Stepping Stones to Manhood; A Book of Inspiration for Boys and Young Men

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1903 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XIX Be Attentive to Details INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER XIX By Lyman J. Gage IT has often been said that, if a man conceives the idea of becoming eminent in learning, and cannot toil through the million little drudgeries necessary to carry him on, his learning will soon be told. Or, if he undertakes to become rich, but despises the small and gradual advances by which wealth is ordinarily acumulated, his expectations will, of course, be the sum of riches. All successful men have been remarkable, not only for general scope and vigor, but for their minute attention to details. Attention to details has for its result a hitting of the mark, a realization of our aims. Hap-hazard methods result in confusion, disorder and defeat. CHAPTER XIX Be Attentive To Details TO be successful a boy needs, as Arthur Helps said, an almost ignominious love of detail. To dream is not sufficient, he must learn to do, and in doing pay special attention to every part. A judge in Cincinnati wanted a rough fence built. When the carpenter came he said to him, I want this fence mended. There are some unplaned boards, use them. It is out of sight from the house, so you need not take time to make a neat job. I can only pay you a dollar and a half. On looking at it later the judge found the boards planed and the work finished with excellent neatness. The judge, thinking the young man had done it that he might claim more pay, said somewhat angrily, I told you this fence was to be covered with vines. I do not care how it looks. I do, said the carpenter. How much do you charge? asked the judge. A dollar and a half, said the man. Why did you spend all that labor on it, if not for the money? For the job, sir. Nobody would have seen the poor work on it. But I should have...