Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-06-03
Help Yourself.

Help Yourself.
We hear great deal said about Self
made men," But there is covert fall
| lacy in the phrase; in that it seems to
| imply that there are some men that are
not self-made. Whereas the fact is that
every man whose makeup" whose
character, is strong and efficient is self
made. The fallacy lies in the implica-
| ton that circumstances sometimes make
| the man, that ones environment may be
mainly instrumental in making a great
and useful man of him.
This is not merely false, it is really
injurious notion, because it cuts the
| sinews of strength by taking away the
greatest incentive to selfreliance and
self-exertion. No man is worthily
"made" and capable of great achieve
| ments who is the creature OF circum-
stances. No combination of favoring
| circumstances can make man of one
who does not feel and act as if his flu
ture depended vastly more upon himself
than upon his environment. 1t is very
doubtful whether outside help in the
shape of wealth and influential friends
is really conducive to the attainment OF
greatness OF character, which is, after
all, the most desirable distinction. Such
help may be and often is hindrance, be-
| cause it relieves man of the necessity
of selfexertion. 1.-THE kingdom of God
is within you," says the great Teacher.
And some one fifty adds: /" If it is not
there, it is nowhere" Besides meaning
great deal more, this text certainly
means that mans richest possessions
and resources are in himself, and that
l ho oh Lob for I'm onH
happiness in acknowledgment.
The fact is, will is destiny in much
larger sense than the majority appre-
bend. Making adequate allowance for
the differences of natural endowment
it nevertheless remains that the man with
the most meager endowments may work
out for himself worthy if not an illus
| trious career in life. Circumstances can
only be helpful when man is self-help-
| full. If he relies upon extraneous help
the most encouraging surroundings will
prove an incubus to him. But if he will
rely upon himself, and help himself, he
/ can make the most unpropitiOus circum-
stances bend to his purpose.
Many people never acquire spirit of
self-dependence and self-helpfulness, but
seem to always require bolstering in or
| der to walk or stand at all. This may be
partly owing to the fact that they are
| naturally weak, but it is more frequently
because they are essentially lazy. They
go through life relying on others without
ever testing their own resources. At
| best they appear to be capable of only
spasmodic self-exertion, but for the most
part theyispend their time Micawber-like,
waiting for something to turn up"
1t may be natural for men to want
help. Perhaps none are beyond the
need Of it. But every man should do his
best to be independent, or, at least, to con-
vince his fellows that he has just claim
upon their confidence by proving himself
efficient and capable. The chronic habit
which some men have Of always look
ing for position, and seeking situations
| for which they are not qualified, is as
paralyzing to themselves as 1t is repre-
hensible. Yet many succeed, and in
succeeding lose the very stimulus they
need to make the most of themselves.
Having gained the coveted position
through the influence of friends, they
make sinecure of it, and only hold it
through the forbearance and support of
others. How many positions In church
| and State are mere sinecures, the lncum-
bents of which never render qusd pro
quo for what they get? And yet men
| are greedy for such positions, and con-
stantly struggling to obtain them. A
true man ought to fling away such pal
try ambitions and despise the desire or
thought of having that for which he
does not render an adequate equivalent
in service and skill He should prefer to
| live on a crust in howell rather than
have that which he cannot earn.
| What men need more than position is
| character, and character can only be
| achieved by manful, persevering self
| exertion. The positions that are worth
having always seek men Of character
and capacity. Opportunity will avail
| nothing unless man is equal to it. In
stead of always waiting for and seeking
position, the self-helpful, capable man
either makes position seek him or makes
| a position for himself. He controls in a
great measure his circumstances, and
even levies tribute upon the obstacles and
| disadvantages he has to contend with by
deriving from them stimuli to increased
exertion. IL is the prerogative of the
self-reliant man to overcome all obstacles,
and, making them stepping stones to
higher vantage ground, become stronger
by the repeated conguests OF difficulties.
Not that a man should defy or court
opposition. 1t will come without seeking.
But let him not be discouraged by it.
Rather let him regard it as his opportu-
nifty to show himself a man, and by sur
mounting it vindicate his title to the re-
spect and confidence of his fellOws.-C.