The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-05-17
Self.Made Men.

Self.made men, in the common accepta-
ton of the term, are those who, with D9t
few outward opportunities, have BY their
own unaided energies risen to ackn0Wi-
edged greatness. There is some danger,
however, lest in bestowing this appelia-
ton exclusively upon such persons we
convey the impression that those who pos
sess the advantages of instruction, tram
ing and assistance, cannot be SELF
It Is truth which is sometimes over
looked that, whatever there 10 valuable or
excellent about man, comes primarily
from his own capacity, energy ana indus,
try. The most abundant advantage ana
the most generous education can never
supply the lack of brains, or implant IN
nate power. OF compel untiriug perse-
verance. If they could, there might be
some Justice in regarding the academy OF
university as the rival of self-educat10n,
and in distinguishing rigidly between the
self-made man and the college made man.
As it is. everyone whose life amounts TO
ANYTHING at all is self-made in the true
sense, whether he be favored with out
ward helps or not. He must not only sup
ply the foundation of a capacity to learn,
but must also furnish continual relay Of
power in the form Of assiduous and pa
tient labor. IF he fail in this, no system
of instruction, however admirable, no
CORPS of teachers, however able, no
amount of wealth, however judiciously
expended, can ever avail to give him sig
nihcance as scholar. He must be self
made, if made at all, though he be sur
rounded from infancy with every appll-
ance that money or affection or wisdom
can suggest.
The same thing holds good Of excel
lence in all other pursuits. II man IS to
become superior mechanic, or merchant,
or physician, or artist, he must be self.
made, whatever be his advantages 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 execute them, the pa
thence to wait for success, and the indus
| try to secure it, must all come from With
| in. Without these, it is of no avail that
the boy be placed h the best mercantile
house, that the apprentice be trained by
the most skillful artisan, that the medical
student be prepared by the most learned
professors. 1t will all end in disappoint-
| ment and failure, if he put not his own
shoulder to the wheel, with vital power
/ litlb uO OutSluC luuuSuOCo SoA oNRR'J'
| 1t would, however, be folly, for this
reason, to undervalue the helps we obtain
from external sources Indeed, 1t is only
as we assign TO them their true office that
| we can appreciate their real worth. They
cannot, il is true, make valuable men, but,
when rightly used, they can vastly aid
men in making themselves valuable
There are but few who can rise to great
ness in any branch without such aids
Occasionally great man astonishes US BY
the heights to which he climbs, unsupport
ed save by his own mental strength ano
powerful will. But these are exceptional
characters, and might have risen to still
loftier eminences had they been favored
with more p.opitious circumstances
Most of us need all the help we car
obtain-the discipline of the schools
the training of the faithful instructors
the hints and suggestions of experts
in our special callings, and every othel
outside influence that can be brought tt
bear upon our Improvements order tina
we may attain moderate degree OF ex
cellence. Gladly should we welcome al
such assistance, eagerly grasp it, and ear
nestly strive to profit by it, only remem
bering that it can never supplant, but only
supplement and invigorate, our own exer
tons. Just as the warm sun rays and re
freshing rain drops descend to bless thu
plant that is charged with vitality, bu
fall powerless on one without root or sap
so outside help is invaluable to the ener.
getic living worker, but impotent to ont
who lacks brains or energy, or the will tx
exert them.
1t is especially encouraging to one who
can command but few external advan
tages, to reflect that he is by no means de
| pendent upon them for his success in life
| 1t is true that the best results may be ex
pected where strong self-energy comes
under wise instruction and guidance; bu
while the latter alone can do nothing, the
former alone can do much. Beside, il
never is quite alone. Capacity and in
/ dustry always find appreciation and help
and are apt to make it all the more usefu
for its scarcity. All young persons, espe
cially, can be, and should resolve 10 be
self-made. Whether poor or rich, whether
wholly self-dependent or favored with as
sistance, they must evolve whatever they
would become mainly from their own ma
tive abilities and enthusiastic efforts
With these in active exercise, none need
despair of excellence without them, nonl
will maintain i'll Philadelphia Ledger.