The Washington herald., 1912-04-21
Do Not Miss Today's Chance.
By ALICE MASON.

ings. We used to tell her that we could regu-
late our watches by the click Of her desk
cover at closing time.
Well for one reason or another. she had not
married; the years and the opportunities
TO progress had slipped by. and now she de-
ceived herself into believing that IL was
the fault Of somebody else that she had stood
still
II Is only natural that a young woman
should look forward to marriage as her real
career. but to bank on the certainty Of It
and consider her daily work merely as an
unpleasant interval between evening good
times is TO put all her eggs in one basket.
A story is told of an impoverished actor
who figured that he had Just money enough
for the ocean trip from Portland to San
Francisco provided he bought no meals. He
was weak and almost starved when the
boat reached port and just before the gang
plank was lowered he learned that he might
just as well have had all those meals because
his ticket had included them!
A girl doesn't have tUchoose between mar
rage and at least q certain amount Of
success in business-she can have both II
she wishes. Fate doesn't stand with both
hands behind saying, Choose-e.ther ear
nest endeavor today or a husband tomor-
row"
No. Fate generously stretches out both
hands at once. In one are dreams and
precious hopes and probable marriage; In
the other are everyday opportunities to get
on and chances to improve oneself and
ones work. And Fate says: Be greedy.
Take them both. Then in case your dreams
don't come true-and sometimes they don't,
you know-you will have laid a good founda-
tion upon which to build success for your
self In business"
II some one said to you. Here are two
tickets to future contentment. comfort, and
happiness, but II Is possible one of them will
not admit you," you would not be foolish
enough to tear one up and throw II away
until you were quite sure the other was
good. And yet I'm sure you know many
girls who are doing this very thing-girlS
Ike Miss A.-who are all ready to close their
desk on the stroke Of the clock. who do not
seem to realize that putting your heart into
your work immeasurably adds to instead of
subtracts from the fun Of living
working day is a working day. II you
find yourself watching the minute hand
crawl around, and thinking impatientIy OF the
pleasant evening TO come, remember that that
will not add one second OF enjoyment to your
good time. II will only lessen your chances
TO get ahead. Make up your mind each morn
ing when you hang up your hat until you put
It on again at night that, since there Is moth
ing to do but work, the only way you
can shorten the hours and at the same time
give yourself as well as your employer a
square deal Is to put your whole heart and
mind into your work. Sc
Then II Fate withholds the realization Of
your dreams and hopes for your own little
home and family. you have stin that other
ticket to the only other happiness thatat is
possible to ind iife-that is. an earnest aim
to accomplish something. TO make the most,
OF yourself and the opportunities which you
can't help seeing all about you, II youwin
but play when you play
But WORK when you work