says; "I
was not satisfied with knowing things superficially and by halves, but
tried to get comprehensive views of what I studied."

The quality which, more than any other, has helped to raise the German
people to their present commanding position in the world, is their
thoroughness. It is giving young Germans a great advantage over both
English and American youths. Every employer is looking for
thoroughness, and German employees, owing to their preeminence in this
respect, the superiority of their training, and the completeness of
their preparation for business, are in great demand to-day in England,
especially in banks and large mercantile houses.

As a rule, a German who expects to engage in business takes a four
years' course in some commercial school, and after graduation serves
three years' apprenticeship without pay, to his chosen business.

Thoroughness and reliability, the German's characteristics, are
increasing the power of Germany throughout the civilized world.

Our great lack is want of thoroughness. How seldom you find a young
man or woman who is willing to prepare for his life-work! A little
education is all they want, a little smattering of books, and then they
are ready for business.

"Can't wait," "haven't time to be thorough," is characteristic of our
country, and is written on everything--on commerce, on schools, on
society, on churches. We can't wait for a high-school, seminary, or
college education. The boy can't wait to become a youth, nor the youth
to become a man. Young men rush into business with no great reserve of
education or drill; of course, they do poor, feverish work, and break
down in middle life, while many die of old age in the forties.

Perhaps there is no other country in the world where so much poor work
is done as in America. Half-trained medical students perform bungling
operations, and butcher their patients, because they are not willing to
take time for thorough preparation. Half-trained lawyers stumble
through their cases, and make their clients pay for experience which
the law school should have given. Half-trained clergymen bungle away
in the pulpit, and disgust their intelligent and cultured parishioners.
Many an American youth is willing to stumble through life half prepared
for his work, and then blame society because he is a failure.

A young man, armed with letters of introduction from prominent men, one
day presented himself before Chief Engineer Par