Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-10-27
Mistellamenns &eadiug,
PERSEVERANCE.


adage that needs no illustration at our hands.
Great men may do very foolish things and
be anything but great outside of their sphere
of eminence. Every politician knows that
the greatest General in the world may write
letters of which school boy should be
ashamed. And because man be eminent
as statesman, is no reason to rely upon him
as superior financier, or a philanthropist.
Yet all great men, whether Of the field or
the forum, whether the dispenser of peace
from the pulpit, or mercy to the inmates of
the prison, of whatever grade or sphere,
have had all one acteristic-Persever.
ance Alexander is among the first names
on the first page Of history. Yet, had he
lived in our day, his appellation would have
been ALEXANDER the fool" for certainly no
fool Of his time was ever more foolish than
he. His whole course of life was an almost
continuous display of unwse rashness. But
he possessed will, and perseverance that
made him conqueror in all that he under
took. From his victory over Bucepahlus to
the last act of his dissioated life, this great
feature is all we see to remember.
Julius Cesar was another Of the worlds
heroes true he was man Of ability and
learning, an honor to himself, an ornament
to his age and his country. But his victo-
ries and his greatness were but the results of
tbs perseverance with which his sagacious
determinations were urged to fulfillment.
So with Napoleon, and so with Washington.
A man of resolution and perseverance, no
matter in what age or what capacity, will
always be great. In our own times we ad.
mire but few characters with a greater fer
vency than that of Jackson. Not so much,
indeed, on account Of his peculiar views, for
some of them were unpopular, as for the will
and honest perseverance with which, not.
withstanding this circumstance, they were
enforced. During his administration, every
one, from Nicholas Biddle down to Louis
Philippe, knew who was President. His de-.
termination was his character, which made
him "the man for the times" And so with
every great man.
On the contrary, the monarchs and kings
of history, who have lacked this great prn'
ciple-are the hard names we can remember,
however easy of photography or euphonious
in sound. Such men are mere cyphers.
They make no impression on the world, eth.
er for good or i'll, but like the supernume.
raries Of the stage, are here only to fill up the
scenes, and then pass away to be forgotten
forever.
Now as the principles of science are SER
viceable only as they are applicable to the
arts and the wants of every day life, so our
study of ourselves and the history of our
race should be used to a good account in
catering to our present necessities Every
man has his sphere, and can be great in his
way, even in his humility. Some one has
said that even if he were nothing but a boot
black, he would strive to be the best boot.
black in London. And so in every depart
ment there is point of excellence greater
than has yet been attained-one step nearer
to perfection than has yet been occupied.
But this point can never be reached without
perseverance so strong and so determined
that it cannot and will not be turned aside.
We cannot indeed be all great Generals nor
great Presidents, but We can be great car
penters or blacksmiths, or tailors, or mer-
chants, or great men
We are all aiming at greatness in some.
thing. We are fighting the great battle OF
life. We are running a great race either
for fame, for favor or for gold. And shall
we give it up when just begun, when but
half over, or just as we are about to realize
the victory? We say no, never give up the
ship" while there is rag of sail, "never say
die" but struggle on and on, until persever,
ance crowns your efforts with success.
Whatever may be your pursuit do not turn
to this side nor to that, but stick to your
calling until you have reached an eminence
worthy of your aim and honorable in itself.