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Literary
October 28, 1931
Nogales International
Nogales, Santa Cruz County, Arizona
What is this article about?
In 'Truancy of Life,' Bruce Barton recounts his depressive return from France until a work schedule revives him, shares a similar anecdote from a corporate chairman, quotes Joseph Medill on work as play, critiques Genesis's view of work as curse amid unemployment, and urges an economic system providing honest jobs for self-respect.
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Truancy of Life
BRUCE BARTON
Needed!
I
LEFT my family in France and started back across the ocean,
alone. There was none of the thrill that usually comes with heading
toward America, none of the joy of coming home.
For a couple of days I was depressed! Everything I cared for
was behind me; I was sailing into silence.
Then one day the wireless spoke.
"Have arranged the following appointments for you," my
partner wired. "Tuesday after your arrival, Baltimore. Wednesday,
Pittsburgh; Thursday, Friday, Chicago. Best wishes. Please
confirm."
Immediately came a feeling of relief and cheer. "I have work
to go back to," I exclaimed. "Duties are waiting to keep me alert
and a little worried and on my toes."
I was relating the incident to the chairman of the board of a
large corporation.
"I know just how you felt," he said. "I've organized our company
so well that I've almost organized myself out of a job. But
every now and then a really big problem comes along. and the boys
have to send for me. A hurry call came to my home from Chicago
last Sunday, and I had to leave on an hour's notice. My wife thought
it was a hardship, and of course I let her believe that we men lead
terrible lives. But all the way out on the train my spirit was singing :
Somebody wants me, I have work to do.' "
Joseph Medill was asked: "What is the greatest pleasure of
your life?"
"To feel that I am at play when I am at work," he answered.
The book of Genesis presents work as a curse inflicted on
humanity for its sins. We know in these times of unemployment
how faulty that conception is.
To wake up in the morning and wonder: "Where shall I go
today? What shall I do?" That is the curse.
America's most important problem is not education, not the
government regulation of business, not even prohibition. Our real
task is to work out some economic system by which we can pro-
vide honest jobs for all the people all the time.
Every man and woman is entitled to the glorious self-respect
which comes from being able to say :
"Thank God. I have a place. I am needed."
BRUCE BARTON
Needed!
I
LEFT my family in France and started back across the ocean,
alone. There was none of the thrill that usually comes with heading
toward America, none of the joy of coming home.
For a couple of days I was depressed! Everything I cared for
was behind me; I was sailing into silence.
Then one day the wireless spoke.
"Have arranged the following appointments for you," my
partner wired. "Tuesday after your arrival, Baltimore. Wednesday,
Pittsburgh; Thursday, Friday, Chicago. Best wishes. Please
confirm."
Immediately came a feeling of relief and cheer. "I have work
to go back to," I exclaimed. "Duties are waiting to keep me alert
and a little worried and on my toes."
I was relating the incident to the chairman of the board of a
large corporation.
"I know just how you felt," he said. "I've organized our company
so well that I've almost organized myself out of a job. But
every now and then a really big problem comes along. and the boys
have to send for me. A hurry call came to my home from Chicago
last Sunday, and I had to leave on an hour's notice. My wife thought
it was a hardship, and of course I let her believe that we men lead
terrible lives. But all the way out on the train my spirit was singing :
Somebody wants me, I have work to do.' "
Joseph Medill was asked: "What is the greatest pleasure of
your life?"
"To feel that I am at play when I am at work," he answered.
The book of Genesis presents work as a curse inflicted on
humanity for its sins. We know in these times of unemployment
how faulty that conception is.
To wake up in the morning and wonder: "Where shall I go
today? What shall I do?" That is the curse.
America's most important problem is not education, not the
government regulation of business, not even prohibition. Our real
task is to work out some economic system by which we can pro-
vide honest jobs for all the people all the time.
Every man and woman is entitled to the glorious self-respect
which comes from being able to say :
"Thank God. I have a place. I am needed."
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Political
What keywords are associated?
Work
Employment
Self Respect
Unemployment
Economic System
Duties
What entities or persons were involved?
Bruce Barton
Literary Details
Title
Truancy Of Life
Author
Bruce Barton
Subject
On The Value Of Work And Being Needed
Key Lines
"Thank God. I Have A Place. I Am Needed."
"Somebody Wants Me, I Have Work To Do.' "
"To Feel That I Am At Play When I Am At Work,"