The Hazlehurst signal., 1884-02-21
A VICTORY OVER SELF.


lie never boastcd that hc had been u
hero IN more than ono naval conflict;
but when l,c visited his sister Mary. she
said her boy kept the air blue with can e
non.smokc. They made him tell stories
until at last he fancicd they were think
ing quite too much Of glory. AMI too lit
tic Of principle.
One night Ned said;
"Tcll us one Of the worst fights you
ever hnd-,he one that used you UP most
completely"
"Wcll. when 1 was..scventccn years
old" - 49,.
"You were not in the navy thcn?"
put in Tom.
"In that year the battle was fought:
| was at l.. and up Ia that year i
had been the best mathematician in my
class, but ut last ] had n rival--liow-
arl Dy name. He was snobbisli, CON
cci,cd fellow, clcar-hea,lcd aud cold
hearted. dctcstcd him from the first;
for IL he ever gained the least advan-
tagc over me, he would snecr and take
on great airs.
AT the end of year VIC were con-
tending for two prizes one for the best
composition on given subject. one for
mathematical proficiency. was quite
confident | should get the first, for
Howards essays were unequal. some
times rather original, but lacking al
WAYS in finish and delicacy. When.
however, I came 10 hear his read, i
could not doubt the result; II was better
than mine. There were exceedingly
effective points IN II, Ideas We wondered
at coming from him. and Of course nc
received the prize with many compli-
mcnts.
cit was week before the other prize
was to be given, and our rivalry became
more earnest. This last was TO be
awarded after q new fashion that year.
The mathematical class was to be thor
oughly examined. and honor given to
whem honor was due. Then those who
sustained certain exceptional tests were
to have four problems given them to
solve in the presence Of committee.
The one who worked correctly and did
the four the quickest was to receive the
prize.
"a few days before the trial ] found
on the classroom 'loor slip OF paper
covered with igurcs. the statement of a
puzzling problem. The Professor
textbook was often full Of such papers,
and / did not once think Of It's being
one of the four tests. i put 1t In my
pocket, and-such things being always
fascinating tomc-I studied over It until
l mastered IL. must hare spent In all
al hour on il. doing II at my ease rs
pleasant practice.
"About that timc was much DIS
Custci tu hear n schoOlmatc hint thai
noward's older brother, who was In q
German university, very likely did the
best work on Towards essay for him,
He said the day the subject was given
him he wrote 20 Germany, and he did
not begin his essay until n day after
bulky paper came to him from Ger
many. feared had been cheated oul
of that prize, but there was no redress
TO cqualilc matters. i must gain The
other.
.'Thc day came. There were at first
five of us competing; three soon wer,
out, Howard aud | were left. What
was my surprise, then, to have given u,
tho very problem ! had found ant
already studied out said to myself.
will be fair. will 20 about II rs de
libcratcly rs II I were trying II for the
| first time, and must not make mis-
take. glanced up. Howard was
working well, confidently, but he had :,
think. TO choose between methods
while my brain work had all been done
before. / could show the whole prob
lem finished In ten minutes and explain
the why and the wherefore. When
stopped and smiled, Howard knew the
prize was mine.
''Thc Professor requested him to r.
on, and ho finished il In twenty minutes
Just twice rs long as l had apparcntl,
been. Yet even in that time OF silcnc'
and intense excitement. conscience KEEP
whispering loudly: You know yot
really took mn hour, and ho has no
taken half that time answered thai
then had no motive for rapidity. or
could well enough have done II faster
In the ability 10 do II was tho proper
test, and was able; had NO help
Conscience said: NO; the test Is Of the
quickest thinker. Have you stood the
test honestly"
".Did Howard stand the essay tes
honestly? 1 answered. This, at III,
worst. only makes us square, :.
"Thc prizes were to be presented pub
licly that evening, but before loft tn.
classroom I was warmly congratulated
and saw Howard disappear fun Of rage
"Well. boys, l went TO my room. ant
then came this battle tell Of. Thcrt
was no cannon.roar or streaming blood
but no conflict since ever cost mo the
mental struggle that one did.
"At last conscience won the day. ant
| I said would go and tell tho Professor
| the whole story.
"And you lost the prize. after ALP"
"Ycs. Ned" -
"lIowsrd got, aud kept bothF"
eyes"
$50 your baltic was q regular defeat
after MI. How mean In him" said Tom
| 81 am not SURE OF that; there are do