The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-07-14
The Power
OF Thought
Bv WARREN MILLER

safe and lock factory. He was eoou
workman but that was a time when
prices of skilled labor were not resu-
lated, as they are now, by means oi
coalition, and the firm that John WORK
cd for was not overgenerous. Year
after year passed and children were
rafting their knives and FORKS al
Johns table. but his wages were JUST
the same as when he had no CHILDREN
at all. John often applied to Mr.. Scalp
ton. the president Of the safe ana lock
company. for raise of salary. ana MI.
Scalpton. a fine looking and rather De-
nevolent appearing old gentleman
would say:
Were paying you just what we can
| at any time get man to do your WORK
, for, and we'll continue to pay you your
wages just as long as you do your
| work well, and when you find you can
| do better elsewhere we won't object
to your improving your salary by leaV-
ing us
! John didn't see ahead 80 far as the
aQe that was coming, when Mr.. Scalp
toms business would either be merger
with that of other safe builders TO
make prices what he wanted them or
when his laborers would band together
to make him pay them such wages as
they might demand He didn't like the
situation, but he couldn't help It, SO
Ed nd cln
children as best he could.
But one day John fell Ill and remain
ed Ill for months His wages were
stopped, he had no money to pay
doctor. and he saw his children rag
ged and hungry. This was bitter
period for him, but he got well In time
and, going to Mr. Scalpton asked to
be permitted to go to work.
I'm sorry. John" said the gentle
man, but we were obliged to fill your
place, and now that 1t is filled 1t would
be an injustice to turn oct the man
who fills 1t. Don't you think so your
self"
Maybe" John replied, but it's
mighty hard. wish was a capital
list like you. Mr.. Scalpton. Then If l
got sick my business and my income
would go right on"
). That's the difference between an
, ability to think and manual labor" re-
, piled the safe maker. I'm busy now
, and must ask you to excuse me-"
a The gentleman had put flea in
o Johns ear lie concluded to do lit
1 tie thinking. He knew more about
r safes and locks than Mr.. Scalpton, and
before he had done thinking he had
i thought out plan to compel that very
V Just man to listen to him.
/ A few days later John called on 9
G arm that owned a Scalpton safe ant
$ told them that he would prove to then
& for a consideration that their safe wa.
e worthless. He would open 1t withou
e even any tools. They engaged to pa!
o his price provided he succeeded. II,
s stipulated that he was to work alon,
e and without any watchers. The.
r agreed to this, locking him in a room
n with the safe, first having searche,
him. John worked In the dark, so |
i would not have been easy to learn hi
IL process even If any one had been pres
v ent. He remained In the room an hour
III and when he called and they entere,
J. the safe was open.
'e They asked John who he was, bu
:, he wouldn't tell, and since he ha,
- done nothing dishonest they couldn'
- compel him to tell He pocketed
:. ten dollar bill and the next day wen
y, to another firm using the same kin
- Of safe and made $40 more This h
:. kept up, doing lucrative business
); Very soon letters began TO pour Il
(. to the Scalpton Safe and Lock CON
IN pany that there was something tn
- matter with their locks. Each cor
:. Germ who wrote stated that their ScalI
~ ton safe clock had been picked by
~ man who accomplished the feat witt
=, out the use Of tools, but as none q
:, them could tell how 1t was done ther
=. was nothing to be said. Then the O,
10 ders for safes made rapid declin,
a. The company's business was at
SeoiNSihi' itut W hCh JOLu IlRRs near
that they had begun to discharge the,
NC workmen he walked into the Office Z
Mr.. Scalpton. well dressed and pro,
porous looking, for an interview.
~ why. John" said his former on
~ ployer, you have been making MOI
us ey."
- $50 l have. Mr.. Stapleton."
How have you done itY"
Following your advice. When sa,
you last you told me there was a gre,
~ difference between thinking and ma,
ual labor. | hired myself out TO Joh
e' Riggs for Job of thinking. with poo
TN results
m "Well:"
I've been picking your locks at &
o apiece"
10 scalpton was astonished. How I
TN you do it," he asked.
That's my secret. Is there any 4
$ mand for secrets today, Mr.. scalpton
10 How much do you want for voprs
'ry Five thousand dollars and INV 3
to place at double salary"
IN I0hnfo