The San Francisco call. [volume], February 05, 1910, Page 2, Image 2

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

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2
JUNIOR
EDITORIAL
CORNER
IN the writers' contest, several months ago, the juniors were asked to tell
t',: something about their ambitions, what they wished to do or be when
they became men and women. .. , \u25a0
While it is not the intention to repeat that subject at this time,, it is
nevertheless one to which juniors cannot give too much thought. The three
most , important points to be considered in choosing your . life work are :
First, Does a given calling offer congenial occupation and the rewards of
success most desired? Second," Have you such natural fitness for it that
you can confidently undertake it? Third, How can you best prepare for it?
iThe first question is without doubt more important .than either of the
other .two. There are thousands of people in the world who are working
by the clock a certain number of "hours each day, doing mechanically the
same thing over and over again, without having the slightest interest in
the beyond ; the . fact that it .will bring them a certain number of
' dollars at enjl of the week. Very often* the fault' lies at the beginning, when
the 'junior,' left school; and commenced to work at something for which he
Miad'no natural fitnessV;. and in\which he 1 was never able to take any par
*}[ ticular- interests i-f Tod^ often; Iwhen^a lboy is; ready to go to work v he asks
; .his friends "or hisj parents' friends to help him to find something to do, and
then, he; slips in wherever there Is an opening without considering whether
Tor not it is a business to which he is adapted. ;If he is fortunate in. finding
; such atbusiness,,then.he very likely works: with Increasing interest and
enthusiasm* winning f promotion after promotion, until he has achieved one
of those phenomenal successes which sometimes startle the business world.
unfortunately, -the work does not' suit him, then he will undoubtedly re
•\u25a0\u25a0 main a mediocre businessman all his' life, finding his interest and- pleasure
:??! in : some \ outside / pursuit at I which he might have attained r real ; success had
.. he chosen it <in the first .place, or, worse yet, becoming that unsatisfactory
•.\u25a0; creature,: a "Jackf of -all trades."- '...•,; .\u25a0'. <..,. \u25a0, " .*. ' "\u25a0;.; \u25a0 •'•• T r . : '•\u25a0.\u25a0?. ..-.: - . \u25a0
The most important question, then,' in choosing your vocation, Is to find
:;,V; the : line V of .work which will be most - congenial to you and for \ which you
r have sufficients natural < fitness to enable you to I confidently undertake it.
\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0 X; '\u25a0:*:. : Haying made- the decision; the next .t hing is to devote all your energies
j to preparing' for; it. v Your standard^ must" necessarily be high. If you are
X^fsoin^ito^be^iX^Q^F^^^^&^^^pjyourJ mind to be a good one; not just
an ; average doctor, ; but, one of , the, 'very best. lf you are going to be a
hardware: merchant; uhen* learn air there is , to learn about hardware, and
keepat it until; you, have the most attractive store and the best business in
\u0084v-: yoqr;,town v ": \u25a0"\u25a0\u25a0•^ ..;•-;;•". \u25a0'.-.\u25a0. , ; , /?-;/ ,wV, :''^"-' '-•\u25a0:" S v \u25a0 — :;'.f'. : --. - ;.v*> \u25a0;:;.;<\u25a0. : ;
Another thing. Don't overrate your ability, and then become discouraged
because 1 you do ; not advance as JfarHn ; one . year as you ought reasonably
to expect to advance in ten. iOn; the other: hand -it is -just as important
: ; not ito^ underestimate yourself/ -because the ; person who lacks confidence in
' himself ; is; certain: to only a partial success at anything he under
takes.Absolute'success can ; only be attained by permanent and positive
confidence in yourself in whatever line. of work? you may engage.
Short Barks From Alonzo
I met a .little boy about 4 -years, old. yesterday, whose face was lit
erallyplastered with sweetmeats. ;?; Of course I licked it allover with delight,
j and you should have seen;the result! .The little; fellow looked like a cherub
just dropped ;frora * a big \ painting. Why couldn't a big brother or sister do
what I "did?? 'It's a shame that 'a dog had to do it. t
There was a big fire last night and I went to it! A big, thick rope was
around the block to prevent the people from getting too close
to the burning building. Nevertheless everybody pressed against the rope
as \ hard as they could. : Of course" I could have gone under easily but I
didn't. ,1 regarded orders! ' , .
I have received, a cable- from a great friend ;of mine in China saying
that the imperial dogs are very pretty,» like dolls, but have no brains, and
he thinks that a dog of my wits ought to do' well in that country: but San
Francisco for minei '
What would you, like to study for your French lesson today? Well, here
are a few words .which: you certainly must know. They represent the most
important factors in;your;iife.' r They are: .... ; ,
• Father— -in.. French,'" pere. V v
Oh!-;T almost; forgot "to tell you about my training lesson. YoVwill
laugh if youmake y.our-dog do thestunt. 1 had to do it this week. 'I saw
; myself in a looking glass and, l was the funniest thing ever. '
I .You kno% I was taught to walk on niV'hlndllegs. Well, first my mis
tress'stood me up on my hind legs, then she pufa cap on my head, well
posed between my ears, and placed so that it would not interfere with my
eyes. Then she put in my mouth a long clay pipe, and sternly commanded
me to stand straight. I certainly did look funny, but I enjoyed it and
now I beg to do the trick, dog fashion/ '
I find it very hard to get variety into my barks, and you know "variety
is the spice of life." l have recently, turned my attention to philosophy
spending long hours in the library to get inspiration. Hero you are:
. /The greatest mountain in the world is not to be compared with a rabbit
hole when you inadvertently put your foot in it.
