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Bok, Edward William, 1863-1930

"A Dutch Boy Fifty Years After"

" and the word Company to "Co." he received a hundred
per cent mark, as did the boy who spelled out the words and who could
not make the teacher see that "Co." did not spell "Company."
As I grew into young manhood, and went into business, I found on every
hand that quantity counted for more than quality. The emphasis was
almost always placed on how much work one could do in a day, rather
than upon how well the work was done. Thoroughness was at a discount
on every hand; production at a premium. It made no difference in what
direction I went, the result was the same: the cry was always for
quantity, quantity! And into this atmosphere of almost utter disregard
for quality I brought my ideas of Dutch thoroughness and my conviction
that doing well whatever I did was to count as a cardinal principle in
life.
During my years of editorship, save in one or two conspicuous
instances, I was never able to assign to an American writer, work which
called for painstaking research. In every instance, the work came back
to me either incorrect in statement, or otherwise obviously lacking in
careful preparation.


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