The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-01-07

In connection with this subject, we recall to
mind an incident related to us a number of years
ago of a young man, who having made several
successful voyages from Salem to the East Indies,
in the capacity of a supercargo of a vessel, was
finally promoted to the position of master by the
too confding owners. As the ship was about to
weigh anchor and depart upon her long voyage
host of friends came on board to wish him success
and receive his last adieus. Under the expert
enced guidance of the pilot, and the favorable
influence of an suspicious breeze, the ship dropped
merrily down the harbor, and at length, all dam
ger of reefs and shoals being past, the pilot gave
orders to brace the main-yard aback and heave
the ship to, for the purpose of giving all who
wished to return to the shore an opportunity to
enter his boat, in company with himself, and cast
off. His orders were obeyed, and three hearty
cheers were given for the young commander as
his friends waved their hats to him from the re-
ceding boat. After their departure the captain
continued to pace the quarter deck, absorbed in
the enjoyment of a fragrant cheroot-but occa-
sionally casting an uneasy glance first at the
cloud of canvas towering above his head, and
then at the motionless waters by his side. He
was at a loss to account for the fact that with a
fine breeze and all sail set, the good ship Harria
Ann should not go ahead. Another cigar was
lighted, and as the time few by, his gestures of
anxiety and impatience increased. Though the
wind freshened and the canvass swelled, his OBJ
stinate old craft would not bulge an inch. The
captain stamped his foot, and scratched his fore
head, and-regard for truth compels US reluc-
family to say it-gave vent to his feelings in a
yolley of imprecations-not loud but deep. FL
nally, after the lapse of some two hours since the
departure of the pilot, as he took the third cigar
from his case and gave another anxious glance
aloft, an idea seemed to enter his bosom. Calling
Mr.. Lee, the mate, a big-fsted, hard-featured
specimen of a true-blue mariner, he mildly re-
marked, evidently more in sorrow than in anger,
sMr. Lee, don't you think something ought to be
done to that main-yard?" The slightest possible
shadow of a smile distorted the quizzical features
of the old triton, as he respectfully replied,
"Well, sir, I should think there ought, if you
want to go to Calcutta The captains face
frightened at once. 81 thought so,'' said he
..I'm going below, now, and you fix it the way
You think is right"
Now there are a great many young men in the
same position as the captain of the Harriet Ann.
They have had a fine start in life and are looking
eagerly forward to the time of their arrival at the
port which they have marked out for themselves
upon the chart of the future. But though every
thing seems favorable and promising, they don't
get ahead; and like the youthful captain of the
Harriet Ann, they don't know the reason why.
Upon every side they see others overtaking and
passing them. Others, perhaps, endowed with
fewer natural and educational gifts than them
selves, and apparently less capable of accomplish
hind. And at such times laggards in the race
are too apt to attribute their failure, not to any
failing in themselves, not to any material defect
in their own characters, but to the caprices of
tickle fortune. Z" Fortune they say does not
dispense her favors equally. She is against us.
1t is of no use for us to try to do well, for we
never have succeeded and we never can succeed. !"
Foolish fellows Because they think the fates
are against them they give up in despair, throw
aside their manliness and cease to strive. How
much better it would be to gather strength from
defeat and try to conquer fate-thus proving to
the world that it is man which makes the fortune
NOT fortune which makes the man. The great
drawback of their lives is a want of courage to
battle with the world and win. Energy is what
enables others, less feet, to pass them on the way.
IL Vic AioSS bpoNh " eiot
things vulgar into gold. Energy is the Aladdin's
lamp that brings about the accomplishment of
wishes. Energy is the all-potent spirit that does
more than Aladdin's lamp or the philosophers
stone-the spirit that sets living machines in mo-
ton and converts inanimate bodies into thinking,
moving, working men.
The world is filled, and modern and ancient
history are crowded with illustrations of the sue
cessful results of energy. Among modern exam
pies one of the most striking is that revealed by
the life of Sir George Stephenson. Born of poor
parents, his father a day laborer in an English
colliery with an income of twelve shiiiings a
week, and he himself brought up in the same
school of hard and ill-rewarded labor, he educated
himself, rose by degrees to the station of engineer,
and thus advanced from one grade to another,
thinking and working, improving and inventing,
until at last he acquired for himself a fortune,
and for his name a worldwide Ind undying celeb
rity, as that of the {" father of locomotive rail-
ways in England and in the world. We have
all read the life of Alexander Wilson, the orni-
biologist, who, undaunted by difficulties and I'M
dismayed by successive disasters that would have
driven most men to despair, persevered and gave
to the world at last, as the result of his labors, a
work which is Justly regarded as one of the noblest
achievements of scientific labor. Cromwell and
Napoleon, the two most remarkable characters of
modern history, were emphatically self-made men.
Without a great proportion of inherent energy of
character their talents would have remained un-
genius undeveloped and the ages
in which they lived would have been deprived of
their great distinctive features.
And so it is in every profession and branch of
life. Though you may possess all the other quail
tiles requisite for success, yet if energy to bring
them out, be wanting, they fall lifeless to the
ground. Young men of Honolulu, be industri-
Gus, prudent, correct in your habits, and energetic.
Though you may not, like the illustrious charac-
tiers whose names we have cited, ever rise to pre-
eminent positions among the great men of the
world vet these habits will Curry uon To the h;nh