The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-08-01
PROGRESS.


ages of barbarism. and if it were not for
them we should in all probability be I'M
civilized people day, and where we are
now living savages with wild beasts tattOoed
on their skins might be dancing a fiendish
pOw-wOw around the camp fire. Although
we have advanced far beyond the condition
of barbariSm and have made wonderful
progress in the past, we have seen but the
beginning of invention and the possibilities
of science The steam engine and the tel
egraph will, no doubt, be surpassed by in
ventiOns more wonderful still. Not only
will knowledge increase, but the good, the
true and the beautiful will eventually tri-
umph. We cannot expect TO accomplish
in our short time all that remains to be
done. but we should do all in our power
toward the cause Of human progress.
Looking back over the pages of the
worlds history. and reviewing the names
of those who have promoted the welfare of
the human race and made the world better
for their having lived we naturally in
quire, how were they enabled to accom-
pliSh such grand results and reach the
heights to which they attained? Did they
while away their time building air castles
and idly dreaming of the future? Never;
they acquired success by honest, persever-
ing industry. They did not live in hope with
folded arms Ii they had fortune would
never have smiled upon them, tor she IA
vOrS those only who help themselves.
Many would like to mount the highest pin
nacle of human achievement were there no
climbing to be done. How many would
IL ho,rr
schilds or AstOrs? How many would fain
retire ounces and awake SOlomOns? We
reap what we sow, and those who sow
seeds of vice and Incidence, invariably
reap harvest of the same. We cannot
dream ourselves into a character: we must
hammer and forge it. OF all contemplate
things, there is nothing that will compare
with lazy person. Idleness was scarcely
known IN the good old days of the Pilgrim
Fathers. But we have among us now those
who would rather go in rags than work.
Labor, either of brain or hand, is the price
of excellence Continual dropping of
water will wear away the hardest rock. So
persevering labor will gain almost any OBJ
ject. 1t matters not that one be slow, if he
is but diligent. Quickness may even prove
a defect, as one who learns rapidly often
fOrgets quite as readily. Muscle and brain
think manly thoughts before they cOnst-
tute man. We are the architects of our
own respective fortunes, and should bear
In mind always that it is not luck but
pluck that weaveS the web of life and
crowns men with honor.
We are familiar with people who con-
tipually whine at fate; to believe them,
there never was a lot so hard as theirs
Yet. those who know their history will
generally tell you that their life has been
one long tale of opportunities neglected, or
misfOrtunes deserved. Dissatisfied with
everything, they never permit themselves
to be happy because they were not born at
the top of the wheel of fortune. They re-
fused to take hold of the spoke as it came
around. but cry like spoiled children, nei-
ther doing anything for themselves, nor
permitting others to do so for them. They
enter into this or that undertaking with the
dreamy hope that luck will pay them a
smiling visit. But wealth should never be
anticipated from any other source than
labor
This is called an age of specialties, and
division of labor tends to progress When
mans undivided attention is centered
upon one object. his mind will constantly
suggest improvements of value that would
escape him if his brain was occupied by a
uOASh uihCAOhC ouUJCCtS dt OUC0. Ii
house is to be painted, garden laid out or
an addition made to a cottage. common
sense naturally sends us to those who have
learned these tradeS-tO the skilled artisan.
architect. gardener or engineer. to those who
have disciplined brain, eye and hand unit
the result of their labor is the best of which
they are capable. Perfection in all arts is
won at the cost Of long, determined en-.
deavOr and definite aim. Even cook. il
is said, must keep her hand in practice, OF