--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 2 number: 11 published: 1899-09 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Editor’s Table: Talks to the Young Men; Learn a Trade; Return of the Volunteers," *Improvement Era* 2, no. 11 (September 1899): 867–871.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera211unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera211unse start_page: 867 end_page: 871 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1899-09) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera211unse publication_year: 1899 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1899, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Editor’s Table: Talks to the Young Men; Learn a Trade; Return of the Volunteers EDITOR^S TABLE. TALKS TO THE YOUNG MEN —LEARN A TRADE. BY THE SENIOR EDITOR. God hath set Labor and rest, as day and night, to men Successive. Milton. Work, with an inclination to do it, is the key to success and contentment. Young men, therefore, who seek contentment and success should learn to do something — and learn to do it well. They should know how to do some one thing best. Learn a trade, but be not content to know only a part, for you thus become a machine which must always be governed or controlled by some one else. But learn to do some one whole thing, and I repeat, learn to do it best. be not content to know how ta If you learn the shoe trade, stitch only, or how tomake uppers or cut soles. Know better than any one else how to make the whole shoe. If you do not, the person who may have this knowledge will govern you, and receive the greater remuneration, while you toil on like the machine you are. "What do you pay this stitcher?" was asked of a manu- facturer. His reply was, "Fifty cents a day." "And this overseer?" 868 IMPROVEMENT ERA. "Five dollars per day." "But the stitcher works harder than the overseer; why be partial in the recompense?" The answer was, "The stitcher can only stitch, knowing noth- ing about any other part of the shoe, while the overseer can make a whole shoe, and understands every detail of my business from beginning to end." So the man with incomplete knowledge works on from day to day at a tremendous disadvantage, while the man who is complete master of the work in perfection, reaps the benefits. This is true in every calling.Take farming which, though not a trade, is an occupation that should be studied and learned as carefully as a trade. Men who can only plow or use the shovel (for there are such, and they even do that indifferently) can not prosper like a man who has studied the science of agriculture, mastered its every detail, and thus become an intelligent farmer. In architecture and building, who is remunerated? The man who carries the hod because that is all he knows, or the man who can not only carry the hod well, and do it willingly if necessary, but can build the whole structure? You will all agree that it is the latter, because he is the more intelligent, and hence can make him- self the more useful. But how did the master learn? He gained his knowledge by experience, and he passed through every stage of shoemaking, of farming, of building, and thereby became a thorough artisan. At first in youth, he was willing to sacrifice his pleasures, his time, his feelings, determined in his heart to learn it all so that he might stand at the head of his profession, calling or trade. It is here that many young men fail. They wish to be first without the experience or qualification, and are not willing to demonstrate their ability by gradual growth. They are possessed of a sense of false independence that kills their careers. They wish to stand first without They will not sacrifice their pleasures, earned merit. their and in this way subordinate themselves in conveniences, order that they may earn the power to become independent. The master is content to take hold of any detail of his business, and is satisfied to let his ability shine forth by doing that detail well, he knowing that promotion is only a matter of time. It is a fact EDITORS TABL.E 869 that merit will assert itself, and seldom fails of recognition. Then learn a trade. Learn to do some one whole thing, and be master of its every detail. It will serve you well in life, even should your circumstances be such that you may have no need to engage in your calling. What shall I learn? you ask. The resources of our country are almost unbounded, and yet young men raised here often stand empty-handed, practically unable to earn a living, while people of experience and knowledge come into our midst, and take up lines of industry which the native could not even see, make money and thrive, to our utter astonishment and chagrin. This scene in a barber shop in Salt Lake City illustrates: A dapper young fellow came into the room with an air of ownership, pulled a little account book from the drawer, looked it over, returned it, and with a turn to the barber, said: "Two dollars, please." The money was handed over, and the young man went on his way. "What is that for?" asked the customer. "That young fellow has a history," was the