Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-05-20
OESERBT EVENING NEWS
--.,s-z1s---=-z---- -
Tuesday. May 10. 1890
Tuesday,
A STUDENTS MISTAKE.
BRILLIANCY OF INTELLECT CON-
PARED WITH THE VALUE
OF INDUSTRY.

OF INDUSTRY.
Says an exchange: One Of the
most common mistakes Of young
students Is 10 overIate the value
Of mere brilliancy OF intellect in
comparison with that of industry.
In almost every institution Of learn
ing, from the grammar school 10
the university, you will find many
pupils pointing with n sort Of adj
miratiOn TO some one OF their CON-
rates, who has never accomplished
much, and saying: "He could
easily outstTip the men whom the
teachers rank as the leading
scholars, if he chose.H They
say this with a tone which i'm
plies that they esteem more highly
his gifts than those of the hard-
working, hut less brilliant students,
who are faI in advance OF him in
intellectual attainments. Yet long
observation shows that the plOdding
men Of good, but not brilliant talent,
viii through life hold the lead,
which they have invariably gained
over the brilliant comEate who lacks
the habit Of persistent and cOntinu-
Gus work. And if our young friends
viii study the Biographies of even
the most brilliant men they will
find that the greatest achievements
or these men were generally the
fruits Of serious and severe toll.
Let us take two or three illustra-
tons.
When / was a student in college
Rufus CnoGte was nj the zenith Of
his power. He was the idol Of
young men, who admired brilliancy.
The general belief among them was
that il Mr.. Choate were awakened
in the middle Of the night, ne would
need no further preparation for the
delivery Of a splendid Grafton than
TO run his fingers through his curling
locks. But when his biography
was published it appeared that he
was one Of the most diligent and Ia
bOTiOus of students, and that his
great speeches were prepared with
infinite care.
When Daniel Webster made his
celebrated reply in the Senate to
Hayne, Of South Carolina, on multi
ficatiUn, with only n single day for
preparation, the feat was deemed
marvellous. IL has often been re-
feTred 10 as u striking evidence Of
Nebster's readiness for n great en-
Urgency. Gears ago, the late John
Whipple, an eminent lawyer Of
Providence, and 4 warm personal
friend Of Webster, told me this story
concerning that speech:
y asked Mr.. Webster" said Mr..
Whipple, ''as We were taking 4
wall. vt an early hour, before
breakfast, on the beach at Newport,
how il was possible for him TO pre-
sent so elaborate and complete an
argument ON so short notice in reply
to Hayne."
Son so short notice.; exclaimed
Mr.. Webster. ''Why. l had been
many years preparing the substance
Of that speech. When | was n
young lawyer with plenty Of leisure
I busted myself with raising every
question, which ! thought could be
raised, concerning the interpreta-
ton Of the Constitution, and with
attempts 10 settle those questions.
Among these was the point made
now 10y South Carolina and by Mr..
Hayne. The subject has always
been kept in mind by ME. When
the occasion arose for discussing Il, /
was ready with the preparation Of
years"
Read the life Of Louis AgassiZ,
who seemed to lie one Of the reali-
est Of men in scientific discourse.
His utterauce was so full and fluent
that it seemed to come without ef-
fort. But the student OF his biogra.
ply viii see that he worked with
such Untiring devotion that his
great master. Cuvier. had TO warn
him that work kills. If no time is
taken for rest.
The popular idea Of Gen. Sheri-
dan is that he won his victories by
mere dash. But read what Grant
says Of him, and what the officers
on his staff say Of him, and II will
he seen that his dash succeeded be-
cause he had spared no pains in pre-
pariRg for his attacks.
DR.. Wnyland used to quote a say
ing which he had picked up some
where. nothing viii stand Up
against the days work. Toll, persist
eut. continuous, uuflickeTing toll, j.
tie price that must generally lie
paid FOR marked intellectual success.
The taste and capacity for hard
work, with fair talent, is 4 better
guarantee Of ultimate success than
great brilliancy Of mind without in
uustTy. These considerations cN-
plain in part why many a man who
in college has n high reputation
among his fellows for signal ability
fails 10 justify it by his subsequent
achievements, while others, who
We're not much praised In their col
lege days, finally go to the front.
These last had the habit Of continu-
Gus work. OF course, the combina-
ton Of brilliant gifts and persistent
industry wins the very highest sue
cess. The purpose Of this paper is
I to warn the young men Of brilliant
gifts against the grand mistake Of
I trusting TO those alone for their
achievements. Work, hard, con-
slant, work must be accepted as the
condition Of accomplishing much in
I the fierce connections of modern