Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-01-07
iCOnuuering Failure.


Ordinary men use their success, ex.
traordinary men their failures, as step
ping-stones to higher things. NJ. Theirs
began his career in n military school
founded by the first Napoleon. He
there stimulated himself with the idea
that every French soldier carried q
marshal's baton in his knapsack, and
that every road out of Paris led to q
European capital. When the empire
came down with crash, il put an end
TO the military aspirations OF the youth
full Theirs. Disappointed but not cast
down, he entered the law school of AK,
where ne soon disclosed his ambition
end his consciousness of superiority.
Parties ran high in the law school,
and Theirs became leader on the ultra
liberal side. Once when the practica-
bility of liberal politics was disputed
lac exclaimed: ~Well, well, wait till
am a Minister
Though his personal qualities secured
him admission to the most aristocratic
salons of AK, his democratic opinions
provoked many royalists to say, "He
writes we'll, but his thoughts are evil.
Talleyrand once said to him: If you
wish 10 rise, mako enemies" Theirs
had acted on the advice, years before it
was given, with such success that the
royalsts of AK tried to deprive him of
the fairly won honors o. his pen. He
competed for the annual prize given by
the academy of AK, and his essay would
have won the prize had its authorship
been kept secret. But, being found out,
the majority of the committee of award,
being royalists. were unwilling to allow
n democrat TO triumph. Afraid to stul-
tify them elves, they postponed the
award for year, during which the
competition was to remain open.
Theirs. instead of moping over the
injustice. was only the more deter
mined To win the prize. One day an
essay arrived from Paris Tho com
mittoe approved of 1t, and the royalists
loudly praised it, seeing therein the de-
feat of the young liberal. The sealed
paper containing the name OF the essay
ist was opened. The Partisan was
Theirs, who had sent his essay to a
friend who had simply copied it and
forwa ded it to the state committee.
Children arc impatient TO pluck fruit
before it has ripened. 4 similar i'm
patience prompts young men, If am
bilious and brilliant, to grasp political
responsibilities which they are not
ready to bear.
The revolution of 1910, which Theirs
as IL journalist had stimulated, made
him Secretary-General OF Finance,
under Baron Louis, an aged man, who
subsequently resigned and recon-
mended his subordinate for the posi-
I ,.gN -. - Ia
Philippe sent for him, and the young
man of thirty three came into the royal
presence.
Are you ambitious, Monsieur
Thiers?" asked the King.
He was ambitious, but he was also
cautious. knowing that he had neither
position nor experience enough for the
post, lie refused the portfolio in terms
VIII CHI impressed the king more favor
ably than his acceptance of 1t would
have done.
His first speech in the Chamber Of
Deputies was failure.
al have been beaten" he said, but
not east down. | am making my first
| essay in arms. In the tribune, as under
/ fire, defeat is as useful rs a victory"
He tried again and succeeded. In his
first speech he had, following the ira
/ ditions of the tribune, attempted the
classical and formal style of oratory.
His diminutive figure and weak voice,
a piping treble, untitled him for that
style. He adopted new method of
addressing the Chambers. He talked
instead of declaiming; spoke with the
naturalness of one conversing; told
anecdotes, used colloquialisms and adj
dressed the Deputies with frank famili-
arity.
The speech made sensation, and
from that day NJ. Theirs was listened
to whenever he gave them one of his
light, lively, brilliant talks, illustrated
by scraps of history and bits of anec-
| dote. Men admired the clcarness of
his expositions, and allowed themselves
to be floated where the limpid stream
might carry them