ON DISREGARDING ADVICE* IT IS perhaps well to advise young men in any profession not to take much advice. This applies to my own remarks, which are presented in a spirit of ordinary helpfulness for those to whom they appear to have a meaning. Had I taken much advice from others, almost every one of my mistakes and great discomfitures might have been avoided; but, on the other hand, every thrilling experience of value and the joy of successful experiment would have been lost, because these were achieved through my acting distinctly against advice of counsellors for the most part-when advice had been asked for or volunteered. From the very first, older men were doing kindly things for me without my knowledge, trying to ease the ways of a young man and help him along. I did not realize this at the time, and was mightily puffed up in the belief that attention was my due, and that success was following my unaided efforts. Now that I am similarly engaged these later years in helping *From "Doctors versus Folks." Doubleday, Page & Co., 1915. young men, I understand what gratitude should have been extended to men who were lending a hand for me. There are many young men who do not realize the extent to which an older and kindly hand is upon the tiller when they forge ahead. I was ignorant of the efforts that were being made in my behalf, but now it is all clear, and I have had many an opportunity in later years to reciprocate, without allowing the reciprocative feature to be observed. That is one of the joys and privileges in a profession, and no doubt the same thing occurs among business men. A young man's eyes are placed one upon either side of his head like those of a young flounder, in such a way that he cannot see straight ahead for guidance. As he gets older these eyes gradually move to a position which allows him to comprehend subjects more roundly. |