Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-10-15
CIRCUMSTANCE as. TALENT.


(Which is more powerful--circum-
stance or talent p | claim that tai
emf is superior to circumstance in
every particular, and, hence, more
powerful, as I shall endeavor to
prove. If one is endowed with the
gracious gift of fine intellectual
power he is already in very hattering
circumstances, which if properly APP.
Piled, will place him in a posi-
ton far beyond the limit of merely
financial influence or control. What
avails me circumstance, however en-
couraging, if I have no talent or in
tellectual power to exercise? What
would be the most benef ial for me
to do in order to promote my inter-
est? Why, sir, all the favorable fnan-
cial circumstances one could possess
would be of little or no consequence
to one, but only aggravate our condi-
tion if we were destitute Of good
talent. For this reason every one
would court our society for the pur-
pose of using us to their advantage SO
long as our circumstances financially
were in a Aattering state. But the
moment they would discover that We
were Impoverished and could not be
used TO any more advantage, our
friends and our admirers would leave
US to struggle the best we could
Without doubt this has been the
case in May instances in days gone
by. OF all the unfortunate beings
upon Gods green earth are those who
are devoid Of both circumstances fnan-
cially and circumstances intellectually.
But, to repeat, the question iS-which
is the more requisite to promote cur
welfare and be the most advantageous
to US through life in every respect
and in all cases eventually? | claim
that talent is more requisite or des l.
able. Take men and women where
illiteracy exists and you will perceive
that vice and poverty abound, but
go into community where talent
exists and you will find law-abiding
citizens; vice and poverty 10 not
eqist and ignorance disappears. l
have known men who Were born rich
and it seemed as if fortune had all
her joys impaired, but, alas, before
they had reached two'aoore years they
went down with he old ship to pov.
erty and obscurity-- down to ruin
with mast and helm shattered-sim-
ply because they had not the intel
lect ual power 10 control their affairs.
Others, with more talent, had seen
their incapacity to govern their affairs,
took advantage thereby and sent them
crashing down the road to ruin. But
I have positive proof to show You
where men have Teen born in power
ty and obscurity, but who have risen
to eminence and lowered hiqh among
their fe!low-men and ended their de,
cIiring years in luxury aud in ease.
Why is this? Simply because they
we've superior in talent TO others,
nevertheless roor. a talented man
is Arrays admired by all, because he
is competent to discharge any duty
that may ordinarily come b:fore him
Talent is always superior to riches
because talent will al8 avs bring riches
but riches can never bring talent
To show what talent has done for
poor boys and men, look back a
period of twenty years and examine
the life Of the martyred President
Abraham Lincoln. Bern OF poor but
respectable parents he was not rich
but talented. He grew from obscu.
rity to high renown, always willing
TO do right--never to do wrong. He
became one Of the greatest men of his
age-the Chief Magistrate of these
United States, the white mans friend
and the negro's redeemer from slavery
When he descended to the silent
tomb he went honored, wept and
lamented as no ether man had gone
before. Reverse the picture and We
see another boy struggling nobly and
manfully with life's battles. He, too,
is poor, but talented. Born in an
humble but pious home, follow him
up. First we see him on the tow
path thence TO country school,
telling as hard mentally as he had
toiled on the canal physically. After
that he becomes teacher, meantime
studying law until success crowns his
labors and he is admitted to practice
at the bar Of justice, ever willing to
defend the accused and oppressed.
Thence we follow him to the halls Of
Congress where he became prominent
as an able debater for right and JUS
tice for eighteen years, pleading the
rights of the nation. Next we gee
him outriding the stormy wind and
upon the national fame marching tri-
umphantly from The tow-path to the
White House, the highest gift that
the American people hold. All this
is the outgrowth OF talent without cir
oumstances, but it was properly used.
After having climbed the ascent
after having landed upon its eminence,
surrounded by a wilderness Of flowers,
whose fragrant scent perfumed his
paradise, and when every thing seemed
apparently serene, alas, the poisoned
arrow pierced his heart and carried
james A. Garfield, once a poor boy,
down to the silent tomb, more la