What Constitutes Success.
The young man who thinks he can carry his boyish pranks into the serious business of life is not a man, and defrauds himself and his employer. "After work, play." That should satisfy the most sanguine. "Business before pleasure" is the motto of the prudent man whose guide is experience, and it is sufficient for the novitiate in active life. But it is despicable to see the young man just starting in life so wedded to his former enjoyments as to place them above present duties. Yet this is often the case. The young man, who, to steer his own bark, launches forth on the sea of life, too often looks back on the pleasures he leaves behind, and, forgetful of present duties, steers back to past enjoyments. There is no royal road to success any more than to knowledge. He who would succeed must work; and after all there is more real enjoyment in work, which has a worthy object, than in play or pleasure intended to kill time. We remarked a few days ago to a business man whose present means are amply sufficient, but who worked really harder than any of his numerous employés, that he ought to "take it easy." Said he: "I am never so happy as when I have more than I can do. I may wear out in working, but I dread to rust out in idling." He was right. His work was a part of himself, a part of his life, and it was always faithfully done. To apprentices especially, this earnestness and interest in their work is necessary if success is ever to be attained.—Sel.