Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1889-08-08
ENERGY ESSENTIAL TO nc S..
Prof. VIM. Mathews Enumerates Many
Notable Examples.

Rugby, used to say. as he recalled the ca
reers of the boys who had been educated
at his school, that the main difference be-
tween men in life is simply one Of energy;
and think he was right A careful study
of history and biography, as we'll as perso-
nal observation, will show that this quality
is more indispensable in the struggle of life
than many others united. Without it, men
of the finest intellectual gifts push them
selves but rarely to the front, while, on the
other hand, men of moderate abilities, but
endowed with great energy, succeeded be-
yOnd expectation of all who know them.
Of course do not mean to assert that mere
energy will in itself suffice. No man can
succeed in life who has not a fair amount
of common sense. perception of opportuni-
mites and persistence, together with some
knowledge of his calling. 1t is absurd to
suppose that one can become a great gen.
eral without some kno wledge of the mill
tary art, of strategem and t. cites, acquired
in the school or in the field, or that he can
make fortune in business of which he is
ignorant.
Again, we must distinguish between en-
ergy and activity. There are hundreds of
men who are necessarily active, but who,
in spite of their Industry, their cease less
striving, find themselves in old age poor
and unknown. The secret Of this is, that
they have mistaken mere activity for en-
ergy. They have been busy enough, but
their efforts, having been misdirected, have
been simply a waste of activity. A marks
man may fire all day at target, but if he
does not take good aim his time and pow
der are wasted. To succeed one must not
only do certain things with earnestness
and vigor, but he must do them at the
right time and in the right way This
much being presupposed, the Importance OF
energy in life can hardly be overlated, A
pound of energy with an ounce Of talent
will achieve greater results than pound
of talent with an ounce of energy. So
woodworking is the last named quality
that even ill-contrived schemes, if pressed
with daring and vigor sometimes attain
brilliant success, while plans far shrewder
and more cunningly contrived, but exc
cuted languidly or with moderate spirit,
fail altogether. A warm, enthusiastic,
blunderiDg man will often do more for
himself and more for others than frigid,
wise man. The world was not made for
slow, fastidious, squeamish men, but for
tuCSc W uO dCt duu Wltu
power. Even in the spiritual realm no
lofty height was ever attained without en-
ergy. mo man," says Cecil, "ever found
happy life by chance, or yawned it into
being with a wish. Even the kingdom of
heaven suffereth violence, and the violent
only take it by force"
Of the vital, pre-eminent necessity of en-
ergy in war, we have abundant proofs.
Military history is full of examples to show
that energy and nerve, with mediocre skill,
will accomplish greater results than the
rarest strategical and tactical genius with
out them. Energy was the distinguishing
quality of those 'scourges of the human
race" AlaEc, Attila, Zengis Kahn and
Timour the Lame, as it was of the Sultan
Bajazet, who, from the swiftness of his
movements, was called Ilderim, or the
"Lightning." The career of the fiery, one
eyed Carthagenian, by common consent the
worlds greatest captain, who sprang like
bulldog at the throat of the Roman powtr r,
and who held his grasp almost till it was
looeed in death, Hannibal, was a con-
tinual illustration of the woodworking
effects of energy, when coupled with rare
military genius and other qualities requi-
site in war. His long and successful march
OF 800 miles through Spain and France, all
while fitting his way with a motley army
against hostile tribes and natiOns-his pas
sage of the Pyrenees, the Rhone, and the
Alps covered with snow and ice-his rarid
and overwhelming defeats of the Roman
armies at Trebia, Lake Trasimenus and
Canna-his long continuance in Italy
without allies and without support from
Carthage-are all examples of the most
signal vigor and activity, which would be
more conspicuous if he had not possessed so
many other resplendent qualities.
A glance at the life and varied accom-
plishments of Julius Cesar will show that
energy was the ading quality of that
great captain, though it is less manifest in
his character than in many Others, because
of his imperturbable calmness and equan-
unity. He had no sudden bursts of energy,
no alterations of passion and inactivity;
the elevation of his character was lofty,
but it was not a peak, but level table
land. The man who took the highest rank
in oratory and literary composition, as we'll
as in war; who could write, during diff
cult passage of the Alps, pathological work
which was praised by Cicero; whose
rapidity of movement in his campaigns
was such that the same writer calls him
monstrum horrible celeritatis vigilanti@;
must have been aman of marvellous energy;
many of his battles were won simply by
his rapidity, which surprised his enemy
before he was ready to fight. The energy
of Frederick the Great was never surpassed.
1t was most conspicuous when he was in
the most desperate straits, contending
against fearful odds. Though fighting
only to defend his dominions, he never
waited to be attacked. He always assailed
the enemy regardless of superior numbers,
though four to one, and made up for his
numerical inferiority by boldness and hard
blows delivered in amazingly rapid success
sion. The colossal energy of Napoleon is
we'll known. Whether in the field, sleep
ing four hours and on horseback twenty,
or in the cabinet, where he toiled terribly
and half killed his secretaries, he threw his
whole force Of brain or hand upon his
work. When told that the Alps stood in
the way of his armies, "There shall be no
Alps w he replied, and the road across the
Simplon was the result
In politics and statesmanship energy is
so necessary, that, without it, other quail
ties, especially in political crises and times
of public danger, are of little value. What
would have been the fate of England at the
time of the Spanish Armada but for the in
tense energy, the activity and resolution of
her queen? Vigor is needed by states
man not only to carry out his own policy,
but to battle the schemes of his own or his
country's enemies. Though particular
measures of vigorous and active states
man may fail, still energetic resolution will
uphold him in his place, and win the pub
lie admiration even when his schemes are