Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-06-02
TRY AGAIN.


TRY AGAIN.
There is certain class of men who never
succeeded in life, because, being naturally of a
desponding spirit, and never having been taught
to resist this tendency, they give up at the least
disaster. If they embark in any particular line
of trade, and meet with what is called run of
ill luck, they begin TO consider themselves the
most unfortunate of men, prophecy that they
have mistaken their calling and RENTED their
exertions in consequence, finish their folly by
abandoning their pursuit, and undertaking some
other. Usually, it is not long before this new
vocation presents difficulties, which dishearten
him in turn, and lamenting his evil destiny again,
he abandons this calling also in turn.
Every man of observation must know, in the
circle of his acquaintance, one or more thriftess
shifty fellows of this class. We could name sew
eral such, who have tried almost every pursuit
and failed in all, having been lawyers, editors,
merchants and spectators in turn, consistent
only in being the same spiritless individuals
throughout all, and in owning there energy
MANY of these have started in life with capital,
connexion, talent and education, yet are only i'm
poverished hangers on of more fortunate friends
or connexions. They may be recognised inva-
riably, by their seedy habijments and despond-
ing faces.
And yet what a little thing has made ship
wreck of these men. Two words, if adopted rs
their motto and faithfully followed out, would
have rendered them independent, if not veal
thy; and those magic words are the single ones,
try again." If it is a youth that reads these
lines, tell him that there is no quality he can
possess, at the outset Of life, which will more
certainly Insure his success, than the charac-
terstic embodied in the motto, try again." If
it is man of business, who has become almost
by successive losses, and contem-
plates abandoning the unequal struggle with for
tune, we venture to advise him to "try again"
Most men who have amassed large fortunes, if
asked for their experience, would answer that
there was time when, if they had not tried
again, all would have been lost.
Few generals have won battles without hav-
ing at some almost desperate crisis, tried again.
Watt. the perfector, of the steam engine, has
left on record that he often despared and that
his great work would never have been achieved,
il spirit within him had not whispered, "try
again." And every one is familiar with the an
scdote of Bruce, who, lying in his cot, complete
|y out of heart, saw the spider fruitessly at
tempt to fix his web, again and still again, yet
by persevering finally succeeded; and who, ta-
king lesson from the humble insect, tried again
and so won the crown of Scotland.
Whoever looks around among his acquaint-
lnces, with an eye to his subject, will be aston
shed if he has never thought of the matter be-
fore, to notice how few have succeeded in life
by the possession of brilliant parts, and how
many by having this simple moral quality the
resolution always to try again. We do not be-
evc that there is any business, which man of
fair abilities can undertake, that cannot be made
10 succeed finally, if he acts on the principle of
always trying again; and we make this assertion
after several years of careful observation on this
point. Every mistake is a warning, which, un-
ess he is q fool, he remembers; and thus the
oftener he tries again, the less frequently he has
% try.
For a man should try again, not once only,
,ut without end. IfDemostbenes had abandon
ID oratory, when he discovered that his stam-
nering could not be cured by ordinary methods,
where would have been those immortal speci-
mems of Attic eloquence, the Philippics and the
Dration for the Crown! But when the usual
methods failed, he adopted the practice of speak
sound Of the roaring surf He tried again, and
Fcb aSdiu!
1t is too much in the fashion, in this genera
ion, to over-rate intellectual qualifications, and
moral ones. But if we had son, and
we're compelled to choose whether some beneli-
cent fairy should bestow on him great talents, or
.he stubborn resolution, in every disaster, to try
lgain, we should prefer the latter; for we should
greatly increase his chances of success and hap
Diness
A SHARP REPLY.-"I How do you feel with
such shocking looking coat on ?" said a young
,lerk of some pretensions, one morning, to old
Roger.
81 feel" said old Roger, looking at him stead
ly with one eye half closed, as if taking aim at
he victim-"l feel, young man, as if had a
;oat which has been paid fora luxury of feel
ng which i think you will never experience"