Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-04-12
sELF.mADE mEN.

! As tree can only attain its greatest sze,
strength, and beauty, when it is planted IL a
rich soil, is plentifully watered by the rairB Of
/ heaven and the gentle dews and is warmed by
4 the suns light, so man can only attain to the
full beauty and majesty of his powers when
surrounded by kindly circumstances. T1ere
has been vast deal of thoughtless and sense
less talk as to the value of poverty and other
adverse circumstances in developing strength
of character 1t has been so often asselted
that wealth and the appliances that wealth
alone can bring are absolute drawbacks on
their possessor's chance for euliuerce and Use
fulness that it has become one Of those fixed
maxinis, which no che pretends 10 dispute
Yet we think serious observation must con
vince any one that this is false in theory and
practice. 4 man is no more likely to attain
his full stature under such influences, than is
tree, planted in a barren soil, in a rPgi6i
where rains seldom come, deprived Of the
suns genial rays. and exposed to the biting
North wind. 1t is true, man possesses a power
to overcome adverse circumstances which he
longs not to the vegetable, yet kindred inhu-
ences affect in like manner the growth OF
/ both. nd when man has, by the persever
ance of years, and the efforts prompted by an
/ indomitabe will, risen above poverty, and
that which is worse, the cold neglect Of his
fellows, he finds his triumph too often won at
the expense of the kinder feelings of his na-
ture. Bitterness is in his heart. He looks
not Upon men as his brothers, but as foes
whom he has conquered. None can estimate
the generous impulses that have fallen sac
rifce in his battle with the world
To the natural malignity and envy which
prompts every human heart, in some measure
to regard him as a natural foe who maniresis
any signs of rising above the common level,
men actually add, as a matter Of real benevo-
lence, the efforts they make to keep down as
piring genius. If genius conquers in despite
of their benevolent efforts, they hatter them
selves they have added much to genius great
ness, by additional strength of character they
have Indirectly conferred; but if genius fails
then they felicitate themselves on their having
helped to put down humbug.
From this we would infer that the world is
both ignorant and ill-natured. Would, for
the sake of thousGhls of earnest struggling
souls, we could persuade it to open its eyes,
and cultivate more charitable temper.
w keep strict account Of those, who by
mighty blows, have carved ont for themselves
a road to honorable renown (; but who shall
enumerate those who have failed The Ca
reer of many, who began with bright hopes
and high resolves, has ended in degradation,
despair and death. 1t has been said "this
world is worthy better men )" and it is our
duty to do what within us lies, to make men
/ 10
! ing whatever of talent OF laudable endeavor
we find springipg up around US. If any rare
/ talent is wasted, or earnest endeavor comes to
naught, ours will be the responsibility.
/ Let no young man in the great strife Of life
then, expect much help from his fellows, but
! grid himself up, resolved to fight the bat
| tie, relying on Providence and his own
strength alone. Happy indeed will he be, if,
in his hour of need. one Of those men, who
from the rare excellence of their natures, seem
to be made of finer clay than common hui
manity, cones to his help with kind words
aud friendly counsel. And many 4 one who
has had his own way to make, bears in his
heart the image of some such noble spirits,
an image which will be treasured AMI honor
en- as long as that heart shall continue to
/ beat. In this connection we present a quo
tation from the preface to Gerald Massey
poems. He knew What poverty was for he
had drank the bitter cup to It's lowest dregs
1t came not to him as it does to the rich in
poetic FORMS but in all its stern, fOrbidlina
actuality. He saw not poverty in rose-cover-
ed cottages, but fought it in lis lowest haunts
surrounded lJy coarseness and vice.
II have been congratulated by scme cor
respondents on the uses Of suff ring, and the
riches have wrnng from poverty as though
it were blessed thing to be born in the con
dition in which l was, and surrounded with
Gntoward circumstances as. have been. Ms
experience tells me that poverty is inimica
to the development Of IInmanity's nobcst at
tributes Poverty IS never -ceasing strug
gle for the means of living, and it makes one
hard ana selfish. To be sure noble live.
have been wrought out in the sternest power
, ty. Many such are being wrought out HOW
by the unknown heroes and martyrs of til,
poor have known men and women in tht
very worst circumstances, to whom herosn
seemed heritage, and to be noble natura
way of living But they were so in spite 0
their poverty, not because Of it. What the,
might have been if the world had done bet
ter by thea, I can not tell but if tLei
minds had been enriched by culture, the worlt
) had beea. the gamer. When Christ said
BLESSED are they who suff.r," he did no
, speak of those who sulftr from want and hun
ger, and who always see the Bastile loomin:
: UP and blotting out the sky of their future
Such suffering brutalzes. True natures ripel
: and strengthen in suffering but il is tina
. suffering which chastens and ennoblcs-tha
E which clears the spiritual sight-not the anx
4 iety lest work should fail, and the want c
: daily bread. The beauty of Suffering is no
S to read in the face of Hunger.--Join Haneoc
: in Journal Of progress.