(A course for the young women of the Church, 1908-09.)

Ethical Studies: Application

(For April 13th, 1909.)

Definition. Webster defines “application” as “the act of fixing the mind or closely applying one’s self; assiduous effort; close attention.” And someone else has said “Application is genius.”

Its Use. Recently I heard the comment. “All around me I see men and women going to pieces because they lack the power of application. It is the one thing most needed in our community. It is the thing without which there can be no success.”

Time to Acquire It. Youth is the time to apply one’s self, the time to learn to do all things thoroughly. Good habits like this are formed easily while we are young; it is much more difficult when we are older. Young people will do well to take the word of older ones on this, or they may awaken to the value of their youth when it is gone.

Illustration. It is related of James A. Garfield, one of the martyred presidents of the United States, that while he was attending college one boy in the Latin class always had the lesson prepared better than any one else. Garfield was bright, and studied hard, as he supposed, and he sometimes wondered why this other lad could always outstrip him. One night when Garfield had finished studying his lesson he glanced across the street to a window where a light was burning brightly. There he discovered his successful fellow student still poring over his lessons. Opening his book again, Garfield went to work, thinking, “If you can study longer, so can I.” Next day Garfield knew his lesson better than did any other student. This experience made him form a resolution to always spend fifteen minutes on a lesson after he thought he knew it well. And some people think his later success was largely due to this habit, carried with him from college into that larger school of life.

Do All Things Well. “Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well” is an old saying that we will be wise to remember. It is particularly true of little things, the trifles that “make or mar.” You know “it is trifles that make perfection; but perfection is no trifle.” And the girl who longs for something great to do will do well to learn to do the little things that are her duties cheerfully and thoroughly. Let there be no slighted corners, no spots of dust in the room she is appointed to clean; no smeared dishes after she has washed and dried them; no sticky dish-cloth. Let everything, however unimportant be done perfectly; then, as life opens up, she is prepared for the bigger things it holds for her.

Unpleasant Tasks First. Once upon a time a little girl, at the age of only three years, was given the daily task of cleaning the lamp chimneys. Since she is grown I have heard her say, “Oh, how I hated to clean those chimneys!” Yet every morning a wise mother lifted her up to a safe seat on the kitchen table and put the chimneys and cleaning utensils around her, saying, “Never mind, they’ll soon be done. And how nice it is to have the lamps ready when it gets dark.” “Do your work first, little maid, then you can play,” or something to that effect. That mother knew that a neglected duty chafes and worries us even unconsciously, and that where there is something: disagreeable to be done, friction is saved by getting through with it. And that little girl, now she has grown to womanhood, recognizes the value of that early lesson. With her there is no ‘putting off till tomorrow that which ought to be done today.’ And of her I heard her employer say, “She is the only woman that ever worked for me who always did the disagreeable task first.” Yet he employed many men and women. And he showed his appreciation of her and her work by promoting her to the most difficult position in his power to give. Was that to be desired? Yes, for the most difficult tasks are given to none but competent workmen.

The Joy of Thoroughness. No one can describe the joy that comes from doing something thoroughly. If you have never known that exalted feeling. you have missed something you would be glad to know. Turn in and discover it.

Some Ways of Knowing It. If you are to toast the bread for breakfast, give it your attention; see that the fire is right; do not let the bread burn, turn it when it is just at that golden brown; butter it just as father and mother like it; and have it ready and hot when it is needed. If you are to clean the windows, start before the sun shines on them, so they will polish well; clean the frames first, then the dirt will not smear over onto the glass. If you are to bake the bread, watch it so it will not over-raise and sour, or be put in the oven when only half risen. Few things require greater care than does the making of good bread. Those little details that mother seems to do automatically are all necessary if you would have delicious bread. And you must not slight them; you must learn to do them by practice, so they will come naturally and easily to you if you would make bread for your young husband”like mother used to make.” If it is your lessons you are to get, go at them in earnest. If the thought intrudes that “Molly had such a pretty collar on last night — I wonder if I couldn’t make one,” put it out of your head. You’re not making collars now. You’re studying your lesson, or should be. Or if Jack squeezed your hand in a dance last night, forget it, and him too, for the time being. You’re in other business now. But if you positively can not put such thoughts out of your mind, go and practice your music. I don’t mean to go and play something dreamy and sentimental, or even catchy and gay. But go at your exercises; attack them with vim and vigor; keep good time — one, two, three, four — one, two, three, four — one, two, three, four — until Jack marches out of your mind and pretty collars are away in the boxes where they should be. Keep up your practice vigorously for an hour, or perhaps even a half. But, if you have worked hard, oh, how much better you’ll feel! — as if the mountain is moved and you are ready for another. Then go at lessons in the same manner and you’ll be surprised how much more quickly they are learned.

