Chicago had failed to
find a clew, James' special ability was reported and he was given a
week's vacation to work on the case. He took the last three days for a
long-desired trip to Milwaukee. He had landed the thief in the first
four. We told the mother that her boy's ability was about the farthest
removed from the ministerial that could well be imagined, but that he
would make an excellent detective.

"I shall never permit it!" she cried. "His father was a policeman. I
distrust that whole class of people! I am taking James to the
theological seminary tomorrow"--and away she went with him. Two months
later she came to us in great distress. She had received a letter from
the Dean saying James had attended but one day's classes. Then he had
announced that he was going home. Instead he had cultivated a gang of
underworld crooks for the purpose of investigating their methods and had
gotten into serious trouble.

Nevers for All

Never choose a vocation just because it looks _profitable_. It won't
bring profits to you long unless you are built for it.

Never choose a vocation just because it looks _easy_. No work will be
easy for you except that which Nature intended for you.

Never choose a vocation just because it permits the wearing of _good
clothes_. You need more than a permit; you need ability.

Never choose a vocation just because the _hours are short_. You can't
fool employers that way. They also know they are short, and pay you
accordingly. The extra play these leisure hours give you will amount to
nothing but loss to you ten years hence.

Never choose a vocation just because it is _popular_ or _sounds
interesting_.

"I am going to be a private secretary," said a young woman near us at
the theater recently.

"What will you have to do?" asked her friend.

"Oh, I don't know," the girl answered, "but it sounds so fascinating,
don't you think?"

Never turn your back on a profession just because it is _old-fashioned,
middle class or ordinary_. If you have talents fitting you for such
vocations you are lucky, for these are the ones for which there is the
greatest demand. Demand is a big help. If you can add a new touch to
such a one you are made.

Why She Taught German

Never choose a vocation just because your _friends_ are in it, nor
refuse another just because your worst enemy is in it.

Two friends come to mind in this connection. One is a splendid woman we
knew at college. She became a German t