The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-06
DON'T BE A DREAMER.
IBy a Railroad Man. I

The world has many dreamers, it
matters not where. e'er you may go or
| be, you will see dreamerS-peOple whose
| thoughts are oblivious to the surround
ings-visionaryL forgetful-and whose
ideas, if they have any, are far off
and remote from the thing they are
doing, or that for which they are hired
to do.
The victories of our army and navy
in the preservation of our country, or
the accomplishment in any work, have
not been won by dreamers. 1t is the
men of thought that rise in the world,
or gain af11uence or position in the null
titude of professions, business or trades.
1t is men of action, care, and thought
fulness that leave behind them a rec
ord worthy of emulation, as a guide to
future generations.
We must educate our fellows who are
passing down the long and endless chain
of humanity that must necessarily fol-
low in the line of future years, that 1t
is by thought, action and care that this
accomplishments of life may be attain
ed. 1t is SO easy to pass through life
with no end in view. So many take
what comes along and are satisfied,
without even a thought or care, or
desire as to what the future may bring.
Such individuals are of no use to so
ciety or the business man.
1t is of no consequence what may be
ones heredity We are, in this en-
thoughts, integrity and honesty make
us. 1t has been said, and 1 believe
truthfully, that our accomplishments
in life are the work of our own brain
and determination. Is it not time that
all who consider life worth living, get
busy and separate the grain of their
intelligence from the husks.
The field of employment, and the
busy hive of industry is not looking for
the drones. 1t is the active bees of Ia
Dor that make the honey. 1t is the
man of thought and care that hews
into the forests and blazes the way
which makes life worthy to be emuia-
ted.
Have you ever visited the shops or
yards of any of our railway lines? II
so, you can readily distinguish the
drone from the active bee. He is
dreamer-does his work shiftlessly,
thoughtlessly and with no idea foT
personal care or safety, or that of his
fellows, prodding along in his care
less way, with little or no idea OF
whether he is trying to give the COM
pany a dollars worth of work for a
dollars worth of pay, or whether his
work is done in such a way as to
merit the appreciation of his foreman
or granting to those working with him
that care one employee should mete out
to another.
Why is it that a man, whose calling !
in life is that of an industrial builder,
who aids in establishing within the
confines of our country such institu-
lions as will make it one of the great
est industrial centerS of the globe, |
should SO essentially fail in impressing
upon himself and his fellows the
watchword of care. Why, it should |
be the uppermost thought in his mind,
so thoroughly impressed and imbeddeo
in his brain that it will be continually
with him at the bench, on the train
or wherever he may be.
Think-our brains were given us 10
evolve thoughts, to do the work well.
to preserve the machinery with which
we may be working. or material, and
paramount above all others--PersoHa
Safety
All men are more or less thought
less Some are endowed with more
ability than others. So let us think
and reflect whether the act We are
about to perform will render harm tic
our bodies or limbs. or those of 9TH
ers-
The Industrial slaughter that is 60
ing on in this country is amazing. II
the persons killed and injured in
single year were placed two abreast
they would extend a distance of AZ
miles Many have marched into eter-
nifty; others crippled and MANNED for
life. and still others bearing the scars
of their own carelessness, or that Of
Others.
why then does not the laborer edu-
cate himself as to care. Why is 1t
that the tocsin is being heralded far
and near to these men of bone and
sinew to practice care. Men Will talk
daily among themselves about every
subject except personal safety-theIr
church, political party, the affairs OF
their lodges, about their neighbors
but not a word about care. Is not our