The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-02-27
A VICTORY OVER SELF.

He never D0aSteu lndb uc huu pSOh g.,
nero in more than one naval conflict; =;
hut when he visited his sister Mary, she
said her boy kept the air blue with can ;
non-smoke They made him tell stories
until at last he fancied they were think
ING quite too much of glory, and too lit
tie Of principle.
One night Ned said; -
"Tell lis one of the worst nights you
ever had-the one that used you up most
completely"
"Well, when | was seventeen years
old" - ~,
"You were not in the navy them"
put in Tom. ,,.
{" In that year the battle was fought;
7 WAS at l., and up to that year !
had been the best mathematician in my
class but at last had a riyal,-How-
ard by name. He was a snobbish, con
ceited fellow, clear-headed and cold /
hearted. detested him from the first;
for il he ever gained the least advan- /
taOe over me, he would sneer and take
on great airs.
"At the end Of year we were con-
tending for two prizes--one for the best
composition on given subject, one for
mathematical proficiency. l was quite
confident | should get the hrst, Tor
Howards essays were unequal, some
times rather original, but lacking al
WAYS in finish and delicacy. When,
however. | came to hear his read, l
could not doubt the result; it was better
than mine. There were exceedingly
effective points in it, ideas we wondered
at coming from him, and Of course he
received the prize with many comph-
ments.
"lt was a week before the other prize
was to be given, and our rivalry became
more earnest. This last was to be
awarded after new fashion that year.
The mathematical class was TO be thor
ouohly examined, and honor given to
whom honor was due. Then those who
sustained certain exceptional tests were
to have four problems given them 10
solve in the presence OF committee;;
The one who worked correctly and dld
the four the quickest was to receive the
prize. ,t,,
"a few days before the trial ! found
on the classroom floor n slip of paper
covered with figures, the statement 0l a
puzzling problem. The Professor
textbook was often full of such papers,
and did not once think OF It's BENG
one of the four tests. ! put II IN my
pocket. and-such things being Away
.. fascinating tome-I studied over 1t unit
, | mastered it. ! must have spent in ~
, an hour on it. doing it at my ease ~
, pleasant practice. :.
about that time | was much dis
gusteI to hear a schooImatc HIM tia
Towards older brother, who was III
German university, very likely did IN
best work on Towards essay for HIM
He said the day the subject was give
o him he wrote to Germany, and he dl
not BEGIN his essay until II day alter
bulky paper came TO him from Gel
a MANY. feared had been cheated or
of that prize, but there was no redress
TO eaualize matters, | must gain I'll
= other.
E, "The day came. There were at lir
III five Of us competing; three soon we
out, Howard and were left VIII
~ was my surprise, then, to have given
III the very problem had found al
,h already studied out said TO myself
will be fair. will 90 about it Us q
IS liberately as II were trying 1t for q
ur first time, and must not make mi
We take. / glanced up. Howard W
rd working well, confidently, but he had
no think, TO choose between methot
es while my brain work had all been do
before. could show the whole pro
"A lem finished in ten minutes and expla
10 the why and the wherefore. When
Ies stopped and smiled, Howard knew
he prize was mine.
Il "The Professor requested him to
le on. and he finished il in twenty minu
Just twice rs long rs | had apparen
been. Yet even in that time OF sIei
,er and intense excitement. conscience X
ry whispering loudly; You know J
81 really took an hour, and he has
10 M taken hall that time answered &
~ then | hal no motive for rapidity, o
liz liz could well enough have done 1t fast
I in In the ability to do IL was the pro
~, test and | was able; ! had no h'
~ Conscience said: No; the test is OF
70 quickest thinker. Have you stood
.i'. le test honestly''
ave ".Did Howard stand the essay
ng; honestiyP' ! answered. This. Mt
" ' worst. only makes us square.
c col "The prizes were to be presented r
u, y llcly that evening, but before | left
SIN classroom was warmly congratula
i. and saw Howard disappear full OF RI
.nn, "Well, boys, | went to my room,
I, then came this battle / tell OF. III
ncl, was no cannon-roar or streaming BIZ
VI but no conflict since ever cost me
'ym ,o mental struggle that one did.
wy wy "At last conscience won the dag.
,.ry said would 90 and tell the froie
we, Va the whoc story. -,
~ ~ = "And you lost the prize, after ALI
Hnas 'a'Is "Yes, Ned" ..D.
nion 'hu' Howard got, and kept both"
e,o. ayes"
'ior $50 your battle W., aret ,ia r