The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-03-10

ALL successful men have agreed 10 one
thing, they were caasationists. They
believed that things were not by luck, but
by law; that there was not weak or q
cracked link in the chain that joins the
first and last of things. A belief in
causality, or strict connection between
every triae and the principle of being,
and, in consequence, belief 10 compensa-
ton, or, that nothing is got for nothing
characterizes all valuable minds, and must
control every effort that is made by an in
dustrious one. The most valiant men are
the best believers in the tension of the laws
"All the great captains" said Bonaparte,
have performed vast achievements by
conforming with the rules of the art,-by
adjusting efforts to obstacles"
The key to the age may be this, or that,
or the other, as the young orators describe ;
the key to all ages is-imbecility; i'm
becilty is the vast majority of men, at all
times, and, even in heroes, in all but GER
tain eminent moments victims Of gravity,
custom and fear. This gives force to the
strong, that the multitude have no habit
of self-reliance or original action.
We must reckon success a constitutional
trait. Courage, old physicians taught,
land their meaning holds, if their physi-
ology is little mythical, courage, or the
degree of life, is as the degree of crcula-
ton of the blood in the arteries. During
passion, anger, fury, trials of strength,
wrestling, fighting, a large amount OF blood
is collected 10 the arteries, the maintenance
of bodily strength requiring it, and but lit
tie is sent into the veins. This condition is
constant with intrepid persons" Where the
arteries hold their blood, is courage and adj
venture Where they pour it unrestraiped
into the veins, the spirit is low and
feeble. For performance of great mark, it
needs extraordinary health. If Eric is in ro-
bust health, and has slept well and is at the
top of his condition, and thirty years old,
at his departure from Greenland, he will
steer west, and his ships will reach New
foundland. But take out Eric, and put
in stronger and holder man,-Biorn, or
Thorfn, and the ships will, with just as
much ease, sail six hundred, one thousand.
fifteen hundred miles further, and reach
Labrador and New England. There is no
chance in results. With adults, as with
children, one class enter cordially into the
game, and whirl with the whirling world |;
the others have cold hands, and remain
bystanders or are only dragged in by
the humor and vivacity of those who can
carry dead weight The first wealth is
health. Sickness is poor-spirited, and
cannot serve any one it must husband its
resources to live But health or fulness
answers its own ends, and has to spare,
runs over, and mandates the neighborhoods
and creeks of other mems necessities.
All power is of one kind, sharing of
the nature of the world. The mind that
is parallel with the laws of nature will be
in the current of events, and strong with
their strength One man is made of the
same stuff of which events are made is
in sympathy with the course of things
can predict it. Whatever befalls, befalls
him first; so that he is equal to whatever
shall happen. A man who knows men,
can talk well on politics, trade, law, war,
religion. For, everywhere, men are led 10
the same manners.-Emerson.