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马克威博士(美国) 斯士学士(美国)著 中国一青年译 （接前号） 勤勉 格言 何家士曰。天才无他。劳与勤而已。 婆罗汉曰。由析而观其通。复由通而绎其析。 亚罗得曰。二少年之差别。不在才能而在毅力。 皮汝逊曰。劳力者挥能力之戈。拥成功之节。戴得胜之冠。 马敦曰。惰夫之用。不逾于陈死人。不过多占人间之地位耳。 有规律之动作。专精壹志。以蕲事于成。是即吾人诠勤勉之义也。普求其逾确之义。即黾图利已而又利人之动作。故勤勉云者。乃厘然中规之动作。而可以增益人群褆福之谓也。 从事有序。为程效所必需。而在吾人动辄感为难能。或寖觉其不易者。是无他。吾人当于役神惫之余。远瞩前涂。唯息肩之是望。遂意有生之至乐。乃莫逾于一不事事之时。耽逸之念生。斯趋功之力隳矣。 勤勉引为人生识分之一。宜矣。然吾人于此。母宁谓勤勉为人生职分之将伯。盖惟先有勤勉。而后其他职分乃可尽也。夫勤勉而外。有足以善吾生者鲜矣。怠惰而外。有足以恶吾生者鲜矣。 于此有倡异议者。要无疑也。姑无论此曹明认勤勉之惜如何。度其人必深信克济大业之光荣。非彼悫愿苦行之徒。所能勉致。犹之他人遗产然。其幸而获者。必其人赋命之佳。否则安可得也。故世惟得天独厚之人才。乃克享有大业耳。此毗于天才者之说也。 劫后英雄略一书。英人瓦待斯珂特所著。稗乘中之名篇也。读是书者。罔不钦作者为天才。然是书实不啻表襮勤勉之事实。而宏毅坚忍独行诸德与焉。说者谓“司珂特神游心注于昔之武士时代者有年。设身处地。想像乎十字军之马迹车尘。彼时之犹太民族。独赋之特性异能。讨论备至。而于当年之载籍。凡关于彼著述者。尤究心搜集。甚至于罗门法兰西。与盎鲁格撒克逊人之混合语言文字。穷其源流。究其部次。赏奇析异。为状盖至勤也。” 信矣。劳力者。规定百凡大事之真价也。微劳力曾见有何事可成者。英雄豪杰之崛起。其能享有大名者。是必其人勤勉不倦。坚忍孤行。虽其间庸有天纵之才。不由人力。或灵敏之性。与生俱来。然而劳苦坚卓之操。为成功所必不可缺者。彼又乌能佚而免也。 劳力者。人群之大宗师也。又若军旅然。劳力者。至严肃之训练也。使军旅而无训练。一旦应召而起。有见其溃乱披靡而已。嗟夫勤勉。其殆师乎。彼实教吾人坚忍不挠。宏毅独行。彼实迫吾人昕夕从事。充力之所能及。唯是之故。彼实授吾人以灿然之方法。与秩然之规律。然勤勉也者。又永需夫鉴别之明。与果断之力。而于以造成经验有素之人才者也。 勤勉者。凡百作用之菁华。芸芸众生。所赖以殖基于大地之上者也。彼惰者亦如恶人然。皆足为人利用也。昔斯巴达人常驱酗酒之虏。游行于市。使青年子弟观其顽蠢颓丧之状。耻而戒饮。此虏是诚有用矣。然非自用其用也。由是观之。劳力之为物。相需至殷。吾人当欢喜将之。不当怨尤视之也。夫人习于勤劳。不大独益其美德。即人生乐利。亦蒙其巨助矣。 今者勤劳之于妇人。其紧要亦何亚于男子。往岁波士顿某美术肆中。有群女方聚而凝视一著名之雕象。一女忽曰。“忆之。此为女子所作也。”一女答曰。“此足使吾傲彼矣。”此名刻为蔡必罗亚遗像。而女士哈里特何思密所作也。女士好学而覃精艺术。乃能以名作遗世界云。 事业之艰剧者。必其成功高且贵者也。无上之价。乃基于至大之真值。夫人而欲臻绝诣也。必如其价以偿人必自成否则终于无成而已。 吾邦诸杰。非宁馨儿。非纨绔子。非席荫之人。非窳惰之辈。彼盖耽于刻苦。不恶蓝褛。不惮清贫。而自披棘斩荆。以自食其天禄者也。 焦霞李那汉欲为名画家也。日自十时至四时。即役于画室。曾无间断。迨至老病释笔时。彼年已六十有六矣。常自语曰“吾之劳苦。乃无异求饱之佣也。” 说者谓极危之事。足以陷是邦之青年者。偷惰实居其一。乃青年子弟于种种劬劳之事。规避唯恐不周。设谓此曹于世无毫末之益。行且以偷惰断送其生涯。彼肯承者盖寡。然而偷惰之夫。实自丧其欢乐之权力。何也。唯苦而后知乐也。彼之一生。无日不在圣日休假之中。更何有余间。可供佚乐者。天下无有卧而治之之事。彼事机之至。亦决不愿为高卧者少留。唯有任其酣眠。终于无济而已。 勤勉者。湔罪恶之良剂也。古谚有之。“惰者之脑魔之窟。”意谓人无所为。则将习而为恶也。彼高以自命。而一不事事之人。可矜亦可诛也。世间最恶之事。未有过于妄动与淫乐者。彼自恣之徒。实坏道德之根基。剗生人之元气。凝生众恶。恶于何有。有死以报而已。 方青年勤于正事之时。人无过虑之者。然而试问彼。彼于何处进午膳乎。彼夜出馆舍将何之乎。彼晡食毕将何所事乎。彼于星期与圣日。果何处供其消遣乎。唯彼余间消耗之涂。足以襮其人之品格。泰半青年之荡检。夕餐彻后。正彼从容隳落之时。而在多数奋身上达之青年。婴荣名以去者。则在惜取午夜余光。以攻以读。庸有时群从朋处。是必其益智而迪良者也。故吾人掬诚悃以普告青年。亦愿善用此余间而己。戒之哉。日之夕矣。正尔青年之生涯危机一发之时也。 昔者罗马。当其导民于勤勉也。国莫强焉。及夫藉战胜之余威。子女玉帛。虏略无算。使其市民。舍苦力以嬉。当是时也。罗马之光荣。乃日趋于黯。伤风败俗之事。乙乙然自窳惰中抽绎而出。以玷辱此庄严巍巍之城。而国遂不国矣。 勤勉殆为英吉利民德之骨干。此无可疑也。以彼区区之岛国。而其民能使环球之上。人迹所至。莫不尊之者。亦唯赖此勤勉而已。即在吾邦。俨然号为世界之工业国者。亦唯赖此勤勉而已。 德意志帝国著有定例。凡皇族少年亲贵。均令执一艺。规定学艺时期。以能善自工作为度。诚以世变无常。未来之事。渺不可测。为人生自立计。则自储贰以至亲王。是宜令其具有自食其力之能。以求生存于大地也。似此良法。举世所应则效矣。贤哉犹太民族。犹固守其先训。谓少年无论贵贱贫富。皆应服习职业也。 佛兰克林有言。“彼有一艺者。即恒产也。”夫劳动事业。无论常人卑视。雅不欲为。而自识者观之。彼劳动者可钦崇之事业也。其羸羡虽若不丰。而所获之令名。则无时或绌。劳动无可耻也。而亦无物可耻之。惟彼一不事事之人。或不操劳。而常觑责轻糈厚者。致足耻耳。吾人宁任浮夸气盛之少年。耻其手杖。耻其羔革之掌衣。而决不欲劳动者耻其胼胝之手也。古谚有云。“彼徒袭大家风采者。置之于市。曾籴不得斗麦耳。” 有安多佛之南方学生某者。尝被严谴。谴辞虽刻而甚当。先是某生购有木料若干。乃走谒其师司徒亚特教授。就訉将使谁锯之。教授语之曰。“吾虽不居锯工之列。吾将亲为子锯之。”教授此类之教训。直深印其徒之心坎。吾人深冀此少年能领会也。 柯乃力万达壁 或问于柯乃力万达壁曰。“营业成功之奥秘何也。”答曰。“奥秘耶。彼无所谓奥秘也。汝唯举汝所为。搏精凝神。以赴尔事业。奋力进取而已。” 今者设有人焉。而取法万达壁氏之教也。是宜稔乃事。端乃心。啬乃费。以讫于否去泰来而后已。下述万达壁氏轶事数则。可借鉴焉。 当千八百六年。有舟搁浅于生的何克间。柯乃力之父。方任移徙船货之役。乃命其子与三役工。驾三车六马。运货过沙洲。而致之小艇。时柯乃力年才十二也。 运货事毕。柯子乃返归涂。囊中仅贮少许旋资。且距家复辽远。既经长程。度越吉塞沙漠。洎抵南亚波。彼乃忧愁无计载车马渡过司塔顿岛。盖囊金已挥霍将罄。不足供渡车马之费也。无已。乃往见逆旅主人。告以情。且与约曰。“傥公能资吾侪使渡者。