The Washington herald., 1914-07-30
DIR. MARDEN'S
UPLFT TALKS
BY ORIsON SWEET MARDEN,
Author OF Pushing to the Front" Etc.
BUSINESS BUILDS CHARACTER.
(CoPught. IslI.l


The education and training which busi-
ness houses give the youth is as valuable
as the training in military schools
| Promptness. thoroughness. good manners,
] efficiency. attention. concentration. and
| irregularity are daily inculcated and are
| all OF untold advantage to the man or
/ woman whose habits are in the making.
| What an education the daily business
routine gives US in promptness! It has
\ brought everything to the use Of a
schedule OF time. II has perfected the
watch. How much We owe to railroad
timetables! BY compelling Us to be
prompt to the minute they have trained
us until promptness has become a habit
/ The youth learns the value Of even a
fraction Of a minute.
To acquire the habits Of a big business
| house, the military system, the thor
oughnesS and accuracy OF its rules and
| regulations is q splendid equipment for
after Sife.
We little realize our tremendous debt
to what we often speak of slightingly as
daily life, which without its influence
would have been little more than a jum-
BILE.
Such training has also a decided moral
influence. Good habits lead to right liv-
ing. they belong to the same family, and,
indeed, are close kin
In country towns where business is
done in a helter-skelter way. where
everything is slovenly and slipshod. where
ambition is a stranger. the morals are
low. the ideals are low flying. and life as
a whole is not worthy OF the heritage OF
mankind.
Accuracy and foresight are very neces-
sary constituents of a strong character.
and there is nothing which will develop
these qualities like the constant necessity
Of looking ahead. planning for the future
emergency. stretching the mind over pos
sible future problems and providing for
any emergency that may come
Comprehensiveness, breadth OF view. is
characteristic Of strong minds. and this
quality can only be developed by the con-
tinual effort to exercise the mind over
great problems. Planning for and meet
ing emergencies are great stamina
builders. An actual or possible emer-
gency will call out ones inventiveneSs
and bring into play ones resourSefulness
as nothing else will. To have great re-
sponsibility thrust upon US is powerful
character builder.
The educative influence OF tight inan-
cial situation, the problem of providing
ways and means, the constant effort to
do TIN maximum OF business with the
least possible capita. the great study of
human nature in weighing, estimating
handling men, these are the gymnasia
which train the faculties. build charac-
ter. help to develop the great mental
giants OF the race.
In other words. business is like a great
game OF chess, in which the prize win
ner must have all his faculties alert and
active, his ingenuity. resourcefulness, in
ventiveness, comprehensiveness, his pow
er Of making combinations, his ability TO
look many moves ahead and checkmate |
any possible counter move OF his oppon- !
ent. all these are absolutely essential TO /
victory. and these are the exercises and
experiences which make the tough tim !
Der. the close moral fiber Of the active |
business mans character. /
The fact is. an active business life Is /
really one Of. the greatest educators in 4
the world. Just think OF the great va
rtety OF mental operations that are
brought into play in business. The busi-
ness mans faculties must always be on
the alert. his ingenuity and resourceful-
ness, his Judgment, his powers OF dis
elimination. must always be active. He
must be ever progressive, able, and yet 4
prudent. He must not be afraid to
plunge. and yet he must ever be eau
tious. He must be liebraI and yet eco
tious. He must be liberal and yet eco
small or mean. He must always be sys-
tematic, always know how to make
program.
The business mans daily life forces him
to be practical. He lives in a world Of
realities; whereas the mere scholar often
lives in dreamland. The great merchant,
for Instance, is compelled TO have q very
wide range OF knowledge. II he is an
importer. he must know a great deal of
the geographical. social and political
conditions of many men. A really good
business man cannot be very narrow.
A great business establishment. where
must Be learned ct nrst hand !.