The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-08-28
How To Get On.

many persons the idea that success is
attained by some patent process which
is a valuable secret, and when they see
advertised book with the taking title
the "Secret to Success or the ''Road
to Wealth." it is Immediately pur-
chased under the impression that now
the pathway will be made plain, and
broad, and easy. But this is, after
all, delusion; the directions given
are plain enough, but they are diff
cult to follow. Success--not stopping
now to define the word-requires very
much of every one who seeks it; days
of labor, nights of restlessness and
anxiety; devotion to business, self-de-
NAL, energy, prudence and endur-
ance. This is all that any book can
tell; this is the price few are willing to
pay.
Choose what path one may, success
worthy of the name is not won easily;
it is not won early. There is no short
road to wealth, to honor, to power, to
influence. These things can only be
obtained after years Of application, Of
work, of upright living. We know it
is customary to say that the prizes
are won by the undeserving, to sneer
at the folly of those who believe other.
wire. And yet the records of a gener-
alton, if they prove nothing else, prove
that honesty is the best policy; honesty
not only in money matters, in trading,
but in all things. Cheap success is
like anything else cheap, is soon value
less. Any man can obtain just what he
is willing to pay for-nothing more,
nothing less
The trouble with this day and gen.
Grafton is that every one seems to be
seeking cheap regulations; they are
anxious to get something for nothing.
That is why commerce has been dete-
riorating; that is why politics are SO
corrupt; that is why religion has been
50 often used as cloak by the hyp0-
critic. For at the bottom it is hypoc-
risy. The quack doctor, the pedantic
scholar, the sensational preacher, the
shallow-brained lawyer, are all eagerly
seeking to obtain something for moth
ing, and the canting hypocrite who
has not the courage, the manliness,
and self-denial to live up to the Chris
tian standards of life, is trying Ito get
on by some short path.
But there are no short paths any
where. Norman is ever better in his
heart of hearts than he wishes to be;
so, no man reaches any success higher
and better than that he is willing to
pay for in some way. The reason Of
the confusion of ideas on this point is
due to the fact that "success" is q
very vague term. Real success does
not mean wealth alone, or social
position, or . political triumph. A
man may draw prize in lottery, or
win money on h0rse-race, or gain a
fortune in q day "on change" or do
some other equally unfortunate thing.
But these are not ends, they are
merely the means to higher ends. For
the man who has fortune and moth
ing else, or who is elected to the
Legislature or Congress, and is silent
forever; or who is very popular be-
cause he is genial and well-dressed
gentleman--such y man is only con-
spicuous for his failure. The final
judgment Of the community-which
does not mean majority vote-is very
apt to be . Just estimate. The mills
OF the gods grind exceedingly small.
and nothing escapes them. The Fates
cannot be deceived, No man is Q hero
to his valet, and no man can lie to
himself. The successful man Is the
one who has aimed high, and who in
many things, consequently. has fallen
short of his aspirations. But he has
done what others failed to do, and has
reached success" without seeking it
as an end.
These may be mere platitudes; they
certainly are broad, plain statements
Of mere moralities. But it is well at
times to come back to some platitudea
and truisms and rest there awhile.
Sneers are cheap and they chespen
morality. But after all it is these