Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-02-19

large and powerful corporation. Yet
some men are daring enough to as
sumo such responsibilities. Some
wears ago, friend Of mine went to
Colorado to conduct mining journal
and while there he would be in
fused with desire to speculate.
He resigned his position, became a
prospective monomaniac and did sue
ceed in establishing claims that were
good. But he could not organize
company and SO he rsshly tried to
carry the office himself. The result
of it all was, not only total failure,
but complete loss of hope, health
and youth. l have known other men
who have ruined themselves and
prospects by assuming to start and
carry banks, railroads and like stu
pendous enterprises. Yet if nothing
was ven ntured, nothing would be won /;
| while if there were no burnt offerings,
there would be no festivals at which
a heartless world could "eat, drink
and be merry"
| AN UNAVOIDABLE LOSS OF FORTUNE,
| Occasioned by the suspension OF some
colossal firm or the unwise indorse
ment Of friend or relatives note,
again is at the bottom Of many a
blasted career. 1t is a difficult thing
| for any individual to win the golden
cup twice in lifetime; and thus he
who having secured it, and again hav-
ing lost it, is untitled by the very fit
ness of things to begin the struggle
anew, especially if his disasters befall
him in maturer years. The hard ex-
perience Of one of the ablest and best
men ever met is q living proof Of
the above argument. To-day he has
nothing to distinguish him from the
common herd but a spotless reputa-
ton; but not many years ago he was
the representative of one of the oldest
and apparently the most secure pub
lication houses in the country. But
he endorsed a friends note and when
the friend short time afler failed ru-
inously, he too lost everything but
his name and his honor. Weighed
down as he is by large family, and
with utter poverty and tremendous
competition to contend with; is it not
we'll nigh impossible for him to rise
above the ashes Of his lost fortunes?
Yet this man has within him all of
the elements of success; but because
he is not successful the world plants
its foot upon his neck and cries
"Down with the vanquished." l know
another man of brains, character and
resolve who during great financial
cyclone went to sleep in affluence and
awoke in penury. He is in Los Ange-
les now struggling to plant his stand
ard upon the shifting sands of public
favor. l wish just now he was some
where else, SO that l might tell who
he is and what he is, and why to-day
he stands alone and encompassed in
the midst of a crowd, whom, if he
succeeds, will fatter and applaud,
and whom, if he fails, will morally
stone him to death.
THE EFFECT OF FAILURE
Is demoralizing to the individual and
to the public. 1t skaters confidence,
deadens hope, and leads the man
whom everybody else. e..doubts, TO doubt
himself. After it, he begins the race
over again in manned condition, cal
culated to defeat success; and which
calls down upon his luckless head the
contumely # the steady-limbed who
still stand up around him.
THE EFFECT OF SUCCESS
Is stimulating. 1t makes a man be-
lieve in himself, and the world believe
in him too. Thus. just as failure fol-
lows failure, SO does success follow
success.
Sometimes determines a career, but
not often. 1t is repeatedly said too,
but if the life of him to whom it is
ascribed is analyzed, it is usually
found that some higher qualification
or some deeper-rooted reason is the
cause of the prosperity. For in
stance, during the lifetime of Gen
eral Grant, it was universally said by
those who either disliked, envied or
were Indifferent to him that he was
creature of circumstances, but since
his decease, in his case the express
sion is falling into disuse. ga crea.
ture of circumstances" 1 heard a
Southern soldier who resisted
Ora from the beginning un-
til the end of his generalship,
say short time ago, ''a creature of
common sense and genuine, solid, old
Teutonic pluck" Why, Grant was
the most, mind you, 1 say the most
remarkable man who ever lived. He
wasn't a business man or politician,
but he was a general every inch of
him, and "a man take him for all in
ALL" 1t isn't luck even, which
secured for Sullivan, the slugger, the
courtesy of the British heir apparent,
or the morbid admiration of the entire
sporting fraternity; to the contrary.
it is the glorious honor of being the
most scientific bully on earth. If.
then, it was common sense and
military genius which made Grant
what he was; and careful training
and natural pugnacity which lifted
Sullivan head and shoulders higher
than all contemporary prize-fighters
and if all who have ever become and
continued to be famous in any line OF
position have had within them some
distinguishing force or aptitude, ii
would seem that fate as we'll as effort
decided upon the elements of success.
But the right time to act. The right
way to act and the perfect under.
standing of oneself and ones capabil.
tiles is in any case the most safe and
easy road to the fulflment of ones
wishes. Wasted energies are almost
as bad as no energy at all while
rushing ahead when to wait would be