Mexico weekly ledger., 1881-07-14
ELEMENTS OF SUCCESS.
That Life Only h a Success Which
Benefits Mankind.
-ra -g fModern Argo1

That Life Only Is Success Which
Benefits Mankind.
sE- II tModern Argol
To every old person, and to every
young person, who takes an interest in
humanity, youth is full of interest not
unalloyed with pain. The young man
and woman is SO full of hope for the flu
ture, so certain Of success, that they,
who know by experience or by observa-
ton, the pitfalls by the way, must re-
gard them and their aspirations not
only with interest but painful solici-
tude. Every youth expects to make
his or her life success. Whether they
be vicious or virtuous, good or bad, it
matters not; their life will be success
full life. They may not realize that
life Of successful crime is not success
full life at all; they may not know that
such life is worse than a failure,-that
black page is worse than blank one.
They will not realize this, perhaps, till
it is too late to retrieve their fortunes,
to buy back by years Of toilsome virtue
the lost time spent in idle vice. But
the old, truly old, (they may be young
in years. have juster and truer con-
ception of life. 1t is not all of life to
live; and that life only is success that
benefits mankind, and hence honors the
God who gave it. a. --s
Need ask you, youthful reader; if
you wish to make your life success?
Hardly; history shows that your an
swer would be yes. The same authority
the records of the past-would show
that very few of you realize what your
answer really imports. 1t is great
thing to be successful. Very few ever
attain success, and most of these are not
known to history.
know that the reader will thank me
for refraining from painting the success
full life in threadbare moralistic color; l
have already made plain enough what a
truly successful life is Rather let me
point out few elements of success. If
l we're to call them all by one name it
would be character.
But to particularize. What are the
most important parts of character?
First in importance and value is truth
fulness. Not only the refraining from
lying, but an active trait of character.
A true tongue, true hand, a true eye,
q true head, a true heart, a true man OK
woman. True to themselves, their
friends, their professions their country
and their God. Would you know a
true man? He has firm tread, an hon.
est look, fearless eye, strong hand,
an open heart. He is the square man |;
the trusted man; his word is as good as
his bond.
Another element of success is Grit. 1t u.s.
ually goes with truthfulness, for knowl-
edge that We are right makes US gritty.
If we are sure that we are right we are
meaner than the fiends in hell, lower
| than dogs, more cowardly than Judas,
| if we do not 60 ahead. For We are men
and women. II little lower than the
angels, yet our opportunities are better,
our capabilities grander, and in heaven
our JOY will be greater than theirs.
Why7 Because if we start lower down
We can rise as high as they. And here
is the merit; it is dishonor TO 60 lower {;
no merit to stand still; but glorious to
ascend. Better be poor than rich, for
your chances for success are as good and
your possibilities greater. Some one has
said that in this country it was no dis
grace to be poor, but great misfortune.
| They were wrong. Poverty is no dis
grace and no misfortune 1t is good
luck to be born poor, and that is all the
luck in our life, that We get at nativity.
The past proves this to be true. Our
greatest men were poor boys. Look for
| moment at such men as these: Lin
coin, johnson, Grant, Hayes, Garfield,
all poor, but they had grit. Magic
word. 1t means sturdy strokes, honest
endeavors, true efforts, almost success.
The person of grit is full of solid days
work, and that brings us to another ele-
ment of success-wOrk.
Work is genius and luck both. 1t IL
the pleasantest thing Oh earth. 1t
brings more pleasure than idleness. 1t
makes rest sweet. 1t helps to make life
a success. 1t develops us; makes strong
1t is moral impossibility to be success
full without work. "Satan finds some
mischief still for idle hands to do"
When God told Adam to 60 to work He
did not curse him in that as some have
thought. In fact, God never cursed
Adam or Eve, or any other human being.
He cursed the ground; and that as he
said for the sake of Adam. To give him
work; chance to rise again and ap-
proach unto his first condition.
shall mention only one more ele-
ment of success. That is kindness. 1t
will make you friends. Help the weak,
the fallen, the sorrowing. It is Christ
ike-Godliness.
In conclusion, my young friend,
build the highest and grandest air-cas-
ties that you can. Then go to work to
make them real. Trust much in your
self; more in the good Of the wcrld, and
lean on that invisible support that not
only stays, but helps by giving strength.
| And in the end success viii be written
opposite your name in hearts on earth
and in the fadeless records of heaven.