我当留一马为质。有如四十八时内。我不以金六圆偿公者。则请取此焉。”主人视其炯炯双眸。不觉应曰。“吾愿为之。”未几此马果赎归云。 千八百十年春。彼浮海之兴勃发。乃请于其母。乞假金百圆备舟。母曰。“儿乎。此月之二十七日。汝十六岁矣。设彼时汝能耕耘播种此八亩之地者。吾将资汝以金。”此田殊荒芜硗确。而彼竟能如期卒事。彼是后钜万之富。实植基于此肇端甚微之日。彼尝终夜治事。昼复不去其职。故能于纽约港早获绝佳事业也。 千八百十三年。是时邦人士。逆料英舰将攻纽约。纽约舟人争投标承载军实。送环港诸营。标价乃极廉。以得榜者。例许蠲免军役也。独柯乃力不与于是役。其父问曰。“汝曷不往投标。”答曰。“是何益。若辈廑以半赁为之。此胡得而办者。”其父曰。“虽然。试为之。何害。”于是柯乃力勉徇父意。乃往投标。订赁得其平。初不以此望获。故当揭晓。彼竟未往探也。洎至同辈丧气而还。彼乃往兵站訉问。畴能如约者。站官答曰。“然。兹事已定矣。柯乃力万达壁其人也。”语既。见此少年形色若不胜惊异者。乃复诘之曰。“汝岂即其人邪。”对曰。“余名实柯乃力万达壁也。”站官曰。“善。汝知吾侪所以与汝订约之意乎。吾侪惟求事之得办。而知汝能办之者也。” 由是以观。品行足以孳信用。而品行止于勤勉。犹宫室之止于其址础也。 THE YOUTH Selected from The True Citizen. By W.A.Markwick, D.D. and W.F.Smith,A.B. INDUSTRY. MEMORY GEMS. Genius is nothing but labor and diligence.—Hogarth. Know something of everything and everythingofsomething. —LordBrougham. The difference between one boy and another liesnotsomuchintalent as in energy—Dr.Arnold. Work wields the weapons of power, wins the palm ofsuccess, andwears the orown of victory.—A.T.Pierson. A lazy man is of no more use than a dead man, and he takes up moreroom.—O.S.Marden. By industry we mean activity that is regular and devotedtothecarrying out of some purpose. More definitely, it isactivitythatisdesignedtobe useful to ourselves or to others. It is thus aregulated activity by which our welfare, or that ofothers,maybefurthered. We are apt to think,or at least tofeel, thatthenecessityof working regularly is a hardship. Because we get tired with our workand look forward with eagerness to the time of rest,weformtheopinionthatthe pleasantest life would be one which should be allrest. Industry might well be urged as a duty.Butwewould rathernow speak of it chiefly as an aid in accomplishing other duties. Fewthings are more helpful towardrightlivingthanindustry, andfewmore conducive to wrong living than idleness. Nodoubtthereareonthis subject opposing opinions.Somebelieve, whether they openly confess it or not, that theglory of thehighest success is not within the reach of every honest toiler; thatit is, like other legacies, the good fortune to whichsome are heirs,but which others are denied—the inheritance only of those whom naturehaswell endowed. These are the advocates of genius. The reader of "Ivanhoe"—that finest romance of Sir Walter Scott— pronounces its author a genius. The factisthatbookis aconspicuous illustration of industry —patient. perseveringtail.Ithasbeen pointedoutthat,"for years Scott had made himselffamiliarwiththe era of chivalry; plodded over, in imagination, thewearymarchofthe Crusaders;studiedthecharacteristicsandcontradictionsofthe Jewish character; searchod carefully into therecords ofthetimein which the scenes of his story were laid; andevenexamineddiligantly into the strange process whereby the Norman-French and the Anglo- Saxoon elements were wroughtintoacommontongue." Labor is indeed the price set upon everythingwhich is valuable.Nothing can be accomplished without it. The greatest of men have risento distinction by unwearied industry and