The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1889-12-26
REsoLurE PURPOSE.

REsoLuTE PURPOSE
The Grand Things II AcecnpIlshes h tAs
Battle o. Life. a -
NV Ugh sRsy ss9s y il & q Ssss n.
fuence upon their success or failure, or
the relatire degree Of success they may
attain. III hey are doubtful Of their
yite failure by their timidity. II they
are bold; seff-veliant, and, above all,
tenacious, they may command success.
Mere vanity is weakness, but there Is
strength in self-confidence. Irresolute
ness Is the most common weakness be
trayed by those who fail in their under
takings. They have mot quite made up
their minds to accomplish certain pur-
pose when they begin. and the slightest
obstacle or difficulty in the way is cuff
cfent TO turn them from it. They de-
velop this fault at school, in business
and social life, but II is when they are
at school that the corrective should be
applied, for 1t is then that their charac-
tiers are being formed with their good or
bad tendencies. 1t should be the Office
Of a teacher 70 Keep his pupils to def
mite purpose, to stimulate their ambi-
tf0ns, promote their self-confidence and
lead them to regard as in some sense
disgraceful any failure to reach chosen
eni. Such a course begets confidence.
Every difficulty that seemed insur
mountable, but has been overcome by
h,rd work, becomes an encouraging
experience when other difficulties
are met. ON the other hand, If a habit
i /, developed OF giving up when obstacles
are encountered, each experience of the
kind tends to- weaken self-confdence,
and fresh difficulties find the victim OF
such bad training ready to retreat be-
fore they have been fairly met.=0Fef-s
confidence, also weakness, especially
when carried to an extreme, is prefera-
lle to the timid disposition that lives in
state OF doubt and uncertainty. Ii 1is>
sae bold who conquer in other affairs
siian war. 1t is related of a famous
J eneral that when he felt himself al
n )st beaten he reflected that his antag
OF ist, after such hard struggle, must
be in as bad way, and that the COM
msnder who shows his confidence by
first renewing the attack would win. He
ordered a charge and won the day. for
his Judgment of the situation was cor
reet-r=Al though analogy rs not CONF
plete, many of the difficulties under
which timid men succumb are,like those
with which the victorious General
grappled. They yield to bold, persist
snt attacks. These, moreover, have di-
rect educational or training value. The
labor student performs in master
ing or trying to master a problem
is species of mental exer-
else comparable to the physical
exercise which an athlete takes to
strengthen his muscles and give him
such control of them as to promote his
skill. 1t helps to fit him for severe la
Dor, but he can not persist in it unless
he has strong purpose, a-eheeFfal conf
dence and a determination to succeed.
With these qualities cultivated during
his school years he is better fitted to en-
gage in the activities of business life.
Employers are quick to distinguish be-
tween the boy who hesitates to do
piece of work assigned to him and one
who, Mith-noA greater skill intel fi5E
gence, perhaps, undertakes 1t with a
confident spirit. They may not think
much about the subject but they in
stinctively prefer the bold lad, and
when new work is to be done or an OPP
portunity for promotion presents itself
he is chosen. Thus every thing con-
spires to help along the boy of spirit,
enterprise, determination to succeed,
and, just as surely, every thing con-
spires to keep backsthe weak and timid.
1t is not infrequently the case that a.
modest. difiidentz boy has greater ability
in some directions than his rival, but
his weaknesses put him at a disad-
vantage. HI he would apply him
self, he might take the lead, but
that it holds him back. This reflection
should be sufficient to stimulate those
who recognize thatthey have been handi-
capped by -irresoluteness or lack of per-
sistence to make an endeavor to shake
off the bad habit or weakness. 70 do
+this-is no easy -taslx,-bHt it maybe ac--
complished if a purpose is chosen we'll
within the powers and followed until
success has crowned the effort. Prac-
tice of this kind inspires confidence,
strengthens the character and develops
a good habit in place of the bad. BUTT
is so much easier to do this in the plas-
tic days of youth than in maturer. years.
when the cheerful spirit has been weak
ened by disappointments, that teachers
and parents should give special atten-
tion to this branch of training and keep
children to their purposes whenever
these are found to be worthy and within
their powers. The disposition to aban-
don one pursuit or study as soon as it
becomes irksome and to take up an
other, to be abandoned in it's turn,
should be resisted, and the principle
instilled that success may be command
ed by those of resolute purpose, high
spirit and persistence. Baltimore Sun,