; If we kuew/what we want we'would have what wq need.
, When you are unhappy look \u25a0 below, '. There is always somebody more
imfortunate. . . " \u25a0
When you are happy look higher. There is always something else',to do
A email lever can lift a great weight. Why not be the lever?
Everything is pretty in nature if we look at it in the right way
Jt is easy to conceive many things if we don't try to tell what they are
THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SATURDAY, lt:i;Rl AKN 5, 1 ( >1O,-~TI1K JUNIOR CALL
DEVELOPING THE CITIZEN
THE VALUE OF CIVICS AND ATHLETICS
S. STURGES
l'rln<*f|»nl l> crfl I Crittmiinr School
IN an article published In The Junior
Call of October 1C tnc writer pointed
out some of the ways In which our
school work should develop the charac
teristics necessary to good citizenship.
The valuo of tho study oC history us a
means for this desirable end wns spe
cially dwelt upon, and an intimation was
given that In a future article the valuo
of the" study of civics and practice of
athletics in promoting tho name object
\vould be disousßCd. It was the inten
tion at tho time to have this article fol
low the other very closely. But duties
have pressed, necessitating delay.
I In my opinion, the most valuablo
book In our grammar school curric
ulum is "Tho Community and the Citl
aen," by Arthur William Dunn of; In
dianapolis. A glance at the Index is
sufficient to indicate its value in train-
Ing for citizenship. In tho hands of
an enthusiastic teacher who is Interest
ed in the object of the book, It can not
fail to be of absorbing Interest to the
children and leave a lasting impres
sion for good upon their lives.
What can bo more Interesting to the
child than" the study of tftc growth of
a community — the things' that the
community does for the benefit of the
citizen; how.it protects life and prop
erty: how it aids the citizen in his
business life, in transportation, com
munication, etc.; how it aids him to
satisfy • his desire for .health, for
knowledge, for j beautiful surround
ings, etc. The discussion of these
subjects in the class gives the child a
more, lively interest in what is going
on around him every day, discovers to
him his own Importance as a member of
the community and stimulates in him
the desire to be a worthy \u25a0 •< member,
which he can be onlyby being an up
right and honorable citizen and con
tributing his part for the general. "good.
Then, again, he studies the origin and
development of our government and
learns that it was designed to be "a
government of the people, by the peo
ple and for the people.; .that If it is
to be this it must \u25a0!\u25a0 be administered
honestly; and that If it is to continue
we must have; just laws, 'honestly ad
ministered. This : will lead him to see
the necessity Qf having upright, hon
est, honorable officials, and conse
quently the necessity of his being up
right and honorable himself.
The further study of our govern
ment will each him the struggles
that . men have passed through to im
prove its form j and make it the best
possible for the people; how patriots
have poured out their blood like water
Monarch, a Collie Who Killed a
Wolf Singled Handed
JVj ONARCH fully deserved his name.
•| • He was the king of collies. I never
knew another: of his' breed who could
kill a wolf in single combat. I. bought
him on the Isle of Wight because of his
regal good looks and sheep herding
fame and discovered/ later that he was
intelligent, brave and fearless.
\ The. fall .0f. "1893 found me in the Big
Horn "mountains with that great trav
eler and sportsman, Robert Cruikshank.
We had a cabin in the timber zone, but
were often away from it for days. On
one of our expeditions we were caught
in a heavy snowstorm and, getting sep
erated from my, companion and the
guide, I lost my way completely. After
traveling in a circle for hours I
thought of Monarch, and, pointing for
ward, I said repeatedly: "Home, Mon
arch, home!" He seemed to understand
at once, and I soon found my bearings
by following him, but night fell lone
before I had reached shelter. •
I The cabin lights were in sight when
Monarch suddenly slopped 'in 'tho path,
emitted a low . growl and then rushed
off toward home. I thought nothing
of it until I reached a clearing in the
middle of a thick: patch of underbrush.
Then In the", uncertain light I , could
make out. Monarch in deadly battle
with two enormous gray animals. As
I watched Monarch closed In on one
of his, rivals and, seizing him by the
throat; • lifted him clean off his .feet,
while the other jumped; on the dog's
back. \u25a0-\u25a0;\u25a0,-\u25a0.•:,\u25a0- . !• ' , :
The truth suddenly i dawned on ni'j.
