The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-03-26
Success and Failure.

We propose to give, from time to time,
in these columns, q brief history OF the
views and methods practiced by practi-
cal farmers in our midst, who have sue
cecded since the war, with the hope OF
aiding others in attaining to 4 like result,
from their experience. There is no surcr
road to success than that Of those who
succeed. After this We will give the 9TH
or side Of the picture, OF which there IS
no scarcity of examples. Few men,
however, are disposed to acknowledge
themselves failures; the fault is not with
them rs they suppose, hu: the failure Is
attributable to some unforeseen contin-
rrnrv, or some com ination of circuin
Stances ovcr which they could exercise
no control. They do not realize, and will
not admit that they themselves were the
principal agents by whom such contin-
yencicS and combinations were brought
about +; and thus they complain, relax
their efforts. aud give way to ~diSpondcn-
CIV, when, If they had Il proper conccp-
ton of the truth of the matter, it would
them to cXcrtion, and nerve them
to the task of evolving favorable contin-
gencic>, and Of combining circumstances
to suit their interests. They would work
out their own fortune. The views and
practices of the man of success, are not
those of him who fails; they arc as diff
fcrent As truth and error. The former
r~rpudiatcs the views Of tho latter. He
knows thew are erroneous and will bring
as the reward of their adoption;
but the man who fails cannot see such
distinction all methods are alike to him,
and he proceeds, as ignorant Of the issue,
as a man color blind is, of the effects OF
no prism, till he reaches the result
wrought out by the memorable logic of
events.
1t is a fact of wide application, which
induces disastrous results, that Farmers
arc too little given to careful, anxious,
persistent investigation Of the conditions
OF success in their business. We have,
all our life, been fond Of and identified
with the operations of the farm and the
practices Of farmers. We are not a nov
ice, but know whereof we speak. There
is less thoror ghlcSs in the operations,
and moro waste of time. material and la
Dor on the average farm Of the country
than can be found in any other depart
nent of legitimate business; hence, in
order to show the value of each of these
Indispensable elements of success, we
link they can lie most effectively pro-
,cnted in the experience and practice of
man who has succeeded. Such q
serves as Il sort Of text book to be
.ead and studied by others around him ;
while those who have failed, serve as u
light to warn others of the break
,rs OH which they, and all who persue
he same course, will DC wrecked. We
present elsewhere, in this issue of the
Press anil Bnnncr, the first of these
,kctches of a most worthy, though un-
and modest, example for i'm
tation, who has succeeded in spite OF the
most trying difficulties to which ordinary
nen would have yielded in dispair, and
whose success should put to tho blush
he less thrifty, stout and a~ble-bodied
;ons OF the toll, or should at least en-
.oaragc to renewed diligence, those who
loubt their capacity to sdcceed in this
broad field of operations, as yet, so little
developed in this Southern land, whose
yaricty and capacity Of production ia
virtually without limit.