patient application.Theymayhave had inborn genius; their natures may have been quick and active;but they could not avoid the necessity of persevering labor. Labor is the great schoolmaster of the race. It is the grand drillin life's army,without which we are confused and powerless when calledinto action.What ateacherindustryis! Itteachespatience,perseverance, forbearance, and application. Itteachesmethodandsystem, by compelling us to crowd the most possible into every day andhour. Industry is a perpetual call upon the judgment and the powerofquick decision; it makes ready and practical men. Industry is essential for that usefulness by whicheachmanmayfill his place in the world. The lazy, like the wicked,maybemadeuseful. The Spartans used to send a drunken slave through thecitythat the sight of his folly and degradationmightdisgustyoung menwith intemperance. He was made useful; he did not make himself useful.From this it will be seen that the necessity of labor is somethingatwhichweshouldratherrejoicethan complain, and that habits inindustryare the great helpers to virtur, happiness, and usefulness. Industry is now as important to the woman as to the man.Some yearsago,in an art store in Boston, a group of girls stood togethergazingintently upon a famous piece of statuary.The silence was broken by theremark, "Just to think that a woman did it." "It makes me proud, "saidanother. The famous statue was that of Zenohia, the product of HarriotHosmer, whose love of knowledge and devotion to art, gave the worldamaster-piecc. Work is difficult in proportion as the end to beattained is highand noble. The highest price is placed upon the greatestworth. Ifaman would reach the highest success he must pay the price. He mustbeself-made, or never made. Our greatest men have not been men of luck and broad-cloth, nor oflegacy and laziness, but menaccustomed tohardship; menwho foughttheir way to their own loaf. Sir Joshua Reynolds had the passion for work ofthe true artist.Until he laid aside his pencil from illness, at the age of sixty-six,he was constantly in his paintingroomfromtentillfour,daily,"laboring"as he himself said, "as hard as a mechanicworking forhisbread." Laziness is said to be one of the greatest dangers that besets theyouth of this country. Some young menshirkeverything that requireseffort or labor. Few people enfertain the idea that they are of no usein the world; or that they are ruining themselvesby their laziness.Yet lazy persons lose the powerofenjoyment. Theirlivesareallholiday, and they have no interval of leisure for relaxation. The lie-a-beds have never done anything in theworld. Eventssweeppastand leave them slumbering and helpless. Industry is one of the best antidotes to crime. As the old proverbhas it, "An ille brain is the devil's workshop," for by doingnothingwe learn to do ill.The man who done not work, and thinks himself aboveit,is to pitied as well as condemned. Nothing can be worse than activeignorance