The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-09-02
LIFE's BATTLE.
Success or Failure Dependent Upon the
Measure Used In Determining Them.

4
tracing of life'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
extremes-as between the industrious
and the indolent, 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
these limits there are large numbers
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 q hundred should fail
and one succeed.
Many man has had occasion to ask
himself this question. His investments
made with apparently as good judg-
ment as his neighbor's 60 to pieces;
his neighbor's grow like rolling
SNOWFALL. He writes book. If he
is SO fortunate as to get it published. it
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 a play and fortune and fame come
to him at almost telegraphic speed.
The shailowest 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, it 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 anddisse eminating
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 a success. Several
to whom circulars were sent returned
them in the shape they received them,
as much as to say: s.This is none of
your business. Some who received
the letters of inquiry about the cause of
their failure in life thought they wera
sent to them by mistake and for that
reason returned them. Not few con-
sidered themselves insulted, and so 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 a success or
failure: and in each mans case that
definition depends upon the individ-
ual's temperament. If he is of 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. If he is the opposite
of all this he will think himself more OF
less of a failure, no matter how success
ful the world may account him.
The question of success or failure de-
pends. therefore, upon the measure or
standard that is used to determine it,
If one trusts what most so-called sue
cessful men have to say about their
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 world
supposed them to be. Many a man
happily married, the father of children
who bring him comfort and do him
honor, for whom by industry. and good
sense he is able to earn livelihood,
and to give them as fair start as the
large majority of their associates have,
ought, as things go in this world, to
set himself down as a success and not
failure.
But what is generally meant by sue
cess are the prizes in the lottery of life.
Life is, in fact, a lottery which has COM
parately few blanks. To nearly all who
share in it, it secures some return. But
its great prizes are, few. and they who
lose them are pronounced failures.
Besides all this. it may well happen
that those who draw these prizes have
failed to secure many blessing that
the lower shares confer upon those
who draw them. For the high prizes
often bring with them responsibility.
anxiety, envy. distrust of ones fellow.
men, q thousand cares, often barren
ness of domestic joys, if not domestic
discord, the clamor of beggars, the
fierce conflict with rivals, and, TO end
all, some blasting disappointment rem
dered all the more bitter by previous
success. Any thoughtful, upright man
of decent behavior might well hesitate
to pronounce his life a failure even if it
had not brought to him the higher
prizes. ITO do all the good we can, and
no harm that we know = said business
man whose pecuniary success was .un-
doubted, "is my idea of successful
life,n and any life of which man has
made the most, as near as his vision let
him see his opportunity and capacity,
has achieved success. For we often de.
fermine our failures by our enlarged
experience afterward instead of by our
Judgment and insight at the time, which
was all we had to guide us.-Dctroi
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