Upon the scientific application of the principles of true economy in all lines of activity will depend the success of every one of the great nations in the world-struggle for business-supremacy which is about to follow the final close of the Great War. This statement is peculiarly applicable to the United States of America, which is always unavoidably handicapped by the high cost of labor, and at present is unnecessarily and stupidly hampered by an epidemic of strikes and a wide-spread insane desire to shorten working hours far below the minimum limit requisite for adequate production of the necessities of life for our own country alone.

Until mankind recognizes that labor is a blessing—not a curse—progress will be slow, and the development of the world in all lines will be seriously impeded. No healthy man or woman, or even a child of school age, is injured by eight hours per day of fairly-strenuous physical or mental exercise, provided that its character be suited to the individual's age, capacity, and taste. When one is healthily tired upon the expiration of his daily task, he is in condition, after a very short rest, to enjoy his food and recreation; but any person having no settled occupation nor any regular duties to perform is an unhappy, discontented individual who not only spoils his own life but also interferes with the enjoyment and well-being of all persons with whom he comes in contact.

A real love for work per se should be inculcated in every child by its parents and teachers; and extra work should never be given as a punishment, because so doing would engender a distaste for labor. All work should be made as pleasant and interesting as possible, not only for children but also for adults; and if anyone cannot learn to like the occupation to which he has been assigned, the character of his employment should be changed from time to time until he finds a niche into which he fits comfortably. This development of a love for work in the young is specially important in relation to study; because, when an individual once becomes truly interested in his occupation, be it either mental or physical, his life's battle is already more than half-won.