The Training of a Geologist. — Branner. 159 
that if we wait till all the world thinks aliiie, the world will 
never care what we think. 
I have said that the profession of a geologist requires cer- 
tain proficiencies that are common to successful men in any 
and all occupations in life. Good judgment, clear insight, 
business habits of thought, and promptness of decision and 
action are as essential in geology as anywhere else, and it has 
often seemed to me to be even vastly more so. It is not enough 
that one should plod faithfully ahead with a task — though faith- 
ful plodding is not to be underestimated at all. The man who 
grasps a subject in all its bearings, takes hold of it with judg- 
ment and solves its problems with courage and logic is the one 
who really advances the cause of truth, the cause of science 
and the cause of humanity. 
Once upon a time a business house employed a young man 
whose energy and grasp of the business of the firm induced 
the head of the house to promote him more rapidly than an 
old and faithful employe. The old employe felt deeply hurt 
that this dapper young fellow, who parted his hair in the mid- 
dle and wore eye-glasses, should be advanced over him, and he 
took occasion to complain of it to the senior partner. The 
senior partner felt it to be a case that he couldn't ver}^ well 
argue with so faithful and tried a servant. There happened 
to be a lot of wagons passing the door of their building at the 
moment, and, as if changing the topic for a minute, he asked 
the old clerk what was making all that noise. He went for- 
ward and returning told the partner that it was a lot of wagons 
going by. He then asked the clerk what the wagons were 
loaded with. He went out again and returned and reported 
that they carried wheat. He sent him again to know how 
many there were of them. He returned with the reply that 
there were 16. Again he sent him to ascertain whence they 
came, and he returned saying they were from the city of Blank. 
The senior partner then asked the clerk to be seated, and send- 
ing for the young man complained of said : "Will you see 
what the meaning is of that rumbling noise in front." The 
young man replied : "It will not be necessary, for I have 
already ascertained. It is caused by some wagons — 36 in all — 
16 in this lot, but 20 more to pass to-morrow. They belong 
to Pinto & Rosa of the city of Blank and are loaded with 
wheat. They are on the way from Blank to Zee where the 
