Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-01

Dr.. Mason, the oldest man in the room, said:
will tell you q story worth writing and
printing. see that it is now the fashionable
thing for men and women who have made a
little stir in the world TO tell all about the
books which influenced them and the Incl
dents which turned them into the highways
which led TO fortune or to fame. Well
am not famous, thank heaven, but perhaps
tho experiences Of q man who has escaped
fame may not be without use to somebody.
have always believed in luck. | don't at
.empt.to justify my belief. l know that
can't hold my ground in argument against
those who say there is no such thing l only
know that l believe in it. The superstition
twas born in me- There Is proverb in the
Castilian tongue which says: HE who ex-
poets good luck will surely get it." / read
that before was 10 years old, and at once
put faith in it. 1t confirmed the hope within
me, that the future held something exception
ally good for me- Perhaps each one of us has
that feeling, but not everybody evolves it
INTO faith and regularly lives by it. did.
l had dreary childhood, a difficult youth
and struggling early manhood. That
prcverb helped me to so through everything
with courage. Usually l hated proverbs.
ny father had stock of very disagreeable
ones which be showered upon Inc at all sea-
sons and hours. "They who know nothing
SeSr nothing" birds that fly high light
low" and others Of equally discouraging
power were ever on the end Of his tongue
But the proverb that promised good luck
kirnply because one expected it was both
balm and inspiration TO me-
When playing with other bows and trouble
of any kind was imminent always took the
most cheerful ground, and assured them that
everything would turn out all right And
was terribly in earnest, too. felt that all
would so well somehow. The result was that
eyery one took hope ard met difficulty and
Hanger as his master, hot his victim The
boys soon learned 70 depend upon me for
strength and encouragement. and they s.uak
10 ne with romantic devotion | learned
lhen the wonderful influence one mind can
have over others when it recognizes no such
thing as fear. Cali it superstition, foolish
ness, what you will; but my faith in that
proverb was something marvellous will adj
NIT, however, that | am OF a credulous nature.
When l was young believed eyerv aSser-
lion | ever heard or read. / was no. ques-
tleler or doubter. II u man asserted some
hing believed MIN because 1 supposed thu,
ne knew. else he would not assert. IL never
occurred to me that be might lie Being
honest myself ! believed in the honesty Of
others
lived in the country and / longed 20 live
the city My parents were well 70 do; but
I was the custom of that locality TO live SIM
ply and bring the children up to work
Mental accomplishments did not take high
rank in the circle in which | moved for the
arSt fifteen years of NV life / wanted a
better education than / was ever likely to
get. Somehow fanc:ed that would get il,
though could not see how. The HOLIDAYS
always carry me back in memory TO some of
themain events of my life / believe that
fortune hSs habit of making extraordinary
changes when the Old Year goes out and the