The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-11-18
SUCCESS THRooGH STRUGGLE.


1t is a good thing for a young man,
or for an old one, to have great deal
to contend with. There is no real
progress in this life except through
STRUGGLE. Unless there were a hammer to
swing and an anvil to strike, the black
smith would never have the brawny
arm which marks his power. If there
were no hills to climb and no storms to
face, the sturdy mOuntaineer would
show no such superior vigor as makes
him another being from the ease-loving
dweller in the ne-embowered valley.
1t is not the uniform and the parade
which bring out the courage, and
develop the highest manhood, of the
enlisted soldier; but it is the march,
the privation, and the battle, which
transform him into the bronzed and
ennobled veteran. Not the receiving
of riches by inheritance, but the secur-
inc of them by unintermitted struggle,
gives a capitalist the ability to be
leader in the world of wealth. 1t is
rather the barriers to knowledge than
the helps to them that give the scholar
his final pre-eminence in the field OF
letters. And the man of character is
always the man who has made progress
through struggle, who has had great
deal to contend with, and has contended
successfully.
1t is very natural for us to long for
ease; but it is very well for us that we
do not have ease. Ease is a good thing
to look forward to; but we ought to
thank God that there are so many
streams to be crossed, and thlckets TO
be pressed through, and mountains to
be clambered over, before the place of
ease can possibly be reached by US. 1t
is a cause for rejoicing rather than for
regret, that our children take so much
of our time Just now, that our house
keeping cares are so absorbing, that we
| have so much trouble with the servants,
| that our business interests are so per-
| picking, that our personal health IS so
precarfous, and that one or another OF
| the family is always getting sick. 1t
would be worse for us, rather than bet
| ter, if we did not have quite so many
| difficulties in the way of carrying on our
| school, or our farm, or our factory, or
our newspaper, or our parish. The
| truth is. we should not do so well in the
| troubles. if we were without these
troubles. If minister, for example.
seeks a new charge because he thinks
that he can thereby get more time for
reading and study, AID for religious
| visiting. by using his old sermons with
/ out having to write new ones, 1t Is COM
monty found that he gives no more time
to either study or visiting than before,
| and that he simply ceases to grow III in
| tellect or in spirituality. By the re-
moval of the demand for his constant
struggle to keep up with his work, there
has been an interruption OF his progress
in his work, and lessening of his pow
er to work. And it is not the house
keeper, or the teacher, or the business
man, who has least to contend with,
who fills his or her place best, or who
gets on mostsuccessfully. Can you say
that it is?
Looking at this side of the truth,
what have you most reason to be CRATE
full for when you awake in the morning
and think of the duties before you for
the day? Why, that you have so much
to contend with; that there are so many
difficulties in your way; that you are
beset before and behind and on either
hand, and that you cannot move in any
direction without struggle. Even
your very pains and aches ought to be
a comfort to you. And what a salts
faction there may be in the thought OF
that stupid servant, and that disagree
able neighbor, and that unfair business
rival Really, there are obstacles
enough in your path to be very encour-
aging. What cause you have for thank
fulness!
In the formation Of personal charac-
ter, even more than in material inter
ests and in things external to ones self,
progress is made only through strug.
ole. 1t is what one has to contend
with, rather than what is favOring and
helpful, that gives the opportunity OF
soul growth. When we see one who
commands respect and admiration by
I the character in his very look and
bearing, we are sure that that charac
ter represents struggle and endurance
"As if the man had fixed his face,
In many solitary place.
Against the wind and open sky.
Lines of character in the countenancC
are service chevrons," showing the
campaigns of the veteran in the war
fare of actual life. They cannot b.
won except through sordierly daring
, and doing. The bravest soldier shrinkl
: from the battle before he enters it; bu
J when it is upon him, all his energie
are aroused to fight it through to the end
and ne knows, when that battle is owe
with, that he is more of man than h
} could have been without the struggle
| involved to him. So it is that we ar
to pray continually, LEAD US not int
temptation" -or trial; for trial an
r temptation are synonymous: and, a
1 the same time, that we are to ''cOunt
all ioy'' when we ''fall into diver
temptations''-i many and strang
e trials which are upon US without on
8 choice-''knowing this. that the trial {
: our faith worketh patience" Or Ell
o durance; and that by the struggles an
q | enduranees of that trial we can be &C
yanced III personal character.