The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-01-13
Reserve Power.

almost from the start, and to super
fetal observer seemed likely to win the
race. But suddenly their stroke, hith-
eric so impetuous, began to slacken and
look distressed. Oxford moved victori
ously ahead, and in spite of the last des.
perate "spurts'' of Harvard, maintained
her superiority to the goal and won the
race. The secret of the victory was
found in what Americans are so apt to
despise and neglect power.
At the bar, in the Senate, in the pulpit,
in the fields of business, in every sphere
of human activity, he only organizes
victory and commands success, behind
whose van and corps of battle is heard
the steady tramp of the army of the re-
serve. We must be prepared for the
unexpected crisis and incredible emer-
gencies. Let us consider some of the
reasons why we should collect and train
the reserved force.
l, We notice first that it is the easiest
and most economical way of conducting
the campaign of life. We live in all age
Of fast men, of steam and electricity,
telephones and Photographs! People
travel by lightning lines, going from
New York to Chicago in 90 hours, and
across the continent in four days. The
cry on all sides is for "shOrt cuts to the
professions, and science-made-e
methods of Intellectual culture SO the
student of to-day, instead Of tOiling pain
fully on foot up the rugged sleeps of
learning. flies with lightning speed
along IL railway track, finding every cliff
tunnelled and every valley bridged.
The savage believes that every time he
Stays an enemy the spirit Of his dead
foe enters into him, and becomes added
to his own, and aocumulates for
succeeding struggles. SO when
we conquer difficulty the spirit
of that difficulty enters into us transformed
into power; it adds to the mind $ reserved
force, Just as the resisting OF one tempt
alton tends to disarm the rest OF its
strength.
/. Reserved power gives greater
force and effect to power in action.
Why is an authors second book so I'M
readible? Because instead OF drawing
from living spring, he exhausts himself
and pumps himself dry in his first effort
Nobody is thrilled by an exhibition OF
power that is evidently drained to Its
very dregs. The race horse that painting
and gasping first reaches the goal; the
bank that is drained by one day run;
the philosopher with one idea; the hen
cackling over one egg; the student VINO
first escapes ''plucking, the single speech
Hamilton, who never opens his mouth
a second time in Parliament; the Sir
Egerton Bridges who writes but one
line sonnet, though it rivals Milton 5;
the Governor elected by one vote.-Such
provoke our sympathy rather than COM
mand cur respect.
Another advantage of reserved power
is, that when it cannot prevent defeat, II
will at least save us from rout and des-
pair. We all remember the conduct OF
Phil. Sheridan on n certain occasion,
when he found his army retreating before
the victorious Early. "Oh, sir, sand
the general in command, 1--WE are beaten.
mo. sir" was the reply; you are beat
en-, but this army is not beaten; and
then Selling his forces as Jupiter his
thunderbolt, he hurled it upon the
enemy. We all remember, too, the case
of Curran. He had II defect in his
speech. from which he was nlcknamed
"Stuttering Jack; and when he essayed
his first speech, the features OF his auo'
fence VAN before his eyes, the lights
seemed to glare unmercifnlly upon MN,
his tongue Glove to the roof OF his
month and he sank into his seat, filled
with modification and shame. but he
knew his reserved strength, and when on
a second trial he was ridiculed rs
ORATOR MUM.
The very sarcasm stung him to elo-
ouence; he replied with triumphant
speech and was able at last to charm
the fastidious ear of the House OF Com
mons. ana to make Il corrupt bench
tremble! When Thoreau published that
unrivaled New England pastoral, "A
week on the Concord and Merrimack
Rivers" only three hundred copies were
sold or given away. and the remaining
seven hundred of the edition were re-
turned to him by the publisher. How
does he notice the fact i'll his diary? II
have nov" he writes in grim triumph.
"a library of some 900 volumes, 700 OF
which | wrote myself. Nevertheless, IN
spite of this result, sitting beside the
inert mass of my works, l take up my
pen to record what thought or expert
epce | may have had, with as much salts
faction as ever" Capital, in what
ever shape i, may be accumulated,
pecuniary or intellectual, is boarded
labor. If we wish our drafts to be hon
ored in the crisis, there must be daily
deposits in the savings bank. Tell me
how much has been your patient toll IN
obscuritv. and l will foreteli how far
YOU will triumph in an emergency. In
LIES school room each day recites les
son for which all other days were a
preparation. Our real work is not deter
m;naj nv luckv answers or brilliant