The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-08-04
LiFE's Battle.

One Of the most pathetic and dis
Of lifc's puzzles is that Of sue
cess or failure. The difference between
men who succeed and fail is in many
cases not perceptible. Between the
between the industrious
and the indolcnt, the sober and the in
ebriate, the shrewd and the dull, the
economic and the extravagant, the rea.
son is plain enough. But inside of
of men who differ so little in their
habits, temper and abilities, that it is
next to impossible to say why one, or
rather ten If not hundred should fail
and one succeed.
Many man has had occasion to ask
himself this question. His investments
made with apparently as good judg.
mont as his neighbor's 60 to pieces;
his neighbor's grow like rolling
SNOWFALL. He writes . book. II he
10 30 fortunate as to get 1t published. 1t
brings back nothing and falls as unno-
ticed as November leaf in an unin.
habited forest. His neighbor, appar-
emily no cleverer. no wiser. no more
industrious than he, puts forth book
or play and fortune and fame come
to him ut almost telegraphic speed.
The shallowest catch-penny, the sneak,
the loud-voiced and leather-lunged are
always at the front, the painstaking
artist, the scientist, the truth-seeking
and truth-speaking politician in the
rear.
In spite Of numerous books on the
subject of "How to succeed in Life,"
and biographies of men who have sue.
ceeded, 1t is doubtful If the proportion
Of failures to successes has much di-
minished. Many are still called but
few chosen. An association in Great
Britain for procuring and disseminating
useful information has recently sent
out large number Of circulars to as
certain the causes Of the failure of un-
successful men. But the plan itself
does not seem to be q success. Several
to whom circulars were sent returned
them In the shape they received them,
- much IS to say: "This is none of
your business" Some who received
The letters of inquiry about the cause of
their failure in life thought they were
sent to them by mistake and for that
reason returned them. Not few con-
sidered themselves insulted, and 20 in
formed the secretary. Several women
took the matter up and sent letters to
the officers of the association, indig-
nantly asking by what right they called
their fathers and husbands failures.
On the other hand, several persons who
were not regarded by the officers of the
society as failures have sent for blanks
to be filled out.
The whole question apparently de-
pends upon what men call success or
q failure: and in each mans case that
definition depends upon the individ-
ual's temperament. II he is of q san.
guine, good-natured, contented dispo-
sition, interested in other people more
than in himself, easily diverted and
usually pleased with his own conduct.
and especially If he be conceited and
self-reliant, he will be inclined to be-
lieve himself successful In what he
undertakes; or If not, that he will be
before he dies. II he is the opposite
Of all this he will think himself more OF
less Of Q failure, no matter how success.
eul tho world may account him.
The question Of success or failure de-
pends, therefore, upon the measure OF
standard that 10 used to determine it.
II one trusts what most so-called sue
cessful men have to say about theil
mothers influence, those humble
obscure. but good, strong women
achieved in their sons greatness {
splendid success and were not the ap
parent failures which, in the seclusion
Of their chimney corners, the worlG
supposed them to be. Many a mar
happily married, the father of children
who bring him comfort and do hin
honor, for whom by industry and goot
sense he Is able to earn . livelihood
and to give them as fair start as tht
large majority of their associates have
ought, as things 60 in this world, t.
set himself down Is success and no,
. failure.
But what ID generally meant by sue
cess are tho prizes in the lottery of life
Life is, in fact, . lottery which has com
parately few blanks. To nearly al VIII
share in 1t, IL secures some return. Blu
its great prises are few. and they VIII
lose them are pronounced failures
Besides all this, 1t may we'll happel
that those who draw these prizes hav
failed to secure many . blessing tha
the lower shares confer upon thos
who draw thsm. For the high prize
often bring with them responsibility
anxiety, envy, distrust OF ene's fellow
men, . thousand cares, often barren
ness OF domestic Joys, II not domesti
discord, the clsmor of bcggars, th
fierce conflict with rivals, and, to on
all, some blasting disappointment rem
dered all the moro bitter by previ0u
success. Any thoughtful, upright ma
of decent behavior might we'll hesitat
to pronounce his life failure even II
had not brought to him the highe
prizes. ITO do all the good We can. an
NO harm thatwe know, I" said . bushes
man whose pecuniary success was Or
doubted, sis my idea Of successfu
life," and any life of which man hs
made the most, 40 near - his vision Il
him see his opportunity and capacity
has achieved success. For We often d
termine our failures by our enlarge
experience afterward instead of by on
Judgment and insightst the time, whic
was all We had to guide us.-Dstro
Free Press.
Women Engaged In Business.
The proportion Of women who er
gage in occupations outside tho house
hold Is smaller In the United Stats
than in foreign countries, but In n
country IL the proportionate numbs
engaged In superior industrial occ'