South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-07-21
The Will and the Way.
BY W; MATHEWS,

AMONG the oft-quoted maxims in oul
language there is none finer, or more re.
plete with sterling truth, than that which
often falls so lightly from mems lips
Where there is a soiU, there is a tody," No
doubt there are limits to all human capa-
bility in all human affairs in every sphere
of activity men may meet obstacles which
even the utmost energy cannot overcome.
Almost every man is more or less the vic
tim of circumstances, which sometimes
operate so powerfully that it is impossible
to crush his way through them. But the
frequency with which such occasions occur
is greatly over estimated; and the fact that
mountains so often dwindle into molehills
when we once resolutely determine to
cross them, shows that, after every allow
ance of extraordinary cases, the old Saxon
saw is still true generally, and that he who
intensely wills to do a thing will find a
way. And intense desire itself transforms
possibility into reality. Our wishes are
but prophecies of the things we are capa-
bic of performing; while, on the other
hand, the timid, feeble-willed man finds
everything impossible because he believes
it to be so. As Virgil says of his boat
men, men are able because they think they
are able-p0sSlRt quiG p0ssunt pidentur TO
resolve upon attainment is often attain
ment itself. We are all aware of the fact
that the roads which we incline not to
travel are all sadly beset by specimens of
the feline tribe; and, when gentleman is
asked for money by a neighbor often in
need of it, he is extremely apt to have a
large and exhausting payment to make at
the end of the week. But, when one is
really determined to push his way along
the road, opposing lions have usually little
terror for him, and, if he is anxious to
oblige his friend, he will almost certainly
be able to do so without breaking any of
his own engagements.
1t is, indeed, wonderful, at times, to see
what marches are accomplished by men
acting under the impulse of a powerful
will. A remarkagle example of this is
furnished by the captured Texans of the
Santa Fe expedition, who, after having
marched until they were nearly dead with
fatigue and exhaustion, yet, being told
that any who should prove unable to
walk would be shot, contrived to pluck up
and set off at a round pace, which they
kept up all day. So Quintin Matsys, the
famous Dutch painter, in his youth, de-
SPARED of ever being able to paint, till his
master told him that only by producing a
picture of merit within six months could
he have his daughters hand; and then he
set vigorously to work and brought forth
The AiSers, a masterpiece OF art, which
connoisseurs have admired for ages 1t is re-
lated of a young French officer that he
used to walk about his apartment exclaim-
ing, al qoiN be Marshal of France and a
great general;" and his burning desire
proved a presentiment of his success.
Smiles, in his "Self-Help," tells of an
English carpenter who was observed one
day planning a magistrates bench, which
he was repairing, with more than usual
and, when asked the reason.
replied, Because 1 wish to make it easy
against the time when come to sit upon
it myself" SiDgularly enough, the man
actually lived to sit upon that very bench
as magistrate.
Nearly all great men-those who have
lowered high above their fellows-have
been remarkable above all things else for
their energy of will.
Among the many causes of failure in
life none is more frequent than the feeble
ness of the will, which is indicated by
spasmodic action-by f1tful effort, or lack
of persistence. "The longer live" says
Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, "the more |
am certain that the great difference be. |
tween men-between the great and the |
insignifcant-is energy, invincible de- |
termination, an honest purpose once fixed, |
and then death or victory. This quality !
will do anything in the world; and no |
talents, no circumstances, will make a |
two-legged creature man, without it." |
The very reputation of being strong willed, |
plucky, and indefatigable, is of priceless
value. 1t often COWS enemies and dispels |
at the start opposition to ones undertak-
ings which would otherwise be formidable. |
Men feel that it is useless TO struggle |
against a man who will never yield. If |
such a man does encounter opposition it |
becomes help, rather than hindrance,
10 his general success. The difficulties he |
are his stimulus and aliment;
hey are his gymnasium and palestra, by |
which the muscles are strengthened. 1t |
is the belief of the savage that every
enemy he Stays passes into him, and is
added to his own, accumulating warriors |
stren 9Th for the day of battle; and it is 50 |
with life's trials. 1t has BEEN said that
you may put a Yankee on a desolate island !