Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-09-03
MAGAZINE SECTION for September 8, 1910
IfYou Can Che Your Son Only One
Gift, Cive Him Enthusiasm

LITTLE while ago was in charge Of large organi-
~ cation of statesmen.
~ My chief sent me to Western city to appoint
manager for that territory.
There were two candidates We had their records in
detail, but we had never met either Of them. l to
look them over, form my Judgment and appoint the
better man.
met one man in Cincinnati. the other in ST. Louis;
The man in Cincinnati said to "What does this
position pay?" | told him. "That is than
getting here he said sand should like the job Every
wants to better himself when he can"
The ST. Louis man did not wait for to arrive in
the city. He found out on what train was coming,
rode out on the ne and surprised me by walking down
the aisle of my He began to talk He told me about
himself his training and his selling experience. He had
drawn up plans in detail for the development of
rtory: he told me how many men he expected to have
working by the end OF the and just how he thought
he could increase volume of business
had to hire him. finally, in order to get chance to
go to bed at night And in his enthusiasm he forgot to
ask and forgot to tell him what the salary would be.
The first man had wanted better job which is COM
mendable enough Bat hired the man Dho enthusi-
astic about the opportunity.
Napoeons adversaries used to speak of him "the
100000 man'meaning that his spirit infused into
army equal to an additional 100000 troops.
They criticized his tactics they accused him Of dis
regarding all the rules of successful warfare yet he
and they lost Because his enthusiasm carried has SOL
dier$ to impossible achievements
We are told great deal about the necessity for con-
trolling emotions for being se-contained for not
letting our enthusiasm sweep us off our feet.
Much of this advice is very wise.
But don't forget that the Indians were very self-con
that point Of pride among them to exhibit
pleasure pain or love enthusiasm
And the Indians used to this colntry-and don't
ODn 1t any more.
1t was taken away from them
By men like Columbus who believed enthusastic-
ally that the world round, in age when other
people believed it fiat, that he rsked tumbng off into
space in order to discover a new continent.
By like Fulton who believed that steam could be
made to boat in spite of wind or tide.
By men like Marcus Whitman, who SO enthusiastic
about the great unknown West that he rode alone
the continent to add the Western empire to country.
By like James J. Hill, whose enthusiasm could
picture towns and farms where other only use
less prairies.
Teach your self-control
But don't forget to saturate his mind with the bogra-
phies of great men, Feed his imagination with the kind
of stories that make him want to do brave deeds.
Take trips to show him the big of his time,
such the President of the United Sates and the great
sights of the world, such as Niagara Falls
Encourage him to express his enthusiasm and delight.
Let him believe that the world is full of wonderful things,
and he himself full of wonderful possibilities.
He can learn seepression in later years. but enthsi-
asm, once lost is lost forever
"Nen nothing" said Montaigne, "until they are
excited"
And Montaigne right.
OF two boys with equal ability the who be
excited about his work. day after day and year after year,
is the boy that is going to win.
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