The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1889-03-15

Success Not Matter Of Complete AM
symfnef rleaI Achievement.

DISCIPLINE CT HikDRANCE.
success. Not a Matter Of Complete and
]. Symmetrical Achievement.
There II an instructive feeling In the
heart Of every man that he has right
10 a clean opportunity 10 do his work
in the world and bring out in foil
measure whatever force il in him. IL
Is this instinct which rcsents the OBJ
structiOn OF obstacles as something
foreign 10 life. as accidents which
break up the order OF things. a. useless
intcrfcrcnces which weaken effort, de-
lfA achievement and exhaust strength.
Every man Graves free field for his
work and a clean opportunity for his
talent. II these are granted he Is con-
hdGnt OF the success which would
crown his efforts; If these are secured
he Is certain Of the useful and victOri-
Gus life which he will lead. Every
energy and every gift contains within
IL an impulse for action. The man who
discovers in himself the ability 20
write feels that the opportunity 10
write ought 10 be- given TO him; the
man who develops "A gift Of OratOrY
Graves the opportunity Of the platform,
and feels wronged il he does not Sc
cure il; the man who is conscious Of
great executive force demands an am
pie field in which 90 exercise it, and
feels defrauded If ne does not secure
IL. Behind every gift there is an en-
crgy sufficient TO send it with the inn
pulsion which powder gives 10 the ball.
II success in life lay entirely In the
working out Of ones gifts symmetric-
ally and in doing ones work with the
completeness and finish Of fine piece
Of mechanism. obstacles and limita-
tions would be intcrfcrcnccs with the
normal order OF things, distractions
thrown in the way Of the runner which
ought not to be there. But real sue
cess is not "a matter OF complete and
symmetrical achievement; il il the
outcome OF n mans life when the moral
force within him is measured against
the difficulties he has TO overcome.
These obstacles. which seem 50 un-
necessary, these constantly recurring,
vcXatious and often meaningless in
tcrruptions, serve high moral pur-
pose in our lives There is no bust
ness, profession or art which is not be-
set by them. One Of the most inter
csting and suggestive chapters which
Mr.. IIamerton has ever written en-
phasizes tho moral qualities which the
technical difficulties in painting bring
out in an artist. Instead Of being able,
without flaw, interruption or break
in the effort, 10 put on canvas the
perfect representation OF the ideal
picture in his own soul, the artist Is
obliged TO overcome all manner Of
small, vexatiOus difficulties in the
mere mechanical work Of putting his
vision into visible form. But in
surmounting these difficulties, vcXa-
tious as they are the vision becomes
clearer, the purpose stronger. the Will
stcadicr, and when the work il done
there Is moral rs we'll as an artistic
quality i'm it. Interruptions and OBJ
-taclcs arising from the details which
abound in every occupation. which
grow out Of difficulties OF personal ad-
ju-tmcnt. out Of variations Of physical
condition. out Of changing moods and
diverse tempcramcnts, are vcXatious
and cXhausting, but they play great
part in our live. and the spirit in
which we meet them largely de-
termincs our character Many a man
puts forth more moral strength in
removing obstacles from his path
than another puts forth in achieving
the highest distinction, In such II case,
who shall say the man whose whole
effort has been spcnt i'm clearing his
way, has not done as much and won
as noble success ~ he who has run
with swift and unincumbcrcd feet TO
the goal at th- and?-thristian Union.