and indulged luxury. Self-indulgence sapsthefoundationof morals,destroysthe vigor of manhood, andbreedsevilstahtnothing but leath can blot out. Nooneisveryanxiousabout a young man while he is busy inuseful work. But where does he eat his lunch at noon? Where does he gowhenheleaveshisboardinghouseat night? What does he do aftersupper? Where does he spend his Sundays and holidays? The way uses hissparemements reveals his character. The great majority of youth whogo to thebad are ruined after supper. Most of those who climb upwardtohonorand fame devote their evenings to study or work, or to thesocietyofthe wise and good. The right use of these leisure hours,we wouldcordially recommend to every youth. Fach evening is a crisisin thecareerofa young man. Rome was a mighty nation while industry led her people, but whenhe great conquest of wealth and slaves placed her citizens above thenecessityoflabor, thatmoment her glory began to fade; vice andcorruption induced by idleness,doomed the proud city to an ignominiousoverthrow. There can be no doubt that idustry has been thebackboneoftheEnglishcharacter. By it her people have made their island respectedall over the habitable globe. By industryourownlandhascometobe recogized as the workshop of the world. It is rule in the imperial family of Germany thatevery youngman shall learn a trade, going through a regular apprenticeship tillheis able to do good journey-work. This is required because, in theeventof unforeseen changes, itisdeemednecessarytoamanlyindependencethat the heir apparent, or a prince of the blood, shouldbeconsciousof ability of making his own way in the world. This isan honorable custom , worthy of univer al imitiation. TheJewsalsowiselyheldthemaxim that every youth, whatever his positioninlife, shouldlearnsome trade. Franklin says, "He that hath a trade hath an estate." Work,howeverlooked down upon by people who cannot perform it,is an honorable thing; it may not be very profitable, but honorable it always is, and thereis nothing to be ashamed of about it. Themanwhohasreasoniobe ashamed is the one who does nothing, or is always on the lookingforan easy berth with good pay and no work. Let the youngman whoseconceit greatly exceeds his brains, be ashamed of his caneandkidgloves; but never let a man who works be ashamed of his hard hands.There is anold proverb which says, "Mere gentility sent to market,won't buy a peckof oats." A keen but well deserved rebuke was onceadministeredtoaSouthern student at Andover who had bought somewood, andwho thenwentto Professor Stuart to learn whom he could get to saw it. "I amoutofa job of that kind," said Mr. Stuart; "I will saw it myself".It is tobe hoped that the young man learnedthelessonwhichhisteacherthus sought to impress upon his mind. Cornelius Vanderbilt. "What is the secret ofsuccessinbusiness? "askeda friend ofCornelius Vanderbilt. "Secret! there is no secretaboutit," repliedthe commodore; "all you have to do is to