Talks to Young Men. I: Industry

TALKS TO YOUNG MEN.

1. INDUSTRY— ITS BEARING ON SUCCESS.
   

Conversing with the superintendent of a large smelting plant, who, by the way, came from a neighboring state, the writer was seriously set to thinking by this statement which he made: "I don't know what to think of the young men of Utah. They seem to be deteriorating as compared with their fathers, the pioneers. Here in the smelters, I give all the best positions, with highest wages, to men imported from Colorado and Montana. The Utah boys seem to have no ambition to advance, and excel in their work, being content with inferior positions and small wages, shirking invariably from positions of great responsibility which require skill and faithfulness. Surely, I don't know what the young men of Utah are coming to," The remarks embarrassed me — a Utah boy myself— and I

found no explanation for this condition, which, I trust, is not gen- eral. It exists only in those localities where mechanical industry is beginning to invade the easy-going rural districts of our state. Even this observation, however, by one in a position to know, is a reproach to our young men, for, it should be remembered, Utah has for its emblem the hive of busy bees —the very motto of In-

dustry. In the hope that the busy young men in the Hive of Deseret, readers of the Era, may take upon themselves to promote in- it

dustry, and awaken ambition in that class of young people who may be in danger of becoming drones, these words are written. "Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand be- fore kings." Benjamin Franklin, speaking of having adopted this life-

guiding maxim, in his youth, said, "I then considered industry as a means of obtaining wealth, which encouraged me, though I

56 IMPROVEMENT ERA,

did not think that I should ever literally stand before kings, which, however, has since happened, for I have stood before five, and even had the honor of sitting down with one, the king of Den- mark, to dinner." Not excellence, nor happiness, nor contentment, nor good character, nor success in any given direction, is found without labor. The young man who is ambitious to gain these blessings must be a worker, for idleness is their worst enemy, as well as the most alluring but vicious playmate that a boy can have. Pleasant to begin with, at the end, idleness is a cruel, heartless master, compelling mischief and damnation. The human mind is so consti- tuted that to thrive must have some object before it to reach it

out to, and it is happiest while working to attain that object. Boys, therefore, should have ambition that reaches out to some good purpose or end,and then work with all industry to gain the prize. The price oj success is effort. Can you work? Then you can succeed. This naturally brings us to the question, What is success? Edward Bok defines it as accomplishment. It is doing that which

one sets out to do. It is not reputation, for a man may have reputation and yet be devoid of every elem?nt of true success. Reputation is merely what men think another to be; but success is like character, what he really is. Success is, therefore, the doing of that which one sets out to do. Fulton paddling his way from Albany to New York; Stephenson drawing a few queer-look- ing carriages over wooden rails with his old "puflSng billy;" Col- umbus, landing a mutinous crew on the strands of an island of the western hemisphere; Marconi, speaking over wireless space— all these succeeded, for they accomplished what they set out to do. It was all done by hard work. Every good work that we com- plete goes to make our character, which may be said to be the re- sult of our life-work. Hence, good work, good character; bad work, bad character. A boy who has formed a good character has succeeded. Some people think that to make a great sum of money, to own houses, lands, and herds is to succeed. But making money is only one incident in success, which depends upon whether other objects, just as essential, have been gained. In building character, which is true success, there are many objects

TALKS TO THE YOUNG MEN. 57

to be attained, but in making money, only one — to get it — and while that is a good and essential thing — it does not make the successful man, for such a one, with firm and noble character, must have attained to many objects. Industry leads in this at- tainment, and once fastened upon the character, no obstacle can stand in the way of success. To the thoughtful mind, the edict of Eden is an undisguised blessing: "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread" High above the curse that the ground should bring forth thorns and thistles, stands the divine command: "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it, and have domin-

ion," for in this mandate lie hidden all the principles of human adyancement. Hunger and exposure were the necessities which called forth invention, for God gave primitive man no shelter save the shadow of the rock or the fading foliage of the forest, and made for him no couch except the cold earth wherein all must find their final rest. The hands of industry started the music that gave sweet promise of happiness to toiling man. Work supplied his wants, and thus cams gratification. Toil made him weary, and rest was made sweet. Developing powers of brain and brawn awaked ambition, and the pride born of achievement made him disdain meagre things. And behold the journey of progress that man has made! All leaders of men have appreciated the importance of adher- ence to industry in the regulation of men and material advance- ment. President Brigham Young had the people build, around the pioneer cities, walls of mud. It was done, too, at a time when means and necessities were very scarce. The common supposition was that the walls were built to keep the savage Indian out. But if the true purpose were learned, it would be found also to have been to keep out the treacherous and insidious foes of discontent and indolence, with their attendant miseries and vices. In this respect our great leader reminds us of the sea cap- tain who, rather than have his marines idle would set them at work polishing the anchor. Every indolent or shiftless man upon the street or the farm, or sitting around the shops and offices of industrious men, is not only a hindrance and a public nuisance, as well as the cause of misery at home and future sin and sorrow,

but he is a blot upon the fair fame of his people and his state. We desire that our young men shall be workers in that larger sense. Industry means more than work in its narrow sense. It

brings plenty and to spare. It quickens appreciation of both pos- session and ability. It opens up to one the possibilities of honest effort, and, combined with due economy, brings prosperity and es- tablishes character. Whether you are on the farm, or in the shop, on the road or in the busy marts of trade, in the school room, or the ministry, remember, young man, that you could allow no better motto to sink into your resolute heart than this: "2%e hand oj the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute"

some boy saying that he does not understand. He can I hear

not tell where to begin. You may begin right where you are. Are you employed? If so, do your task, no matter what it is, well, conscientiously and without complaint. That one thing will bring you better work; it will keep you off the streets, away from the corner grocery and the settlement loafing place; and, above all, that vicious enemy of boys, idleness, will not seek your com-

panionship. you are not employed, lose no time in getting If something to do. Help your mother, your father, your brother, to begin with, and it will not be many days before you will be sought after, and you may soon have your choice of the countless opportunities for material work that are all about you. Do not be afraid of the commonplace duties to begin with. "The greatest thing our earth possesses is the stainless character of Jesus Christ. We need his wiie words, but his teachings derive their meaning from his sinless character. But that sinless character was gained cumulatively by thirty years at the carpenter's bench, years of the commonplace, years of dreary routine and monotony, but he was faithful to his task, and out of the little fidelities and trifling duties, he exemplified the highest ideals, and fulfilling the

purpose of his Father, became the light of the world." Then your religion. What a vast field for industry here: in mastering the Mutual Imp.ovement Manual, the Sunday School lesson; in doing the many kind acts of true religion, defined by the Apostle as "visiting the fatherless and the widow in their afflic- tion, and keeping yourself unspotted from the sins of the world."