d and packed as when it lies
untoward, flapping and hanging about his shoulders." Fixed rules are
the greatest possible help to the worker. They give steadiness to his
labor, and they enable him to go through it with comparative ease.
Many a man would have been saved from ruin if he had appreciated the
value of method in his affairs. In the peasant's cottage or the
artisan's workshop, in the chemist's laboratory or the shipbuilder's
yard, the two primary rules must be, "For every one his duty," and,
"For everything its place."

It is a wise thing to begin the day by taking a survey in thought of
the work we have to get through, and thus to divide it, giving to each
hour its own share. The shortest way to do many things is to do one
thing at a time. Albert Barnes was a distinguished American theologian
who wrote a valuable commentary on the Bible amid the work of a large
parish. He accomplished this by systematic arrangement of his time.
He divided his day into parts. He devoted each part to some duty. He
rigidly adhered to this arrangement, and in this way was able to
overtake an amount of work that was truly wonderful. In the life of
Anthony Trollope, the great novelist, we are told that he kept
resolutely close to a rule he laid down for himself. He wrote so many
pages a day of so many lines each. He overtook an immense amount of
work in the year. He published many books, and he made a great deal of
money. The great English lawyer Sir Edward Coke divided his time
according to the well-known couplet--

Six hours in sleep, in law's grave study six,
Four spend in prayer, the rest on nature fix.

Sir William Jones, the famous Oriental scholar, altered this rule to
suit himself.

Seven hours to law, to soothing slumber seven,
Ten to the world allot, and all to Heaven.

Benjamin Franklin's system of working is given in his "Life." Each day
was carefully portioned off. His daily programme was the following:

Morning. ) Rise, wash, and address the
5 ) Almighty Father; contrive
[Question, What good 6 ) the day's business and take
shall I do this day?] 7 ) the resolution of the day;
) prosecute the present study,
) breakfast.

8 )
to ) Work
11 )

12 ) Read or look over accou