The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1926-06-24
THE GREATEST FORCE IN
THE WORLD.
By F. F. CORLISS.


craftsman-void of capitalize gain
! fame and fortune only as he puts into
his work the best that is in him. He
must concentrate his mind, character,
mould them into all the little details
of the job given him to do. The world
will beat path to your door if
-FOUR product excells that of your
competitors. Life is made up of little
things and it is the pain we take and
the character we put into them that,
when grouped together, either make
us or mar us.
Stradivarius knew this, put it into
practice, and was the most famous
maker of violins the world had ever
known. He gave his violins a sweet
and mellow tone that no rival could
equal. He put his character, his very
soul, into all the little details by US
ing almost infinite pains.
The workman who best serves his
employer, best serves himself. And
the one who Sights his work, waists
time and material, suffers more than
his employer. Honest work brings
honest wages and is the only kind
that ever brings raise for the en-
ployee. Yes, honest work is the only
kind that pays. There are profits in
smiles-but never in frowns. 1t
pays to be kind, polite, obliging, con-
siderate of the rights of others. He
who harbors thoughts of envy, jeal-
ousy, fear, anger and hate only in
jures himself.
Love is the greatest and most prec-
ious force known and costs US nothing
to possess and use, and the following
is true tale of how the writer has
seen it work in real life.
In the famous Berkshire Hills there
is a little village called Axletree. It's
homes are nestled in a sleepy hollow,
on the winding banks of the placid
Housatonic river, and framed in by
high and sloping landscape that
seems wonderfully old, yet so beauti-
full in its quaint simplicity. This
little town has none of the ear-marks
Of factory village. Every home
stands apart from its neighbor and
has the appearance of independent
ownership, with beautiful lawns and
stately elms and large gardens in the
rear
AXletree is one-man town and
has but one industry. About hun
dred years ago Jonas Hatwell began
to make carriage axles in his little
blacksmith shop and no one round
about made any that were quite so
good, and so the business grew and
has been handed down to his grand
son Roscoe.
One day a tramp came sauntering
into this peaceful little hamlet where
its inmates never knew want, hunger
or drunkenness. The tramp said,
care you the boss, mister?" "Well,
my helpers never call me that-they
call me Roscoe" "Well, are you the
owner?" eyes, what can l do for
you?" "You can do great deal for
me if you are so disposed, and I can
repay you a thousand fold. My name,
sir, is John Anderson and am
poor, heart-broken, worthless bum. |
am a native of Wales, but l am an ex-
pert metallurgist and have made steel
from my early boyhood. | possess
trade secrets that are unknown in
this country and l will teach you how
to use catalytics in coloring, harden
ing and tempering; how to make
Tungsten and Vanadium steel. To
your eye l present a very sorry ap-
pearance, sir, dirty, hungry and rag
ged as | am, and l can hardly blame
you if you distrust me in every thing
I tell you. But belong to wealthy,
highly educated and respectable fam
lily, and I am its only disgrace. l am
the wandering black sheep of the
family fold. Drink is my only weak
ness and my undoing; but the thirst
comes on me like a fever and when l
least expect it-unaided my will is
powerless to resist its temptation. If
you will only give me trial, sir, /
will give you honest work while it
lasts but, if the appetite overcomes
me | shall leave you without notice,
but not without gratitude. l shall
go from a sense of shame and dis
grace"
81 think / will take you at your
word, John. l will give you trial
and every encouragement to be
man. l have never turned any one
from my door hungry, and especially
one who is willing to work is worthy
of his bread. l am going to call you
John, and l want you to call me Ros-
coe and never say boss. | shall give
you fifty dollars a month and your
board, if that suits you, and you can
begin in the morning. Now, come
over to the Company store and pick
out a suit of clothes and shoes and
two suits of overalls and jumpers. Go
down to the river and clean up, have
good swim and by that time we will
be ready for supper Now, John, you