Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-01-28

BUSINESS ENDURANCE Men Of ge-
MUS without endurance cannot succeed
in life. Men who start in one kind of
bu mess may find it impossible to con-
tinue therein all their days. III health
may demand change. New and VII
der fields of enterprise may be opened
to them new elements Of character
may be developed. Men may imbibe
positive distaste for . pursuit engaged
in, and success demand . change. No
such cases fall within the general rule.
Men may have rare talents, but if they
are "every thing by turns, and nothing
long," they must not expect to prosper.
No form Of business is free from vexa-
tons each man knows the spot where
his own harness chafes but he cannot
know how much his neighbor suffers.
1t is said that Yankee can splice q
rope in variety of ways; an English
sailor knows but one method, but with
it he does the work we'll. Life is not
long enough to allow any one to be
really master of but one pursuit.
The history of eminent men in all
professions and callings proves this.
The great statesman, Daniel Webster,
was lawyer. His boyhood was mark
ed only by uncommon industry; as q
speaker he did not excel in early life.
With great deliberation he selected the
law as his professor, nor could he be
deferred from his chosen, pursuit. While
a poor student, not the tempting prize
of fifteen hundred dollars a-year as
clerk Of the courts, (then large sum,
gained with great difficulty for him by
the zeal and influence Of his father,
nor all the earnest entreaties Of his
father, could turn him from the mark
he had set before him; and his great
eulogist, the Attorney General of Mas
sachusetts, is another strong illustra-
ton Of the potency of reso ute endu-
rance and indomitable industry-life-
long centering upon one profession,
having made him one Of the chief or
naments of his pr ofession, it not its
head, in the United States.
The Hon. Abbott Lawrence, whose
wealth was poured in donations to be-
nevolent objects broadcast over our
country, could recall the time when he
had his profession to choose, and the
first dollar of his princely fortune to
make. His choice was deliberately
made, and in that occupation he con-
tinued with integrity and endurance,
through dark days and trying seasons,
and the result is now before the world.
His case furnishes an apt illustration
of the wise mans proverb ''Seest thou
a man diligent in business, he shall
stand before kings-he shall not stand
before mean men,"
The late John Jacob Astor, as he
left his native Germany, paused beneath
linden tree, not far from the line that
separated his country from another,
and made three resolutions, which he
intended should guide him through life:
l. He would be honest. 2. He would
never gamble. 8. He would be indus
trious. He was on foot his wealth in
the small bundle that swung from a
stick laid across his shoulder. The
world was before him. He was able to
carry them out, and his success is the
best comment on his endurance.
Stephen Girard, at the age Of 40
years, was in quite moderate circum-
stances, being the captain Of a small
coasting vessel on the elaware, and
part owner Of the same. No trait of
his character stood out more prominent
than endurance, and with it he achieved
his subsequent fortune.
All men who have realized success in
life have been men of high resolve and
endurance. William Pitt, the famed
statesman, in early life was fond of
gaming; the passion increased with his
years and he knew he must at once
master the passion or the passion would
master him. He accordingly made a
firm resolve never again to play at a
game Of hazard. lie could form such
a resolution, and he could keep it. His
future eminence proves his strength in
this respect. William Wherefore is
another example strikingly in point.
In his earlier days, like most men Of
his rank and age, he loved the excite
ments Of the gaming table. He was
one night persuaded to keep faro
bank. He then saw the ruin and vice
of the game as he never saw it before !;
he was appalled,! Seated in the midst
Of ruin, grief and despair, he embraced
solemn resolution never to be foun
there again. He changed his company
with this change Of conduct, and finally
became one Of the most distinguished
men Of his age and nation.
DR.. Samuel job lson was once re-
quested to drink wine with friend !;
the Doctor proposed tea. "But drink
a little vines said his host. 81 can
not" was the reply-''l know abs:e'
nence know excess; but knew no
medium. Long since, l resolved, as |
could not drink ih!e wine, would
drink none at ALL" A man who could
thus support his resolution by action is
man Of endurance, and that element
was as we'll displayed in this little Incl
dent as in the compilation of his great
work. When Richard B. Sheriden made
his first speech in Parliament, it was
regarded on all hands as a most mort
flying failure. His friends urged him
to abandon parliamentary career, and
enter upon a field better suited to his
abilities. "No," said Sheriden-"no!
Il is in mn and II sha Ill canna aaxf -