768 
Editorial. 
{Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
November,  1920. 
of  manhood  and  the  obHgations  of  true  citizenship.  A  real  estate 
dealer  recently  stated  to  the  writer  that  his  "aim  was  to  get  a  big 
pile  and  to  get  it  quick !"  His  sentiments  and  manner  suggested 
that  he  might  become  a  safe  companion  for  a  safe  cracker.  Then 
there  is  the  type  whose  sole  ambition  is  the  seeking  of  notoriety  and 
by  one  means  or  another  these  manage  to  keep  continually  in  the 
lime  light  of  public  notice.  Then  there  is  that  other  large  group 
composed  of  the  shirkers  and  slackers  who  are  forever  playing  the 
"let  George  do  it"  act.  The  world  is  to-day,  possibly  more  than  at 
any  other  period,  cursed  with  these  drones  and  buzzards  whose  failure 
to  labor  and  produce  constitutes  a  most  serious  world-wide  problem. 
Less  conversation  and  more  perspiration  is  the  lesson  that  is  needed. 
Likewise,  the  misfits  are  in  evidence;  those  who,  after  a  fashion,  are 
applying  themselves  to  jobs  unsuited  to  their  mental  or  physical 
abilities  and  the  enormous  loss  resulting  thereby  is  another  problem 
that  society  must  sooner  or  later  rectify.  Our  picture  presents  other 
heterogeneous  types  which  we  can  leave  to  the  imagination  of  the 
reader. 
Nevertheless,  despite  this  picture  of  the  social  condition,  we  are 
optimistic  and  believe  that  the  world  is  slowly,  yet  surely,  getting 
better  and  that  fortunately  there  is  an  ever  increasing  proportion 
of  its  inhabitants  who  realize  that  within  their  respective  spheres 
of  labor  they  have  a  responsibility  to  society  and  are  endeavoring 
to  faithfully  discharge  same.  The  vocation  is  immaterial  to  this 
contention.  Be  it  that  of  the  professional  man,  banker,  merchant, 
manufacturer,  farmer,  mechanic  or  day  laborer,  each  has  his  share 
in  the  responsibility  and  his  productive  labor  is  but  the  service  that 
he  owes  to  society  and  is  his  expected  contribution  to  the  progress 
of  the  world.  Work  brings  its  own  reward  with  advancement  to 
the  individual  and  enrichment  of  his  country. 
We  would  draw  a  sharp  distinction  between  that  service  to  society 
which  is  presumed  to  be  rendered  by  every  one  and  the  duty  which 
a  member  of  a  profession  owes  to  that  profession.  The  man  or  woman 
who  enters  upon  a  professional  career  should  be  imbued  with  the 
true  professional  spirit  and,  with  a  sense  of  the  seriousness  of  the 
life's  work,  give  thoughtful  consideration  to  the  obligations  assumed 
in  the  practice  selected.  There  is  much  more  in  a  professional 
career  than  anticipated  financial  recompense  and  the  pride  of  sociial 
position  accorded  thereto.  Self  gratification  accomplishes  nothing 
for  the  profession  or  of  permanent  benefit  to  the  individual.  The 
