The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-08-24
IS The Golden Mean"

Websters famous saying: "Therc is al
ways room enough at the top" is no en-
to the majority in any call
ing. What has the young man of fair
average ability to hope for? He is no
genius What does it signify to him that
the few brilliant were always in demand,
and had no trouble in getting a living?
Most lawyers, ministers and physicians
can reach no such eminence, have no such
gigantic powers.
Appeals to ambition are too common in
education. If urged excessively, they
bring essential encouragement to those
who fail to reach some definite end. If
by stimulating the few we dishearten the
many we may do more harm than good.
All offers Of prizes, the marking systems
of schools and colleges, are subject to the
same danger. Those who do not win any
prizes or attain eminent rank should not
feel that their failure is essential. In the
great battle of life they may win higher
prizes, may have greater usefulness. Sat
isfaction with moderate success is better
than the attainment of eminence.
Groom at the. top to be sure; but that
is of no use to you, if you cannot reach
the top, though you rise up early, sit up
late, and labor with all your might, with
an energy and perseverance that never
tire. Very likely this is true. Then be
assured there is room enough for comfort,
happiness and usefulness half way up.
There may even be true peace and con-
tentment at the base more than the man
at the top ever knows, if Providence does
not give facilities and ability to rise.
The great danger of our country is the
INSCRIPTIONS pushing for position, office,
wealth and fame. Men act as if it were
essential to reach some particular place or
the game of life was lost Hence
comes the restlessness, discomfort and
sometimes complete Indebtedness of
those who fail. The ambitious use
INSCRIPTIONS means, put forth the
most desperate efforts. disregarding the
claims of health, of conscience, and of
God. The youth who entered college with
the resolution, ~ will have the valedic-
tory or de-" died in his Junior year. He
is the type, of many in all the walks OF
life. .....'., .-.,. ..~.::..
Moreover. that Groom at the top" is
not always reached by merit, but often by
mere accident. 1t is sometimes gained by
trickery, intrigue and downright dis
honesty. Of all mentioned " for Cover
nor, the successful candidate may not be
superior in integrity, intellect, or any
qualification. He may be inferior in
everything except. caucus management. =
Excessfs billion for eminepce, even
when most successful, always begets dis
content, for there is always higher emf
men who think ! the Presidency ais
possibly within their reach, thirty-nine
will quite certainly be disappointed,
yeryr likelysaA.s Some other man, who
has no expeca Stion himself, who is, not now
mentioned by his friends, may supplant
every one, No public men ever went to
their graves more thoroughly disappoint-
ed than Daniel Webster and Henry Clays
Their Groom at the top" their hosts of
adIiiring friends, all the honors they had
gained, could not fill 1.-the aching void,
could not console them for the failure to
reach the Presidency. They saw men fill
the position far inferior in every qualifi-
cation. Strange they could not have seen
that the office was far below them, not
above them III pas~&s $50 aim a--.~
...Aut Cesar, taut nullns;a' Cesar or no.
bodv, is dangerous motto. "A minister
need not be 9 Phillips Brooks, a lawyer
need not be a Choate, a.physician need
not be DR., Parker, in order to be very
successful The minister who does the
work Of q country parish, whose name is
harlly known in the great city, who Sc
cures a high place in the esteem and love
of his own people, who is regarded as an
angel of mercy by the sick and afflicted,
may be more happy and more useful than
the, eminent city clergyman The lawyer
Who honestly serves the interests of his
'clielfts who is a peacemake by dissuad-
ing from itigation,s although he does not
go to Congress, or even 10 the State Legis-