Two skulking timber wolves had prob
"ubly been stalking my, companions and
Monarch had caught them unawares. 1
dared not shoot in» ; the mtyup, but as
the tackled, wolf fell the other was
thrown. off Monarch's back and 1 fired
instantly, knocking it over. ..' At the
noise of the shot llpb and the guide
came rushing out, guns ready, but the
battle was over, Monarch's antagonist
was pinned under him and was boingr
nlowly strangled. A bullet In the rib.s
ended Its agony. '\u0084 -., . *
Monarch stood up ] straight and
barked strangely, then he staggered
and fell. We carried him tenderly into
the cabin, but .when the light, fell on
hid v mangled body wo all knew that
the dear old chum had taken- the road
from which tlmre Js no turning. We
sat up all night, trying to .cage iiis
pain, but ac day dawned,. .'dark and
gray, the bravent dog that ever lived
imitßed quietly out Into the happy hunt
ing grounds.
to throw, oft" a despotic form of gov
ernment and substitute therefor bov
ernment based on tiio elernal prin
ciples of liberty. In thTs way tho chil
dren will como to respect and love tliolr
government ns a sacred Institution, that
Is worthy of their unTlinohlnß loyalty.
The pupil that can pass through
even the elementary schools of our
country — and especially of/ our city—
and not have developed in him a pro
found respect for our government has
not beA well taught. -Either he has
been too -stupid to uppreoiate or his
teacher has been lacking in the spirit
that 'should animate every man and
woman who adopts the profession of
teaching 'in this country — the Hlncero
and earnest 'desire to bear a part In
the making of good citizens.
As to the valuo of athletics, a few,
words must suffice. Tho original de
sign in the introduction of athletli-s
into our schools was to make them a
means of developing the munly quali
ties of honesty, fairness, courtesy, ;i
generous rivalry," cleanness of life and
Industrious habits in school work, us
well as a love for and desire to cxi-H
In clean, manly sports. It can not bo
doubted that If the games and spirts
of the Athletic league can be no man
aged and the spirit of the rules ho
faithfully observed that these objects
shall be . attained athletics will provo
of very great value in promoting 'good
citizenship. For the qualities sought
to be cultivated are Identical with
those required in tho good citizen.
There are some dangers, however, in
the practice of athletics that must b(j
carefully guarded against or they will
prove a detriment rather than. a benefit.
In the first place, there is very great
danger of the boys becoming so wholly
engrossed in the excitement of the
games that they lose their interest in
and desire for the intellectual pursuits
which arc a necessity in their educa
tion. - ,
i Another of the dangers is the temp
tation to resort to trickery and dis
honesty in order to win. out.
Still another is that of aspiring to*
become professional \, jehamplons and
giving tip some more useful occupation
for the life of the sport. I do not
think the professional sports of our
country can be ranked as' the highest
type of our citizens. • , : ,
In our elementary : schools there Is
very great danger of injury to the
boys from overexertion. Some of t lie"
tests with the necessary practice for
the meet are, In my judgment, 100 fie
vero for the boys of the elementary ,'.
schools.- But with proper restrictions
and ,&, strict adherence to the rules of,
the games pure, clean athletics may be
very serviceable in graining for. cltl-i :
zenship. . . . ' i* '
Fourteen Mistakes of Life
Judge Itentoul of - London, ling 1 .,
is a philosopher much admired in that
metropolis. Speaking at a bantiuet. re
ccntlj', he gained much applause by
describing the following as the 14 im
portant mistakes people make in this
life: -
To attempt to set up our own fstand
ardvOf right and wrong and t-xpect
everybody to conform^to it.
To try to measure the enjoyment «f
others by our own. '
To expect uniformity of opinion in
this world.
To look for judgment and oxperiono«
in youth. S« ,
To endeavor to mold all dispositioim
alike.
Not to yield in unimportant trifles.
To look for perfection in our own
actions.
To worry ourselves and others about
wjiat can not be remedied.
Not to alleviate If we can all that
needs alleviation.* •; -
Not to make allowances for the
weaknesses of others.
To consider anything Impossible that
wo can not v ourselves perform.
•: To believe only what our Unite minds
can " g»sp.
To Hve as If tho moment, tho timo,
the day were co • important that it
would live forever.
To estimate people by some outside
quality, for it is that within whloh
makes the man. ' ' . . ,
Boasting
To boast Is something that a manly hoy
would novnr do; . ,
Of, things one has or .does himself, ona
makes no great ado.
Rut there was onco a little boy M'ho'd
climb a taller tree,
And got a much more painful isthig
from twico as big v 'Vjee.
Far hlghor ho had swung, oh, yea, he'd
touched the branches quit*. .
Afraid to go to bed alon«? Nut In tho
ilat kiHt night ! .
Jlo'd Htuljbed hi» toe, It huyt, butrflUH
you wouldn't se« him cry;
And out ut grandpa'a house thfy liefned
. so many times to pie!
lie had v vtry. limber tongue. 'Twaw
thua It wagged and wagged.
JJut ho was such, a little boy. PeVhani
that's why ho bragged!
—May Turner, In Youth's Companion,