said proudly. II own
the shop and will own the building in six
months. But business hasn't always been
good. Me and my Kate have seen our hard
times. But we Just hung on and pegged away
Thingaalways come right. Business is good
now, and we are saving. Next year, maybe.
we get an automobile"
l was so interested at this simple state
ment that I dropped one of my rolls and sat
in mute establishment. staring at my new
found friend. Here a greenhorn with 81
had become independent in five years while
1 could not make my bread. 1t Weakened me
from a sound slumber I sat up straight.
l cIinched the sides OF the chair Ny face
flushed
You are lucky" I said. 81 wish I could
do something like you have done. It's bully"
Well. why don't you? ?" he asked simply.
"I-I-don't know just how" said.
All, neither did We" he replied. But
we Just said II must be done and we done
It. Teller learns as he goes. Sometimes
we make mistakes and then don't make the
same one again. All is nerve" he said
thoughtfully. rising as a customer came in,
Changing the little bell
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-11-26
Successful at Last.

went straight to his machine works and
sold him the tin for SIS per ton. He gave me
a check for half the total amount and ar
ranged to have 1t hauled to his plant. payinS
the warehouseman the full amount cleared
$50 on the deal after paying delivery charges
and with this sum arranged to stock my little
shop and pay a months rent. The first week
we were open for business. Things went slow
at first. It was three months before We made
any profit at all, then things began to boom.
We enlarged our stock and now have two
wagons delivering ourbakery goods.
have got a big bank account and ar
thinking Of opening branch in another part
of the city.
And I have become a real man. doing a
mans work. and my family are well and
happy.
But It took the old German to show me
what can be done with nothing when the
right sort Of man sets about to do it in
the right way.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-11-26

sure 1t is right Make the ends Of the same
size and shape, cutting the metal with an
old pair OF shears II you have no tin snip
pers and connect the end pieces by leaving
q strip between them the full width, bending
at the bottom, as shown by the dotted lines
in the sketch.
This will leave the whole piece when Sc bent
up" as in the small drawing
The pens will 1T across between the notches
as in the pictures.
The base part is rather peculiarly made,
but is not hard to do. First take a piece OF
inch pine and plane It UP smooth, slanting or
or beYeling the edges Where the ink well
will SIT on this base cut away the wood for
the thickness OF the copper sheet Also
mark on where the pen rack will come and
cut the wood away under this too. 30 that
when these are set in place the top Of the
block will be even and no metal win stick
above the surface OF the wood except the
ends Of the pen rack and the Ink stand.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-11-26
puttine parts Toeether.

Mark on the sheet copper the size OF the
base OF wood on top. and cut away the cor
ners % that when the sides are bent down
,they win At around the bevel of the wood
base.
Cut square hole In the right place for the
Ink well and stick It up through.
Stick the legs or side pieces Of the pen rack
through slots cut In the metal and set the
copper down on the block.