attend to your business andgo ahead." If you would adopt Vanderbilt's method, know your business, attendto it, and keep down expenses until your fortune is safe from businessperils. Note the following incidents in his career: In the year 1806,when about twelve years of age, Cornelins was sent by hisfather, whowas removing the cargo from a vessel strandednearSandyHook, withthree wagons, six horses, and three men, to carrythecargoacrossa sandbar to the lighters. When the work was finished, he started, with but afewdollarsin his pocket, to travel a long distance home over the Jerseysands,and at Jength reached South Amboy. He was anxious to get histeamsferried over to Staten Is and,andasthemoneyathisdisposalwasnot sufficient for the purpose, he went to an innkeeper,explainedthe situation and said, "If you will put us across,I'llleave with youone of my horses in pawn, and if I don't send you backsixdollarswithin forty-eight hours you may keep the horse. " "I'lldoit, "saidthe innkeeper, as he looked into the bright honesteyesoftheboy. The horse was soon redeemed. In the spring of 1810, he applied to his mother for aloan of onehundred dollars with which to buyaboat, havingimbibed a strongliking for the sea. Her answer was, "My son, on the twenty- seventh ofthis month you will be sixteen years old. If, by that time,youwillplow, harrow, and plant with corn the eight acre lot,I willadvanceyou the money."The field was rough and stony, but the work was done intime, and well done. From this smallbeginningCorneliusVanderbiltlaid the foundation of a colossal fortune. Hewouldoftenworkallnight; and, as he was never absent from his post by day, hesoonhadthe best business in New York harbor. In 1813, when it was expected that New Yorkwould be attackedbyBritish ships, all the boatmen,except Cornelius, put in bids to conveyprovisions to the military posts around New York, namingextremelylow rates, as the contractor would be exemptedfrommilitaryduty."Why don't you send in a bid?"asked his father. "Of what use? "repliedyoung Vanderbilt;"they are offering to do the work at half price. Itcan'tbe done at such rates." "Well,"said his father,"It can do noharmtotry for it."So, to please his father, but with no hopeofsuccess, Cornelius made an offer fair to both sides, but did not gotoheartheaward.When his companions had all returned with longfaces, hewenttothe commissary's office and asked if the contracthad boen given. "Oh,yet ,"was the reply; "that business in settled.Cornelius Vanderbilt is the man. What?"he asked, seeing that the youthwas apparently thunderstruck," isit you?" "My name isCorneliusVanderbilt, "saidtheboatman. "Well," said the commissionary,"don'tyou know why wehavegiventhe contract to you? Why, it is becausewe want this business done,andwe know you'll do it." Here we see how character begetsconfidence,andhowcharaterrests upon industry as the house rests upon its foundation. |
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