“If you haven’t any music to practice what shall you do?” Well — do something that you can do, and do it vigorously and methodically. If you’re a “Gym” girl take some exercises to start your blood to circulating regularly and freely. Perhaps some exercises with “Indian clubs” will help you, or dumbbells, or wands, or some Swedish movements, or floor work; or try mixing the bread, and put strength and prompt action into the kneading. Or take a brisk walk, alone. Or go out of doors and take some deep breathing exercises, raising the arms well over the head. But whatever you do, do it thoroughly; then you will be ready for better work on your lessons. Or, if night has come, and you find yourself too weary to study, set the alarm clock at an earlier hour than usual, or get someone who arisen early to call you, then go to bed promptly. And in the morning get up as soon as the alarm goes off, or you are called. Then get at your studies at once. You will accomplish twice as much as when you are tired, and you’ll be surprised how you enjoy your studies.

As Well as It Can Be Done. A slovenly student was once asked. “Have you ever in your life done anything as well as it could be done?” And he answered, “No, never.” And those who knew “him, knew that he spoke the truth. Now, my girls, let each ask herself that question : “Have I ever done anything as well as it could be done?” If you have, all right; go on and keep doing something that way each day. If not, commence now — this day or this night. Do something, even if it is small, as well as it can be done. Do that same thing or something else tomorrow just as well as it is possible for it to be done. Then you are progressing and will continue to progress as long as you put this into practice.

The Power of Habit. You know that every time we do a thing it becomes easier for us to do it. Every time we neglect a duty it is easier to neglect it again. Every time we stay away from Mutual it is easier to remain away again. Every time we control our temper it becomes easier to control it again. It is for this reason that we must force our- selves to do the things we ought to do. Or if we haven’t the strength of will to force ourselves it becomes necessary for someone else to force us if we are to succeed. So, my girls, form the habit of applying yourselves diligently to whatever you are doing. Remember the old Bible exhortation : “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” Dean Briggs of Harvard University says: “The habit of attending to business is a habit you must form and keep, before you can be regarded as being ‘there.'” And he considers being “there” the best thing in man or woman.

Keeping at It. About one year ago a woman was given several girls to train for special work. The woman was also in charge of the work to be done. Among the number was one who had had no intellectual training, and her hands, too, were unskilled. At first she spoiled every piece of work given her. But she knew what she had started out to do and she kept on trying. She learned to do one thing at a time, and learned it well. At one time her progress was so slow that an overseer demanded her discharge. But the trainer had recognized her determination to win and knew the value of it. “No,” she answered, “every other girl quits before she does.” And today the teacher’s faith is justified, for she is one of the best workers in the service.

It is not the most brilliant that make the greatest success. It is the one who best applies his talents and who perseveres. Two brothers I know — one possessing a most brilliant mind, the other, as a boy, being rather dull. The first has proved erratic and unstable, the other has risen to be one of the leading professional men in our western country. It is the old story of “The Hare and the Tortoise.”

“We have not wings, we can not soar;
Bu we have feet to scale and climb,
By slow degrees, by more and more,
The cloudy summits of our time.

“The heights by great men reached and kept
Were not attained by sudden flight,
But they, while their companions slept
Were toiling upward in the night.”

–Longfellow in the Ladder of St. Augustine.”

We Like What We Work For. We can like whatever we will, if only we apply ourselves diligently to its study. One little girl I know thought she hated grammar. But she became ashamed of her record in the class and started to work to improve it. And, strange to say, she found she loved the study. And she passed a better examination in it than in any other.

Some of you may have visited the Yellowstone National Park. If you have, you have undoubtedly waited around in the Upper Geyser Region to see certain geysers play — sometimes it is for one you wait, sometimes another. But always, always, if you wait about an hour, you are sure of seeing the “Old Faithful.” Ever since its discovery the “Old Faithful” erupts every hour, never more than a very few minutes off time. I have often wondered at the hidden force that causes this phenomenon. In the lives of some individuals there is just such another power. In spite of storm or shock, bereavement or loss, they can always be counted upon. The first blow may stun, but they rally and go on. One of the secret forces in such a life is invariably the power to apply ones self to the duties remaining. Such a person always finds something to live for, something to do. Even if the duties are homely, nothing else is finer, nothing else will give greater joy.

“Do thy duty, that is best;
Leave unto thy God the rest.”

— Longfellow.

QUESTIONS.

1. Define “Application.”

2. Why do things half done cause indecision?

3. Why do things well done cause a feeling of confidence?

4. Why is it true that “Application is genius?”

5. Why does the lack of application cause men and women to fail?

6. Why can life not be a real success without application?

7. Try Garfield’s plan and at some time appointed by the teacher relate the result.

8. Why does it injure you to slight humble duties?

9. Of what value is habit?

10. Why is it good to do the disagreeable task first?

11. How can you best concentrate your attention?

12. Why can you learn quicker in the early morning than at night?

13. What makes a slouch?

14. Relate some personal experience showing the power of habit.

15. Why did the trainer mentioned refuse to discharge the girl when an overseer demanded it?

16. Relate Aesop’s fable of “The Hare and the Tortoise.”

17. Repeat the quotation from the “Ladder of St. Augustine.”

18. Relate some experience of your own similar to that of the little girl in studying grammar.

19. Why does the power of application enable people to live well in spite of sorrow or loss?

20. What is more profitable than to spend your time longing to do something great?

21. Repeat Longfellow’s lines quoted at the close of the lesson.