Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: BE A WHOLE MAN That some men rise in a few years from the lowest to the highest positions is always a matter of interest and encouragement to others. One man I recall is now manager of a large mercantile concern, employing several thousand persons. Eight years ago he began as an office clerk at ten dollars a week. He was unknown to the proprietors, and had neither friend nor relative to aid his advancement. After making due allowances for favorable circumstances, the fact remains that he was able to fill the higher position. So we must conclude that it was not circumstances but rather some quality of mind that made him equal to the opportunity. He doubtless had integrity, thoroughness and energy — and he must also have had judgment, adaptability and sincerity. But less successful men have had these. One thing especially he had, a very essential quality, comprehensiveness. He had the ability to grasp the whole plan and purpose of the business and could appreciate the relative importance of the various parts. He did not narrow his interests and sympathies down to a mere fragment, but endeavored to appreciate the entire business as one great composite idea. All real progress is in the expansion of thought — that measures the difference between a man and his fellows. LOOKING AHEAD The outlook for the future of human industry is inspiring to every earnest and thoughtful person. The undeveloped possibilities of nature are amazing. Millions of acres of forests and fields, mines and mountains await — not merely development, but even the practical recognition of their actual existence. The very contemplation of the possibilities of industry should awaken the ambition of every sincere man — an ambition to take some effective part in making available to all humanity the necessiti...