reply. "He came here from the East two years ago utterly broke; he is now the owner of a fine establishment and is earning more than a first- class salary at his growing business, besides giving employment to several people. He saw that there was a chance to make money at washing towels. He progressed very slowly at first; it was a new idea. He had only one or two shops as customers, and as many residences, and did all his own work. But there was a field. It was a handy thing to have no trouble with your towels; to be supplied every day; to throw the dirty ones into a basket, and always have fresh towels supplied; no care, no purchase, no wash- ing; but always fresh towels, and at such a trifling charge that no one could afford to be without the service. So his business grew, and today he levies a tax on nearly every barber shop in the city, besides on hotels, offices, and many private residences." This young man learned to wash towels; he did not learn only to rub the wash-board, but he learned all about the business, and the person who did not is now rubbing for him. From this it is not necessary to conclude that everybody should learn to wash towels. Illustrations of a similar character in other enterprises 870 IMPROVEMENT ERA. are numerous. There are a thousand avenues that wait to be traversed in this western region. The men with thought, knowl- edge, and a willingness to learn and to make some sacrifices, will soon lead out in them. They should come from the ranks of the Mutual Improvement Associations. To close, then. Every young man should learn a trade. He should learn all its details, and be the best worker at it. This requires that he shall be willing to begin at the bottom, and in learning be willing to sacrifice conveniences, desires, petty wants and pleasures, in order to acquire the knowledge. Then he is on the way that will bring independence, competence and content- ment, when these gifts are coupled with the moral qualities which should be the supreme acquirement of every young man in Israel. RETURN OP THE VOLUNTEERS. After a year's absence in the Philippines, spent in the service of our country, the Utah Volunteers, enlisted in the Spanish war, return with honor to their homes. They have done their duty well, and merit the recognition of brave, true soldiers. They come bearing their full share of the laurels of war. As a body, they have made history that will ever remain to their glory, and be a matter of pride to our state forever. Among the most active in the Philippine war, they have individually been looked upon as model men, and have gained from military experts encomiums of praise for bravery, devotion to duty, ability, earnest- ness, morality, and good behavior. They have thus not only earned renown for themselves, but have placed the name of Utah well up in the roll of honor among the states of our great Republic. Every Utahn, therefore, feels a personal interest in their achieve- ments, and receives benefit by their valor and reputation. What has been termed good luck, but what rather must be EDITOR'S 'TABLE. 871 recognized as the blessing of God, has accompanied the Utah boys in their travels, in their battles, in their return. Free from storms of nature, and troubles among men, their transports crossed the seas in peace. Notwithstanding they were constantly at the front, their number in killed and wounded is phenomenally small. Out of the three hundred and fifty-four enlisted, only thirteen have died. Thus the Almighty has marvelously preserved them from both the fire of the enemy and the ravages of disease. For these reasons, and, further because the people fully real- ize the import of their patriotic sacrifices, the welcome now ex- tended to the heroes is as heartfelt as the joy at their coming is universal. While no class of the community can lay claim to a special place in the reception, no section of the people has a warmer feeling for them than the thirty thousand young men who compose the membership of the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Associations of the Latter-day Saints. This is natural, for these associations are well represented among the volunteers. Among their officers, Major Richard W. Young is a member of the Gen- eral Board, while Lieutenant Geo. A. Seaman has long been an active worker, and was president of the association formed in the Philippines. The holiday which was proclaimed by Governor Heber M. Wells, and enthusiastically observed by the people, in honor of their was a proud season for the boys. The little inci- arrival dents and events of that day, with its mementos and personal wel- comes, will ever form pleasant and splendid recollections in their lives. In a short few days, however, the people will have assimi- lated this band of heroes, and the person will to some degree be swallowed up; but what these men have collectively achieved will become the lasting heritage of Utah. Hence, while the welcomes are still ringing, let the people of the state determine that this heritance, in some degree at least, shall be handed down to the individual to encircle his life like the halo of a sweet benediction.