SIXTH ANNUAL YEA [I BOOK — PART IX. 1003 



in tracing up dates and statements. As he seemingly mused to him- 

 self over the day-book and- ledger we noticed some of the things he 

 said: "This I recorded myself, and this also. Now, John, how about 

 that next date? You see that was when I was in Michigan. Give us 

 the next item. Let's see, that was quite a while afterwards, Decemoer 

 1st; that was just after I left for California". Change in the office 

 force had made some irregularities, but they were soon located in one or 

 another of the books. Meanwhile the proprietor had unconsciously 

 furnished the fact that he took vacations. 



A most successful physician was "shadowed", and it was proved 

 that he spent weeks at a time in Canada or at Seattle. The treasurer 

 of one of our largest state institutions confessed to spending three 

 veeks in summer in the woods of northern Minnesota, camping, hunt- 

 •nj; and fishing, with bank accounts and columns of figures far away. 



On the state fair grounds, at one of the cottages, about the time 

 the curfew whistle blew we were lingering with old friends and mak- 

 ing new ones, loath to spend an extra moment in sleep when we were 

 privileged to meet a venerable white-haired gentleman. 



"No, I've not missed the state fair yet," he said. "I was one of the 

 board that selected and purchased these grounds. Next Monday I start 

 for Colorado to stay a while, but I could not miss the fair." He was 

 a bright, well-preserved old gentleman, but a part of his plans had 

 always been to take needed rest. 



If a clear head and rested body are so necessary to distinguished peo- 

 ple, might they not be a good investment to people in general? Every 

 year we are having it impressed upon us more and more how much 

 depends upon individual work. One can not do his best work when 

 hands and head are ready to drop with weariness. Have it all planned. 

 Leave your business. Go clear away and make it possible for every- 

 one on your premises, at one time or another, to have a vacation. 

 Having lived on a farm a greater share of the time all the years of 

 my life, it has always been plain to me that farmers and their wives 

 are prone to believe they must everlastingly "be in the harness" or 

 everything will go to destruction. It surely is no compliment to one's 

 management to confess one's affairs are in such condition that no one 

 else can handle them. And you must be a hard master, indeed, if, 

 after all these years, you have not at hand trusted help to take the 

 lead while you choose to be absent a short time. 



Better get rid of some of your eccentricities and leave the place 

 long enough to learn that the cattle will lay on just as much flesh and 

 the corn ripen just as fast as when you are at home. Don't look around 

 to see only what there is to do; think of what you have accomplished and 

 you will be convinced you have earned a vacation. Try going to the 

 Iowa State Fair for a week, as a beginning, and you will find so many 

 better ways for doing things you will have saved both time and money. 

 What a weight it lifts from one's shoulders just to know how some 

 one else is doing! You can get their knowledge at the fair, and not 

 get too tired, either, if you set your mind to it. 



