Am.  Jour.  Pharm.  j 
March,  19 19.  > 
Is  It  Worth  While? 
165 
IS  IT  WORTH  WHILE?1 
"  I  was  having  a  long  talk  to  one  of  my  colleagues  last  night, 
and  we  were  discussing  how  doubtful  we  felt  as  to  whether  it  was 
worth  while  continuing  to  take  an  active  interest  in  pharmaceutical 
affairs.  The  opinion  we  came  to  was  that  it  was  a  matter  of  indi- 
vidual temperament.  My  own  opinion  is  that  there  can  be  no  half 
measures.  '  Taking  an  interest '  means  giving  up  time,  energy, 
recreation,  and  even  cash.  Unless  a  man  is  prepared  to  work  on 
these  lines,  he  had  better  resign  and  be  done  with  it. 
"  Yours,  feeling  rather  stale, 
"X.  Y.  Z." 
The  above  letter  reached  us  a  few  days  ago  from  one  of  the 
leaders  of  Australian  pharmacy.  It  typifies  in  a  general  way  the 
feeling  that  every  man  who  takes  an  interest  in  public  affairs  ex- 
periences at  some  time  or  other  during  his  career.  Despondency  as 
to  practical  results  achieved  by  his  efforts,  annoyance  at  the  in- 
difference and  lack  of  appreciation  of  the  rank  and  file,  and  irrita- 
tion because  of  the  conservatism  of  some,  and  the  disloyalty  of 
others  are  factors  which  invariably  lead  to  the  heart-searching  ques- 
tion :  "  Is  it  worth  while  ?  " 
The  ethics  of  voluntary  service  presupposes  a  willingness  to 
make  personal  sacrifices.  There  are  compensations,  it  is  true,  but 
these  cannot  always  be  tangibly  expressed.  The  hope  of  reward  is 
not  always  present  to  sweeten  the  labor.  Each  man  knows  his  own 
duty  best.  To  some  the  call  to  public  service  is  insistent.  Every 
individual  more  or  less  possesses  some  of  the  characteristics  which 
make  for  good  citizenship.  In  pharmacy  in  particular  the  craft  has 
never  lacked  men  of  foresight  and  character  as  its  leaders.  Today 
quite  as  much  as  in  the  past  the  need  for  leadership  of  the  right 
sort  exists.  The  best  minds  of  all  engaged  in  the  craft  should  be 
available,  and  in  no  sense  are  they  too  good  to  be  utilized  for  the 
advancement  of  the  cause  which  every  true  pharmacist  has  at  heart. 
But  it  should  not  be  overlooked  that  in  addition  to  those  excellent 
qualities  already  mentioned,  patience,  persistence,  and  persever- 
ance are  equally  important.  Time  is  always  on  the  side  of  the  re- 
former. Often  the  steady  plodder  accomplishes  more  in  the  long 
run  than  his  more  brilliant  and  scholarly  colleague.    Few  reforms 
1  Reprinted  from  The  Australian  Jour,  of  Phar.,  November  18. 
