Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1884-03-06
WINSTON, N. c, THURSDAY MARCH 6, 1884.
AUNT MAGGIE.
The Old Lady's Idea of Greatness. She
Chats Also the Luck in odd
Numbers.
Special Correspondence Of the Sentinel.


REIDsvILIE, March 1, 1884. Some
men are born great, some achieve
greatness, and some have greatness
thrust upon them. You'll find that
somewhere within the lids of Shakes
peare. 1t has set me to ruminating
and my opinion is that those who are
born great are powerful scattered. No
doubt but what the general impress
sion j, that I'm the man. A specta-
tor is mighty often made to feel that
they have struck just such man or
woman, but my stars! the most Of
| them are nothing more nor less than
travelling agent from Chicago, and if
left alone they'll be mighty apt to find
it out themselves. We've seen and
known people that were born great
and have loved them for their modes
| ty, charity and love to mankind, but
the Lord deliver us from these lesser
luminaries. Bill says he was born
great, cause when he gets a man he's
going to be an editor, for they have
such soft thing on good eatin' and it
gets fellow out Of so many scrapes.
People don't ask editors hard ques-
tions in a crowd, cause they just
think it would make the editor sick to
have to answer 'em, and besides he'd
make fun of them for being SO igno-
rant. Tell you it's mighty nice to be
able to look wise, and not have to
'spose your own ignorance. DON'T
matter whether an editor is smart or
not, people believe SO, and that's just
as good. That's the thing, just get
people to believe you are born great
and It's all right then. To be born Of
the spirit is the best greatness | know
but its not much appreciated, nova
days. To achieve greatness takes a
long time and hard work. Now and
then we meet one, who has been sue
cessful and then begins the good bust
ness. If the poor fellow is not careful,
he'll lose all lis greatness by having
his vanity tickled. Jay Gould has
achieved the greatness, for which we
all sigh, but it was hard work to get
it, and don't think he's one bit bet
ter than the most of us, who are never
noticed. To control our passions is
equally as deserving, yet no one ever
gives US any praise. The tables have
turned since Shakespeare wrote, "some
| have greatness thrust upon them" In
these days and times, the fashions is
for people to thrust their greatness
upon US, and sometimes we all get
powerful tired of it, and wish there
was no such thing as greatness. Once
in while some folks have it thrust
upon them and they don't deserve it
any more than that cavalry officer in
the Mexican war, whose horse had a
tough mouth and took the bride bit
in his teeth and galloped right in the
midst of the fight. The officer was
promoted for the bravery of his horse,
for it was known that the man was a
coward, while the poor old horse nev
er got any thanks or praise. The Of
fcer spent his remaining years thrust
ing his greatness upon the people. a
man with vim enough to overcome all
difficulties man that's down in life
hemmed in by poverty and upset with
cares-a man that won't succomb to
disadvantages, but works out to the
top is the greatest man of Gods crea-
| ton.
LUCK IN ODD ACMBERS
To Ollie, who desires to know if all
odd numbers are unlucky, we will say
there is an instance ON record of good
luck in odd numbers When pretty
Kathaleen Bawne complained to old
Rory O'Moore, that he had kissed hel
eight times during the day, his reply
was; Then here goes another, fol
there's luck in odd numbers" AL
most any young gentleman would
have said the same, no matter how
; naughty it be to kiss a boy. Ole
maids are odd, so are old bachelors
There is history attached to eacl
number. Four has the best rccoro
because it always doubles even. Thir
teen is the most repulsive of all. Dur
ing the last century the English were
very superstitious regarding the fgur,
thirteen. Even the clergy recognized
!. it as being ill-fated. To be the thir
teenth at the table was a sure sign o
DEATH The history of seventeen i
not so bad, 30 you may rest contenteC
on your birthday and enjoy your din
!. ner with some young editor, like our
of the SENTINEL, who liz ever ready t
say very nice and pleasant things t
young ladies when they tickle his pal
, late, (provided he is not the thirteenth
one at the table.) All mems affection
can be reached through their stom acl
: Ifthis is the thirteenth year Of you
age, be very, very careful about be
ing the thirteenth in your class.
: AUNT MAGGIE.