The Washington herald., 1915-07-10
STARTING TOO HIGH UP.
By ORISON SWEET MARDEN.

IL that eminent scientist, the late Prof.
Langley. in experimenting with his fly
ing machine had started 1t on its flight
from the ground he would have had the
happiness of knowing that it was a sue
ces. He would also have been honored
while yet living as the first successful
American inventor of an airship. But, I'M
fortunately, in order to enable the ma
chine to get what he thought would be
good Roadway, he undertook to start it
from a platform sixty feet high. The
machine, which after its failure was
nicknamed ''Langley's Folly" plunged
straight down into the water; its in
ventor's life dream was shattered. and
he died. it was said, of a broken heart.
A short time ago Glen Curtiss, the noted
aviator. made this same discredited ma
chine fly by starting it. not from a sixty
foot elevation. but from the ground.
Many father. makes a similar fatal
mistake with his son TO that which Prof
Langley made with his airship He
starts him too high up. Instead of let
ting him begin at the bottom as an of
flee boy, as. perhaps. he did himself, he
starts him in at the top as superinten<
dent or manager of his business. or as
the lead of some department.; and of
course the youth fails because he has
had no experience in handling men.
knows little of human nature, and moth
ing at all of the business he under
takes to direct.
Very few youths have ever made their
mark who were started too high up. be-
cause 1t Is the training and experience
gained in working up from the bottom
which enable a man to control and to
hold high position when he reaches it.
know young man who was put at
ha of
was graduated from college, because his
father. who was getting on in years.
wanted his son to succeed him and to
keep the business in the family. The
young man had not the slightest idea of
business He had never bought or sold
goods, had no experience whatever as
salesman. travelling or otherwise. and
none In selecting. placing or mana ging
help. He was conceited into the bargain,
and would not take advice or suggestions
from older men who had spent most of
their lives in helping to build up the con-
Germ.
The result was that young Mr.. Know
it-al made such a mess OF his job that
in comparatively short time the whole /.
concern was utterly demoralized and
headed for failure. The business which
it had taken lifetime to build I'D would
have been wrecked but for the fathers
the tide of decentralization, and brought
order out of chaos. The helm responded
to the hand of the MASTER because he
knew the details or everything under
him. and thus had control of the situa-
ton. He was able to guide the business
ship back into safe waters. because he
had begun AZ boy, sweeping out the
store. and had worked up through every
department. completely mastering the
In n M hafnra ha n1x a.,
the one above. 1t was the development,
Of strength in this climb from the bottom
to the top that enabled him In a great
crisis to win out.
There are a great many college grad
yates just now going out to conquer the
world. In all the pride of newly ac-
quired diplomas and academic degrees,
they feel that they are fully equipped |
to fly from any eminence. But you may
take Il from one who has had goodI
deal Of experience since bis post-grad- |
uate days. my young friends. that even |
your sheepskjns and A. rs or b. AS
do not. helpful as they mGy be later on, ]
constitute wings.
Try 10 make your first ascent from the |
ground. You are not bird that you /
can start from the top. You will find Il |
much safer, a. well % surer way Of |!
rising, TO remain working away on the |
ground floor until you get up sufiicient
stamina and spseding power to rise to
he upper stories.
WWdst -.