Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-19
RELIANCE ON SELF.
The Country Parson Puts Down an
Old Plank With New Nails
In HIS PLATFORM FOR YOUNG MEN.
Those Who Succeed Through Influence Ars
Only Puppets
AND GO DOWN WITH THEIR MASTERS
WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPArca.I

WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPArcH.1
When was a young man, struggling
along the rugged pathway Of reportorial life,
1 had lesson that will never be efaced
from my memory. 1 had been reporting q
meeting of the city fathers. 1t was i'm
portant that certain speeches should be
taken verbatim. My ability as a steRog-
rapher was, and always has been limited.
On this occasion a senior reporter Of q rival
journal kept punching me with his unem-
ployed elbow, and as a consequence nv re-
port was not up to the mark. The editor
did not believe in excuses, and when told
him my trouble he turned upon me with de.
termined look. and in the most emphatic
language, some of which will not bear repe-
tition in print, ended in this sentence:
'Young man, listen to this, and never forget
it: God helps those who help themselves.
Never rely on ANYBODY but yourself, and
when punched punch again.
From that time on never permitted any
man to stand in the way of my accomplish
ing an object if could move him. Self re-
lance and determination will achieve wou-
derful success while scheming plotting
is putting on its overshoes to keep out Of
the mud. But I am not going to write
about myself. 1 want to show, if L can,
that self reliance has more to do with sue
cess than either money or "inhuence"
How I do abominate that word! Nine times
out of ten it means intrigue, fraud and
tyranny. 1t touches the church. the State
and the nation. and wherever it does touch
it leaves its mark. 1t means bossism and
bribery. The man who gains position by
influence" is only puppet. When the
boss pulls the string he must dance. When
the boss barks he must yelp too. Legitimate
authority am willing to bow to, but to
self-constituted master, never!
Calhoun's Confidence In Himself.
John C. Calhoun was often laughed az
while studying In Yale College. His in
tense and determined application made him
the subject of butt and ridicule. Said he:
81 am compelled to make the most of my
time that may acquit myself creditably
while in Congress-"
A loud gutfaw followed this speech.
Calhoun turned upon his fellow students
and replied: "Do you doubt it? assure
you that if were lot convinced of my
ability to reach the National Capital as
Representative within the next three years
would leave college this very day."
What did Calhoun accomplish? In 1904
he was graduated with the highest honors.
Said President Dwight: '"That young man
has talent enough to be President of the
United States" In 1911 he was elected to Con-
gress. He rapidly passed up the ladder Of
fame. and was promoted to Secretary or War
in Monroe's Cabinet, was Vice President of the
United States, member of the Senate where
stricken with sickness, he was carried to his
lodgings and died in the prime of his useful
placed him IN the very 'front.' rank Of Of Statesman @
ship. Judged from the light of to-day he made
many mistakes, but who will dare to say that in
Calhoun determination and self reliance were
not fully illustrated and exempllhed? His
course far better than loafng on the
ragged edge of some golden opportunity wait
ing for Influence" to lift him into position.
Lesson in Old Hickory's Life.
Andrew Jackson didn't SIT on a fence,
waiting for something to turn up. His boy
hood was just as hard as misfortune could
make it. Early in life ne was wounded in
resenting an insult from a Tory officer His
father died soon after he was born. iHe
suffered from smallpox, saw his mother die
in poverty, as his brother had done, lived
on the margin of the dark river himself for
two weeks, and then. friendless, penniless
and weak, commenced the battle of life
alone. There was a brief season of dissipation,
the fruit of sorrow and suffering, but in his
18th year he Strengthened himself up and de-
termined to be man.
Commencing the study of law, in two years
he was amitted to the bar. and by his indomIt
able pluck and energy, in his subsequent life,
made himself a part of the history of the
greatest nation on earth. He ALWAYS helped
himself, and never played with an opportunity,
like a half blind cat with a nimble mouse
Opportunities do not often linger along the
pathway OF life. Sometimes you have to jump
at them, grasp them by the throat and hold on
like grim death. You may have to wrestle
with them, like Jacob did with the angel.
Big Boats Upset Little Ones.
Some years ago 1 lived on the Hudson
river, 120 miles above New York City. I
had small sailboat. Sometimes used to
sail or row after the larger vessels, and,
making fast, would steal tow for few
miles. I remember doing so one day when
/ was alone. Suddenly, without any warn
ing. the sloop began to ego about" NV
little craft swung close alongside, and in an
instant would have been upset in the eddy
had not boy on board happened to look
over the side of the vessel and give me a word
of warning. Just in the nick of time slipped
the painter. my boat righted, and was lett be
hind, looking like fool and feeling that Kind
providence had once again saved me from
watery grave, for / cannot swim any further
than piece of pig iron.
Now this is Just what great many young
men are doing TO-DAY. They see some man
bowling along the river Of success, and. too
lazy dependent to row their own boat or
spread their own canvas, they sneak up behind
and try to steal a ride Such n course is full Of
danger. Boss Tweed had his satellites, and
when his star suddenly set what ridiculous
figures they did cutI
A Recipe for Singer.
Self reliance is taught In the school Of ad-
versity and opposition. An opera manager
once said of a singer who gave some prom
Ise of marvellous success: "She sings well,
but she wants something, and in that some
thing everything. If were single would
court her; would marry her; would mall
treat her; I would break her heart; and in
six months she would be the greatest singer
in Europe"
grant you the fellow was a brute, but he
understood his business. The soul that is
melted in the furnace of affection and ham
nered ON the anvil of sorrow generally tenn
pered and refined OF course there are excep-
lions. but this is the rule. Christ Himself was
made perfect through suffering, temptation
and anguish.
Every American youth should be ambitious,
nor should those in middle life who have not
yet succeeded fold Gbeir hands in Incidence.
ALI the apples do not ripen in harvest time.
TO one and all let me say in the words of J.
w olfgang Won Goethe:
Lose this day lettering, twill be the same story
Tomorrow. and the rest more diatory.
Thus indecision brings its own DELAYS
And DAYS are lost tnrmenting over days
Are you in earnest? Seize this very minute;
What you can do, or dream you can. begin it;
Boldness has genius, power and magic in IL;
Only engage and then the mind grows heated,
Begin. and then the work will he compIat.d