The Washington herald., 1915-07-21
GETTING A START.
Getting By"
By NATHANIEL @. FOWLER. IN

1 am sorry to say it, wish n wsrs
not true-but about 80 per cent of bows
and girls In school. yes. college under
graduates, and those employed In the
business world, seem to be obsessed
with the idea that. il they get by
that Is do not fail to pass examinations
and do not subject themselves to CRIT
icism while at work-they have done all
that Is to be expected Of them They
are. therefore. satisfied with themselves,
although they arc usually unsatisfac-
torY to others.
The "get-by' man is nothing more or
less than an automaton. He does only
what he has to do. often grudginGly,
seldom with any interest, and makes
good at par, never with a premium.
In school he is not at the bottom Of
the class. and never near the head Of
1t. He is member of the great ma
Jor1ty. never good at anything seldom
bad He does not swim. except in
emergencies. but floats along the River
Of Life. following the current.
He does not know himself. because
he Is too lazy to become acquainted
with what he really is; and nobody
knows him. because he makes no ef-
fort to become acquainted with any
body.
He gets BY" IT is true. II at school
or college. he receives his diploma or
his degree with q hundred or a thou
sand others. He does not impress his
teachers or his professors. He counts
one on the roll. and stands UP with
the members of his class to receive
his parchment. Then he goes out into
the world and obtains q moderate SAL
airy. and to him never come more than
small promotions and slight Increases of
income
He may be able to support family.
y lie ~
as John Smith. of No. 1 Smith Ave
nue., Smithtown.' His neighbors know
that he is neighbor. The tax col
lector sends him an annual bill, usually
for not more than a poll tax.
He Is one Of many employees. He Is
noticed when he Is late, and he is cali
ed down" by his employer II he makes
mistake. At the end of the year he
receives dollar or two increase In SAL
ary- and often no increase
He may be respectable. and, perhaps.
have no large or small vices. He may
behave himself, and usually he does
not figure in the Police Court He
gets by"-that is all
I am aware that most Of US ara
ordinary We have average ability.
Ind only few of US can ever obtain
| commanding position: but there isn't
man with normal faculties. who can
lot by perseverance attract his en-
,loyer's attention. who cannot by the
exercise of ambition become known
n his community. and stand in a class
lbove that in which are the rank and
lie of men.
The man who tries to succeed, who.
ioes his best. who makes the most
If himself and Of what he has,
whether 1t is much or little. who is al
Ways on the outlook. who husbands
'esources and invests them q am not
lere referring to money! so that they
will pay the largest dividend. Is
uccessful man. for he has done all
hat he could.
No man is successful, no man has
light to be satisfied with himself. IL
lie gets by" and does only that.
Success consists in doing your best,
n making the most of yourself IN
:etting out of yourself all that you
ave in yourself. whether you are an
lnder- employe or commanding en-
'loyer. Less than doing your best
8 failure.
II you have the ability to stand a.
he head of your class. you are a
10 not rank number one In your
chool or college. provided you can
10 so without the sacrifice of your
ealth or Of better things.
II you are capable of occupying the
osition of head bookkeeper. and you
o not, you are failure, unless there
re insurmountable handicaps In your
ath.
Striving to do your best gains Won
redit for doing your best, even though
on may not be able to reach your
oaL
Copyright. igs)