The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
by HUGH W. RoBEnTs

~ u
- in selecting his assistants is no
longer satisfied when proof is estab-
lished as to solriety and character
He wants more. He requires healthy
body.
At first blush. the youth in search of
a job thinks this attitude of the man
of trade one of unnecessary rigor.
However, in the final analysis, in his
contention, the business man is simply
returning to primitive principles. For
without the healthy body there is the
lack of probability Of the healthy
mind. And it is almost Invariably true
that the body is healthy and therefore
the mind. unless through lack of char
acter, the former has been destroyed
by dissipation in one or several of its
methods of attack
The merchant in employing a clerk,
for instance. mist know that his as
sistant viii be energetic. attentive to
business. honest and faithful to his
trust; 1t must be known also that he
will not spend his nights in dissipa-
tion, for in case he does. his service
on the following day will not be
worthy. And the wise merchant will
know that his clerk is of a healthy
body. Business cannot AFFORD to run
the risk of the evil which results from
the gloomy countenance of the chronic
dyspepic. Business cannot afford even
to lose the services of the clerk who
is rendered helpless as the result of
the toothache.
Therefore, 1t is not beyond reason to
believe that in the future the clerk who
applies for a position in one of the
store houses where the standard is as
near as possible perfect. will after hav-
ing furnished proof as to his good
character. be required to Withstand the
analytical test of skillful physician
All of which tends to emphasize the
necessity of the young man remaining
In state of physical and moral clean
liness.
Every year thousands OF young Ala
bamians reach that age in which hu-
man nature instructs them to use their
wings-that is, fiy out boldly from un-
der. the protecting roof OF indulgent
parents, and drive shining lance fair
to the brazen front OF those mythical
monsters which strive strenuous.y by
wrecking the body to make success i'm
possible
1t naturally happens that the great
majority Of these new Richmonds turn
their faces towards Birmingham, for in
all Of Alabama the opportunity pre-
sented by business in the Magic city
is not only the most respondent. but
the most recurrent. The young war
rior aware of his strength does not
care to break lance in tourney the
contenders of which are weak, or
feeble in the grasp OF age. He realizes
that he must conquer where is real
opposition, requiring not only skill. but
perpetual endurance. if he is ever to
scale the ladder which leads TO the
plane of full victory and material
achievement.
From all walks of life they come.
There is the college graduate. trained
through thousand tests. with an
abundance of experience in a minia-
ture world OF his own, believing that to
conquer all that Is essential is the pre-
sentation of the point of his good
blade. And there Is the youth from
the farm. unarmed with the mighty
weapon which higher education gives,
but with mind vigorous. fresh, grasp
ing at the opportunity for knowledge,
and with muscular body, manly, strong
and clean.
They come. from all walks and out
of all environs. They are each thrown
headlong into tie same crucihle. sub
jected to the same temptations. taunt-
ed by the same ternpters. In ma
terial sense their opportunities for
wealth may differ. but their opportu-
mites for success, for victory. are. in
accordance with the wise provision OF
the nature of things, Identical. Tho
strong man energies from the test
stronger the weak is swallowed up,
stifed by the slime of the peculiar
chemical employed. spends day.
month. a year, struggling against the
awful tide of despair and finally dis
appears from view. The world moves
on. 1t is the application of the heart
less, inexorable, but necessary, prin-
ciple OF the survival of the fttest In
the battle for dollars there is no such
thing-and there should be no such
thing-as sympathy. 1t is fight in
which quarter may be begged but
never given.
Every man in Birmingham has had
the same experience through which the
newcomer must go. Home. probably
in very small community in the ex-
treme southern portion of the state,
was abandoned at an early morning
hour. AS the diminutive engine puffs
away the boy reclines on cushion
and INDUCES in the memories Of his