Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-11-20

pctSuhdl 1dClOtS--OllOu very
complicated-involved in the prob
lem; and we rocollect the opportun-
ity which the successful man util-
lied, while we forget the no less
brilliant chance which the so-called
uulucky man either failed to see or
else found himself unable to seize.
What we miscall fate is the fine ac-
cumulation of countless thoughts
and actions unrecognized in detail,
and only known in the compact
weight of the avalanche.
Bat beyond the generalization
there are still features in the ques-
ton which perplex the mind not a
little. We see men who are appar-
emily thrifty, prudent and industri-
GUS, yet they are always in difficulty
and fail in their enterprises, while
others, who, to all appearance, are
no better equipped for the battle Of
life, sail on a smooth sea straight to
their ends. IF the unlucky man is a
farmer, his crops are poor when his
neighbours field groans with the
weight of the harvest. If he is a
doctor he loses his patients, though
he may be most scholarly physi-
clan, while his rival, whom he calls a
quack, succeeds in curing the sick.
If he is a lawyer, he somehow fails
to command the respect of the
judge and convince the jury, though
he draws his brief with the most
lucid clearness, arrays his authori-
ties like the Macedonian phalanx,
and talks with the golden eloquen ce
of Cicero. If he speculates, he fails
to hit the market right, though he
operates on secret "points," while
another reckless slap-dash fellow
PUSHES in blindly and makes pot of
money. Such cases of i'll luck are
constantly occurring and seem to
give the lie to all our most philo-
sophical deductions as to the work
ings of the law of cause and effect.
So far as we can discover, there is
no reason why such men should con-
tinually fail In their enterprises,
while others, no more gifted with
acuteneSS, prescience, industry and
energy succeed.
1t is by 70 means improbable that
there is some physical reason for
this habitual i'll luck. Oftentimes
adversely is hereditary, curse that
carries down the consequence of SIN
and failure from one generation to
another. The mind is the outcome
of an energy which not only springs
but takes its shape from the physi-
cal organism. The qualities which
make up the secret of success in life
strong will, clear insight into
things, vigor, patience and perse-
verance-are properties compound
ed of body and mind; and lack of
one of these, in that just proportion
which makes the robust, strong ag-
gresslve nature, may result in the
habit of failure, habit which may
be transmitted from father to son.
The men that fail often do so in viz
tue of disease, in the sense that
madness or extreme nervousness
may be called disease. If this be
true, it may be possible to eradicate
the cause of failure, if not IN the
immediate person, at least in his off
spring. If, instead of lamenting
plaintively on the score of ill luck
the unsuccessful should set to work
to discover the cause, particularly
in the direction of their physical
shortcomings, there would be a
good chance Of removing the diff
Guilty, 1t may be lack of energy,
torpidity of the mental system, low
physical vitality, deficiency of BRAN
and nerve force, or, perhaps peev,
lsh temperament, which quarrels
with and abuses fortune instead of
taking up the gauge thrown down
by the tickle goddess, as though to
try the metal of the man struggling
for fame or competency. If those
who are discounted in the battle of
life would rise valiantly and try
over again, searching for the weak
points in their characters and equip
ments for the conflict, instead of be-
moaning their trials by some cow
ardly artifce, the sum of human
prosperity would be vastly in
creased.
A REMARKABLE SPEECH.