Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-12-22
Perseverance,.
"Do not, for one rcpulse, forego the purpose
That you resolved to effect "-Shakspears.

up the tender SapliHSs'
Stoke after stroke fells that
"Unwedgeable and gnarled oak"
effort after effort oyercomes a gnarled, un
gracious fortune.
Bonaparte once said: 81 have no idea o
a merchants acquiring fortune as a gen
eral wins.a batte-at single blow" &C.,
This slap-dash way of ofacquiring fortune
has been ruinous to very many young mer-
chants. They covet Aladdin's lamp; will
one smart rub they would summon the ge
nil, and obtain countless treasures.
Disappointed in their sanguine expecta,
tions, and perhaps utterly ruined and bank
rupt instead of beginning again in mod
crate way, with experience for their guide
they have either entirely forsaken mercan-
tile affairs, or struck another "blow' so vi
olent that the rebound has crushed them to
the earth.
To know how to wait is the great means
of success, says modern French writer
TO know how to persevere is the surest
means of success in any undertaking, and
this involves patient waiting.
Perseverance Is like a taste for olives
where they are not indigenous; it is not a
natural gift life genius, it IS an requirement.
True, some persons more easily continue
steadfast in a career than others but after
all. anybody can persevere if they on y wjA.
When the boy takes his gun, and goes
out in the morning to shoot birds, he re-
solves not to 60 home with his game7bas
empty Miles and ''mileses," as Hood
says, he tramps over field and ford mud
and mre, through the bushes, over hedges
and stone walls, tearing his trousers and
his shins, bruislng his hands and blIstering
his feet-and all for what purpose Sue
cess.
GAIL things that are, -
Are with more spirit chased than enjoyed"
"Men prize the thing ungain' d more than it is.'
All? but there are more dragons IN the
way to mercantile success, and 6ercer ones,
than guarded the golden apples Of the Hes
perides.
"Fight them, and the cravens flee, thy boldness is
their panic;
Fear them, and thy treacherous heart hath lent
their ranks legion"
Stephen Girard, at the age of forty, COM
manded his own sloop, engaged in the coast
ing-trade between New York, Philadelphia
and New Orleans. He had taken many
steps on the ladder of Fortune since he
was cabin boy not worth shiIling-but
think of his perseverance in mounting that
ladder, step By step, till he was worth seven
or eight millions of dollars
The following anecdote of an oriental
sovereign is given by Malcolm, in his His
tory of Persia:
There was no feature more remarkable
in the character Of Timour, than his extra
ordinary perseverance. No difficulties ever
led him to reccde from what he had under
taken, and he often persisted in his efforts,
under circumstances that led all around
him to despair. He used, on such occa-
sions to,relate to his friends an anecdote of
his early life"
81 once, said he, was forced 10 take shell
ter from my enemies in ruined building
where sat alone many hours. Desiring
to divert my mind from my hopeless condi-
ton, | fixed my observation on an ant that
was carrying grain of corn larger than it
self up high wall. l numbered the eff
forts it made to accomplish this object.
The grain fell sixty nine times to the ground,
but the insect persevered, and the seventh
eth time it reached the top of the wall.
This sight gave me courage at the moment,
and | shall never forget the lesson it con-
veyed.'
This reminds us of Bruce's spider, whose
efforts were nearly as numerous before the
object was accomplished.
1t is common notion among young peo-
pie, that everything must be struck out at
the heat; that is the way genius works.
Genius is suggestive, but common sense
active. j.;
"Alas!" said poor widow, the mother
Of bright but reckless son, "alas! he has
not the gift Of ccntiauGnce.p'. 20
This is an attribute of the best order Of
minds. Every scIool-boy knows "Perse-
verantia vincitomnia" at least, he has fixed
it tindelibly upon the pages ofhis copy-book.
Dcspise perseverance AS well might one
despise the act of breathing. because it has
to be repeated and continued every moment.
But this is an unconcious act. True, and so
may perseverance become, when the hab-
it Of accomplishing what Is undeltaken Is
once established. Perseverance is linked
chain which grapples to the goal ofSuccess
with hooks OF steel.
AMUSING School LScENE.-It was exam
inaton day in oul school. We had "read
and spelt''-told the second of all the let
tors that had any sound-said the "breva-
tons" and "mortilication table without
missing word-and then we were ranged
on the floor in front of iiie visitors, to be
looked at and answer such questions as they
or the teacher saw fit to ask. "Where was
John Rogers burn! to death?" said the teach
er to me in commanding voice. l could nj