The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-05-10
Self-Made Men.

Self-made men, in the common ac-
ceptation of the term, are those who
with but few outward opportunities,
have by their own unaided energies risen
to acknowledged greatness. There is
some danger, however, lest in bestow-
ing this appellation exclusively upon
such persons we convey the impression
that those who possess advantages of in
struction, training and assistance, can moi
be self-made. 1t is truth which is
sometimes overlooked that, whatever
there is valuable or excellent about a
man, comes primarily from his own
capacity, energy and industry The
most abundant advantage and the most
generous education can never supply
the lack of brains, or implant innate
power, or compel untiring perseverance.
If they could, there. might be some JUS
tice in regarding the academy or uni
versity as the rival of self-education, and
in distinguishing rigidly between the
self-made man and the college-made
man. As it is, every one whose life
amounts to any thing at all is self-madc
in the true sense, whether he is favored
with outward helps or not. He must
not only supply the foundation for a
capacity to learn, but must also furnish
a continual relay of power in the form
of assiduous and patient labor. If he
fail in this, no system of instruction,
however admirable, no corps of teach
ers, however able, no amount of wealth,
however judiciously expended, can ever
avail to give him significance as a
scholar. He must be self-made, if made
at all, though he be surrounded from in
fancy with every appliance that money
or affection or wisdom can suggest.
The same thing holds good Of excel
lence in all other pursuits. If man is
to become superior mechanic, or mer-
chant, or physician, or artist, he must
be self-made, whatever be his advan-
tages of training or instruction. The
force to overcome obstacles and the
courage to face difficulty, the ability to
form wise plans and the energy to exc
cute them, the patience to wait for sue
cess, and the industry to secure it, must
all come from within. Without these,
it is of no avail that the boy be placed
in the best mercantile house, that the
apprentice be trained by the most skill
full artisan, that the medical student be
prepared by the most learned professors.
1t will all end in disappointment and
failure, if he put not his own shoulder
to the wheel, with vital power that no
outside influence can supply.
1t would, however, be folly, for this
reason, to undervalue the helps we OBJ
tain from external sources. Indeed, it
is only as we assign to them their true
office that we can appreciate their real
worth. They can not, it is true. make
valuable men, but, when rightly used,
they can vastly aid men in making them
selves valuable. There are but few who
can rise to greatness in any branch with
out such aids. Occasionally a great
man astonishes us by the heights to
which he climbs, unsupported save by
his own mental strength and powerful
will. But these are exceptional charac-
tiers, and might have risen to. still loftier
eminenceS had they been favored with
more propitious circumstances. Most
of us need all the help we can obtain
the discipline of the schools, the
training of faithful instructors, the
the hints and suggestions of experts
in our special callings, and every other
outside influence that can be brought to
bear upon our improvement-in order
thatwe may attain moderate degree of
excellence. Gladly should we welcome
all such assistance, eagerly grasp it, and
earnestly strive to profit by it, only re-
Numbering that it can never supplant
but only supplement and invigorate our
own exertions. just as the warm sun
rays and refreshing rain drops descend
to bless the plant that is charged with
vitality, but fall powerless on one with
out root or sap, so outside help is inval-
liable to the energetic living worker, but
impoteht to one who lacks brains or en-
ergy, or the will to exert them
1t is especially encouraging to one
who can command but few external adj
vantages to reflect that he is by no means
dependent upon them for his success in
life. 1t is true that the best results may
be expected where a strong self-energy
comes under wise instruction and guild
ance; but while the latter alone can do
nothing, the former alone can do much
Besides, it never is quite alone. Capac-
ity and industry always find apprecia-
ton and help, and are apt to make it all
the more useful for its scarcity. All
young persons especially can be, and
should resolve to be, self-made. Wheth-
er poor or rich, whether wholly self-de-
pendent or favored with assistance, they
must evolve whatever they would be-
come mainly from their own native
abilities and enthusiastic efforts. With
these in active exercise, none need des-
pair of excellence; without them, none
viii attain t.-PhiladelphiG Ledger. "
PROCEEDINGS looking to the recovery
of over $50, 900, 900 are about to be in
stituted in the Courts of Pennsylvania
By the heirs of Col. Henry Becker, who
lived in Philadelphia in 1901. The
property claimed consists of six or sew
en- blocks of buildings on York Avenne
in that city, and extends from Vine
Street to Green Street. The heirs also
lay claim TO the entire town of Becker
vile, Berks County, Pa, about 40 miles
from Philadelphia, and a considerable
part of the country thereabout. The
property claimed in Philadelphia includes