Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-05-03
THE SUCCESSFUL, MAN.

scale. DuG THIS metnOu is a mlSlea0-
| ing one. this standard is a false one
When we attempt to measure or weigh
everything by money value, we are
running at once into a wilderness of
confusion of moral ideas.
The successful mamie who is
really successful-is the one, is he
not? who understands the true mean
ing of life, who takes its outlook on
to another stage of existence, who has
the heart to rejoice in human affections,
who can find true enjoyment in doing
his daily work of whatever character
that be. who has an eye fer the beau
ties of nature and of art, who, not
while destitute Of honorable ambition,
has learned contentment with his lot
in life. vino is ready to do what he can
to make the lot of others brighter and
better. We admit that poverty is to
De deprecated and that narrow means
are extremely undesirable but we are
very sure that mans happiness is
not to, be measured by his bank
account
And yet our American tendency is
to estimate success by the money
standard. We worship the man with
the large fortune. We set him up as
the model. Our youth burn to
emulate him. If fortune fails to smile
on US in filling our Golfers, we count
that we have not made success in
life. We are tempted to take short
cuts to fortune, and they are almost
always morally questionable, and by
no means certain of reaching their end
even at that We vote the old
fashioned ways of honesty and integrity
as "too Slow" and rush on in ways
that may satisfy commercial con-
science" but which are very likely to
lead towards some runious precipiee.
The statement is made on good
authority that the crime Of suicide is
more common among French aad
Americans han among other nations.
1t is most common in this country, as
statistics show, between the age of
thirty and forty. The explanation is
that the young man who sets out at
twenty with boundless hope to achieve
his fortune, as he finds his golden
dreams turning to leaden realities
cannot bear the disappointment. He
has set his heart upon money, upon a
garnish external success. There is to
him no sweetness and yeast in life,
save as he finds it in the acquisition of
money. For money he will make
risky ventures, and when these fail
despair comes. Then there is the
pistol or poison or the halter.
Says writer: ssThis readiness of
Americans to leap into the bark beyond
is the symptom of some national weak
ness of character, and if we go to the
bottom of the matter we shall ind
that to be the universal and increasing
habit of persuing the material things
of life as the object of our existence,
instead of a happy life itself" This
is an admirable distinction. A happy
life, in the highest and best sense, is
within every ones reach. We can do
our duty in the sphere where divine
Providence places US. We can avail
ourselves of many of the advantages
of personal culture which in those
days are within the reach of almost
every one. We can enjoy the sweet
ness and comfort of home, no matter
how simple or even scantv the material
furnishing may be. Above all, we
can have and know the Joy OF heaven
in our lives. Such life is true
success.
These considerations are not new.
but they are always profitable. We
must not mistak the shadow for the
substance. Peter Cooper, whose life
is we'll known, became a rich man.
But his success was not to be measured
by the two millions of dollars, more
or less. that he amassed, but by the
fact that he rendered most selid and
abiding service to his fellow citizens in
the Institution which bears his name.
Money has its use. The lack of it
is hard to bear. But they are not the
highest and best powers that are call
ed forth in the acquisition of money
To amass fortune is not necessarily
the highest success. To miss fortune
is not of necessity dismal failure.
Our young men particularly need to
! learn this lesson.
Miss Dora Huls, of Reading. Pa.