Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1845-02-20
The Secret of Success.

lhere are some men who appear born to good
fortune, and others whose DESTINY appears to sub-
ject them to eternal failure and disaster. The an
clents represented Fortune blind goddess, be-
cause she distributed her gifts without discrimin-
alton; and in moIe modern times the belief has
been prevalent, that the fortunes of man were
ruled chiefly by the planet under which he was
born. These supersttons, however ridiculous,
show at least that the connextion between merit
and success is not very conspicuous, yet it is not
therefore the less perpetual. To succeed in the
world is OF itself proof Of merit; Of vulgar kind
indeed 1t may be, but useful kind notwithstanding
We grant, indeed, that qualities of mind which
make man succeed in life, are to a great extent
subversive of genius Nevertheless. numerous
illustrious examples might be given of men of
the highest genius being worldly-wise as duller
mortals. 1t is the preienders to genius, rather
than the possessors of it, who claim the large ex-
emption from those rules of prudence which regu-
late the conduct Of ordinary moItals, and array
themselves in the delormitiss of genius in the idea
that they constitute its beauties. There are some
indiscretions, to which men of vigorous fancy
and keen sensibility are naturally heir. and for
which it would be as unjust to condemn them with
rigour, as it would be to blame one of the cold
bloodeG sons of discretion for being destitute of
poetic fire. Yet every deviation from prudence is
a fault and is not to be initiated, though it may
sometimes be excused.
The most important element Of success is econ
omy; economy of money and of time. BY econ
Orynv do NOT hut ranrpy
such wholesome thrift as will disincline US to
spend our time OF money without an adequate re-
turn either in gain enjoyment An economical
application of time brings leisure and method and
enables US to drive our business, instead of our
business driving US. There is nothing to attend
with results so disastrous, as such mscalcua-
ton of our time and means as will involve US in
perpetual hurry and difficulty. The brightest tai
ents must be ineffective under such 4 pressure,
and life of expenditures has no end but penury.
Our recpe for succeeding in the world, then, is
this work much and spend little. If this advice
be followed success must come unless, indeed,
some unwise adventure or some accident against
which no human foresight could provide, such as
sickness, confagration, other visitation OF Prov
ldence, SnOulu arrest the progress DllH"IuS- Out
in the ordinary course Of human affairs. success
will ever wait upon economy. which is the con-
dton by which prosperity must be earned. World
" success however, though universally coveted,
can be only desirable in so far as it contributes to
happiness, and it will contribute to happiness very
little unless there be cultivated lively benevo-
lence towards every animated being. Happi-
ness il has been finely observed, is in the pro-
portion of the number of things we love and the
number of things that love us To this senti-
ment we most cordially subscribe, and we should
wish to see it written the table of every heart
and producing its fruits of charity. The man.
whatever be his fame, or fortune, or intelligence
who can treat lightly anothers wo-who is moi
bound to his felow-men by the magic tie of SYM
pathy deserves, aye, and will obtain, the contemp
of human kind. Upon him all the gifts of fortune
are thrown away Happiness he has none; his
! life is dream; mere lethargy, without throt
of human emotion, and he will descend to the
grave 'unwept, unhonored, and unsung.' Such Z
| fate is not to be envied, and let those who in
tent upon success, remember that success is no
thing without happiness.-The Apprentice.