The Chemawa American, May 13, 1925, Image 1

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Printed at Chemawa, Oregon, and Devoted to the Interests of Indian Education
Vol. XXVI
Wednesday, May 13, 1925
POWER AND PROMPTITUDE
It is said that two qualities are essential to greatness
—power and promptitude. The former is the fruit
of the latter. A man or woman who is impressed with
the value of time will make every minute count to
such purpose that his or her life will inevitably bear
the stamp of power. It is a rare thing, young readers,
to find a really successful man or woman who has not
a strongly developed habit of promptness.
No. 30
help from others can fashion it. The golden oppor­
tunity which practically every boy and girl at Che­
mawa is seeking lies within themselves
It is not
luck. It is in your own efforts—in yourself alone.
So, after all, students, in your efforts to prepare for
life "Begin right, and right away.” This motto is
one which would save many a youth from disaster.
More people come to grief through indolence, than
from almost anything else. There is nothing else
A person who is constantly behind time, who is in­ quite so destructive to the energy which does things,
variably late in keeping appointments, in getting to or which so paralyzes the faculties, as the habit of
line-up, and who is also invariably late in paying bills, dawdling. Every moment’s delay in getting down to
creates distrust in the minds of those with whom he honest effort in preparing yourselves while at Chemawa
has dealings. He may be honest and his intentions makes it harder and harder to start. The young per­
all right, but we all know that good intentions and son who expects to do anything of consequence must
honesty do not carry us very far unless we put them be prepared for it.
Many a man is earning a small wage because he
into practice. So much rests on the cardinal principle
of promptness that a person who is not prompt in all did not think it worth while to fit himself for some­
transactions and engagements cannot be relied upon, thing better. It is education coupled with energy
no matter how well he means. Honesty of purpose that counts. He was not willing to pay the price for
alone will not compensate for tardiness. Many a the training which would advance him to a good
position. He never thought it worth while to utilize
young man has failed because of this fault.
Boys and girls, there is no more desirable quality his school days to improve himself and make good at
than punctuality, and no other so indispensable to a school. He followed the school routine, but failed to
person in business life, or to any one who would save take advantage of the opportunities offered. And now
his own time and that of others. We may ruin our­ the small wage, slip-shod appearance and doleful out­
selves by a lack of promptness, but we have no right look on life tell the story.
We see people all around us holding what may be
to waste the time of others. The habit of being on
time, like all other habits, is due to environment and termed menial positions—kept back by a lack of early
early training, such as we try to instill in you here. training. We see them failing because they did not
It is the boy or girl who says "Wait a while,” when think it worth while to prepare for a higher occupation.
they are directed to do a thing, who delays an errand, Many prefer, apparently, to slide along the route of
and who never do anything without being told, who least resistance, to get along as easily as they can, to
come just a little too late for the opportunities of life paying the price in preparation for something better.
How many wrecks, how many incomplete and
that were waiting to be grasped and made the most of
wretched lives we see because people did not think it
by those who had prepared themselves for them.
A person who is p
to the minute with every­ worth while to prepare for much of a career. They
thought they would get just a little education—just
thing he does, pract..
ubles time. Promptness
enough for practical use. They did not think it worth
begets confidence
The reputation of being always
while to dig down deep and lay a broad foundation.
on time is a very enviable one, and the youth who
If you boys and girls at Chemawa, or elsew’here,
has attained it possesses, as a rule, the qualities that
expect a rich, golden harvest, you must prepare now
mark successful men and women.
while you have the chance. You cannot take out of
The key that will unlock your great opportunity
(Continued on page 4)
must be forged by yourself. No outside power, no