True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-07-14
ElAmAnta of Character.

of the most obvious and most important
part of selfhelper's character. He
steadily goes forward in the path he has
chosen, and pursues it to the end.
Selfhelpers, by ceaseless perseverance,
overcome all difficulties. They do not
for one repulse, nor for a thousand, fore
go the purpose they have resolved to ef'
feet. When late President of the Uni
ted States was young at the bar be failed,
broke down in clients defence, and lost
the cause. When his friends cOndoled
with him he only laughed, and said, so
far from being daunted, he was only the
more resolved TO succeed and that if he
failed ninety.nine times he would try the
hundredlh. He afterwards succeeded,
and gained the most distinguished posi-
ton his country could bestow. This
perseverance is the handspring which
perpetually impels the frmest souls. We
believe that the ability for great things is
lodged in every human spirit; but only
the perseveriDg worker knows what this
latent pawer is capable Of achieving The
selfhelpers march toward the execution
Of their purpose as if they were intent on
the conquest of a world. They are not
daunted by any obstacles, and it iolled
they only retreat to recover strength that
they may renew the attack.
The day was waning on the field OF
Marengo, when Napoleon-Observing a
particular part, the capture of which
would decide the victory-called to the
brave Desaix, and said TO him "Can you
carry that point" 81 will try" was
the laconic reply. He did try-he sue
ceeded-but fell in the moment Of victory.
Self helpers have thus given their lille for
their victories on more than one occasion.
Many a standard floating in the wind, has
been planted on the battlement by a dy'
ing hand. Thus, a self helpers lite is
sometimes written in his hearts blood.
Dante's Divine Comedy is mainly altrlb'
u,able to the troubled life of the writer.
He was driven from city 10 city, he was
in poverty, misery. and with the prospect
of death before him, and this made his
book SO terribly real, that the people,
when they saw him. used to whisper,
" See, there is the man that was in hell"
The very fact of danger and death hedg'
ing about the great mans progress makes
him oftenlimes all the greater-all his
energies are called forth, and he is fright
fully in earnest.
A strong fortifcation is won, not by
hap hazard shots which wound in a thou
sand different places, and pierce Through
none; but by directing the battery to
some one point, in persevering attacks,
until an avenue is shattered down for
victorious hosts to enter and take posses
sion. Iron, and even the hardest steel,
is blunted on rock by single blow; but
the softest water by continually falling in
the same place, scoops a hollow in ada
msnt and forces its way through granite
and marble. A little worm, starting at
the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, by per-
severing toll builds up vast islands of coral
against which the stoutest ships are
wrecked. and on which colonies Of men
may live.
Columbus had to encounter difficulties
which others might have considered in
surmountable; utby steady perseverance
he triumphed over them all.
" For Hercules himself must yield to odds;
And many strokes, though with little axe,
Hew down and fell the hardest timbered oak
1t was not the magnitude of the Gre.
clan army, nor the martial skill Of Achilles
5 that conquered Troy; but ten years oI
perseverance. Caratacb, in one Of Fetch.
er's plays, when admonished to inquire
into the mind of the god Audate, replies
His hidden meaning lies in our endeavors,
Our valors are our best gods"
There is much truth in this and a
truth practically acknowledged by all sell
helpers.
Perhaps there is no case of seli-helpfu
= perseverance, more interesting, or more
full Of instruction, than that which is re
lated of the founder of the Foley family.
This man was a fiddler, living nea
Stourbridge, who was often witness Of th'
immense labor and loss Of time caused b.
, dividing the rods Of iron necessary ii
| making nails. The discovery Of the pro
8 cess called "splilting," in works calle
splitting mills" was first made in Swe
, den; and the consequences Of this ad
vance in art were most disastrous to tn
I the iron manufacturers of Stourbridge.-
,e Foley, the fiddler, was shortly misse
le from his accustomed, rounds, and W;
ul not seen again for many years. He ha
I'd resolved 10 ascertain by what process tn
n splitting of bars Of iron was accomplished