The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-12-12
some People and Their Oppor,unitl.s.

mechanics Association course was opened last
evening by Herbert NJ. Sylvester, Esq. The
subject OF the lecture was "Some people aud
their opportunities The followingis an abb
stract of the lecture.
Shakespeare says:
0ur doubts are traitors and make us lose the COED
we Of might gain by fearing to attempt
Some people chargeltheir failures to the bad
luck side of their ledger; others lay the respon-
sibility at the door of their stupidity, but as
men work by different methods, SO different
men get different results, that together make
the great plan of living by which few succeed
and more fail
Men fail because the element to insure sue
cess is lacking when most needed. McLellan's
campaign on the Peninsula, Arnold's treason
and the administration Of Andrew Jackson
were used by the lecturer 10 show what
splendid possibilities may be lost by reck less
ness, incompetence or misconception OF the
time and its needs Men are plastic. AS the
potter moulds the clay upon his wheel, SO in
1uences silently make men the reflex of their
associations which are the real opportunities
of their lives. The careers OF men take them
over roads that run la all direction; those most
travelled are least prolific. They may be safer
but the flowers that bloom along their way.
sides are plueked by hands that reach down
before US and we find but empty stalks to
taunt as with their barrenDess. Some patient
toier finds hidden blossom but it Is of rare
occurrence.
The highways over which men travel are
abundsntly broad, but we may make them as
narrow as the mytholoaioal bridge of AL
STRAIT, so narrow indeed that we must fly over
them lest we lose our precaricus footing. Like
dangerous PLACES to be quickly passed, We can
not halt with safety. Many a man makes
himself an An Gent Mariner out of sheer per-
vefsity, and goes through the world forever
paving ths penalty of his folly.
Speaking of critics, the lecturer said:
criticism is most frequently shield to cover
some personal defect or delinquency in the
critic. Like the cross fire of an enemy, it
hopes to distract attention, and self-constitnted
critics are rarely adopts in the art.
Outside the art world, the late George
Fuller of Boston was comparatively unknown,
but at his death, the spsriDg recognition won
by him in his lifetime made that a'terward
accorded to him seem grotesque aud insincere
An industrious artist, his work graced the
walls of the various and frequent art exhioi-
| tions. No flourish hsraded the predictions of
his easel. HIS was a struggle for honest appre-
ciation like that of hundreds of others, and
only when his brush bad lent its la It stroke to
the unfinished picture were the grand posi-
blitiss of the man discovered. Only whea he
had got beyond the reach or need of earthly
fame was his need of honor won; and the
piaGdits of an admiripg public fell In mockiDs
silence abopt his grave. LII his career was a
beautiful illustration of unswerving loyalty to
an ideal, We must perforce ask where we're the
critics of bis life-nme2 IL public criticism
is at fault it is because its opportunities for
detrsction are so unlimited. Its fruits are
bittersr than wormwo0d.
Elihu Burritt, Roger Sherman and Daniel
Webster were noticed as men who made their
opportunities in life subservient TO their inter-
ests, leaving their impress upon the times in
which they lived.
Thu biog Apply of the last hundred years
I - ~ l.
centurs 10 have risen from the children OF the
soil. In letters, in art, IN craftsmanship, in
manufactures and commerce, the early fame
of their ambition was fed by blazing fire Of
pine knots or a farthing candle. They began
life az nohodies, but made themselves world
famous The princey fortune OF Alexander
Stewart terminated in the pack of an timer
ant peddler.
Men make opportunities as they make them
selves. Like the blacksmith at his forge, they
light The fires of their own ambitions and fash
ion themselves into whatsoever shape they
fancy most.
Opportunity without endeavor is like finder
without its accompanying flint and steel. The
sportsman may beat the woods all day, and go
home with bis bag empty it he be not ready
with his gun to bring down the game he has
flushed. The logged persistence of Grant
made him the most successful of all the COM
manders OF the army OF the Potomac. I'VE
will fight it out on this line il it takes all sum-
mer," was typical OF the man. To such man
opportunities may be long coming. but none of
them are allowed to pass without giving the
countersign. Richmond was to be taken, and
with The surrender of Lee at Appomattox
Grant had rounded perfect military career.
Mems exteriors do not reveal the secret OF
their success. Like ships they carry their bal
last out of sight. With Sheridan opportunity
was the synonym for action and the rout at
Cedar Creek was turned into a brilliant victc-
~. But for Arnold's hot-headed assault on
Burgoyne at the first battle of Saratoga, Gates
army might have been surrounded and the
history of America have read much different
~ defensive policy is Improbable One
who begins life by building earthworks for
self-defense ia likely to die in the same occu-
patton.
No one need go through the world bare
footed, but 1t is better to do that than to wear
the cast Always of others. 1t belittles man to
be under obligations to others. He loses his
poise as factor in the worlds work and be-
comes tool and tools become dull with use.
Face your difficulties; it is the coward that
gets shot in the back. Master them or they
will master you.
The lecturer drew iorcible illustrations from
Landseer, Demosthenes. Adelina Patti, and
Lord Coleridge. Men do not succeed because
they do pot have the confidence of other men
who are in position to assist them. AS you
have seen men at the circus leap from the
spriDg-board, SO we, using our friends, leap
ont into the world. II we leap far enough we
win the world g applause. Worth is the ex-
ponent of success. Worth is truth; truth
never fails.
II you have watched the morning star fade
before the reddening sky along the eastern
horizon until it was lost TO sight in the rosy
halo Of the coming dawn, when the light
grows FROM crimson to pale gold and then with
swift changes bursts into the white light of
risen eun, then you have seen the glory of o
dawn.
So the sense OF worth grows in mans
heart and gradually like the shafts of the
coming sun it eliminates and warns the
hearts OF other men to be courageous and
manly and so becomes the mother of oppor-
tunity.
There was large audience present, and
during the delivery of the lecture there were
many expressions of approval. z fter the lee
ture Mr.. Sylvester received congratulations
from many present OH the success OF his effort
To instruct and nlaaaa.