Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-04-08
NUMBER II.

him that certain thing could not be
done: 81 trample upon impoSsibilities!"
Before such men mountains dwindle in.
to molehills, and obstacles that seem un.
conquerable are not only triumphed over.
bet converted into, helps and instruments
of success, by their overwhelming will"
Stick TO One THING.
Again. we all know OF the success OF
Rufus Choate as lawyer To what did
he owe il but to similar quality.-his
marvellous powers OF concentration,
that entire absorption and Identification
with the interests of his client which led
him to burn and freeze with him: which
led him. it has been said, to be as pathet
ic as the grand lamentations in Samson
Agonistes" over the distractions OF fish
ways, and to rise into the cathedral music
OF the universe on the right to manulac
ture india. rubber suspenders? His biogra-
pher tells us that every important cause
took such possession OF him that sound
sleep was IN impossibility. His mind.
as he himself said, became stream that
took up the cause, like ship, and bore
it on, night aud day, till the verdict or
judgment was reached and days elapsed
before he could enter upon new case
with the full force of his faculties.
Another argument for concentration l.,
that it is the only way OF using strength
economically. so as TO avoid exhaustion.
The man who scaltes himself upon many
objects soon loses his energy, and with
his energy his enthusiasm; und how is
success possible without enthusiasm
DR.. j. ". Alexander, in counselliDg
young clergymen. eXhorted them above
all things TO throw their force into their
sermons. MANY minister's" said he.
''are enthusiastic about other things,
snch rs art, poetry, authorship. or poll
/ ties; but their Sabbath sermon is like q
sponge from which all the moisture is
squeezed out. Live for your Sermon
| live IN your sermon. Get some starting
TO cry Sermon, sermon, sermon" Rulus
! Choate, who was SO successful with
juries, used to say Garry the jury at
all hazards; move heaven and earth to
cary the jury, and then fight it out with
the judges on the law questions as best as
you cam 1t was thus that Macdonough.
the hero of Champlain, won his victories.
He pointed all his guns at the "big ship
OF the enemy. No matter how hot the
fire from the others; every ball must bo
hurled at the "big ship" till her guns
were silenced.
DoN'r SCATTER YOUR FORCES.
Every beginner in life, therefore,
should try early to ascertain the strong
faculty of his mind or body, fitting him
for some special pursuit, and direct bis
utmost energies to bring.itto perfection.
4 man, says Emerson, is like 4 bit OF
Labrador spar, which has no lustro as
you turn it in your hand, until yon come
=
to a particular angle then it shows deep
and beautiful colors. There is no adap-
tation or universal applicability in man
but each has special talent; and the
mastery of successful men consists in
adroitly keeping themselves where and
when that turn shall need o:tencst to be
practsed The successful man in every
calling, whether literary, scientific, or
business, is he who is tOtlS IN R'O,-who
can say with Paul, This one thing do"
With the exception of few great crea-
tive minds, the men whose names are
historic are identified with some ono
achievement, upon which all their lie-
force is spent. You think Of Watt. and
instantly the steam engine is suggested
Of ArkWright, and the spinning jenny
whrls before you; of Dayy, and the
safety lamp lights up the mine; OF Har-
vey, and the blood courses the more
quickly in yoar veins; of Jenner, and
you see disease stayed in its progress by
the pricking of lancet OF Morse. and
the electric spark is seen darting from
continent to continent ready, like Puck,
to "put . girdc round the earth in forty
minutes" Whatever have tIicd to do
in my liie." said Charles Dickens, 81 Ihave
tried with all my heart to DO well.
What have devoted myself to, | have
devoted myself TO completely. Never to
put one hand to anything on which |
would throw my whole sell, and never
to affect depreciation of my work, what
ever il was, | find now 10 have been gold
en- rules"
\ man may have the most dazzling
talents, but if they are scattered upon
objects. he will accomplish nothing. Sir
Joshua Reynolds used to say that a
painter should sew up his mouth; that is,
he must not shine rs n talker, ifhe would
excel in his art Strength is like gun
powder,-to be effectual, il needs concen
tration and aim. The marksman who
aims at the whole target will seldom hit
the centre The literary man or philoso-
pher may revel among the sweetest and
most beautiful flowers of thought, but
unless he gathers and condenses the
sweets in the honeycomb of some great
thought or work, his tnest conceptions
will be lost or useless. When Michael
Angelo was asked why he did not marry.
he replied, Painting is my wife, and
my work are my children" ''Mr. A.
often laughs at ne, said learned Amer
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