The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-11-13
The Secrets of Accomplishment.

Country Gentleman.
A learned teacher once announced that
children learned to read by reading and to
write by writing, and in no other way. 1t is
Just as true that we accomplish only by do
ing. There are people in the world who
spend their lives in dreaming, making plans
which are never executed, and then wonder
WHY they haven't succeeded as well as their
hard-working neighbors.
During school-days several copies in my
| writing book made an impression upon my
mind, and in the years which have followed
have seen their truth demonstrated. Here are
some of them: "There is no excellence with
out labor;" BE good, sweet maid, and let
who will be CLEVER" "Do noble things, not
dream them all day long" The latter quota.
ton has been made particularly forclble ID
my observation of men and things. have
seen men sit for hours putting tobacco smoke
and looking wise while they revolved in their
ttupefed brains project which would bring
them fortune without exertion. Meantime,
their more practical, active neighbors were
pIacing themselves on higher plane, men
aslly, morally and financially. Activity is
law of our nature, and if we are not doing
with our bodies and minds we are retrograd-
ing. do not wish to be understood as allow
ing human beings no rest; no one has
greater distaste or disgust for overwork, but
moderate amount of absorbing work is pro-
ductive of happiness.
Decision of character is a powerful factor
in the work of accomplishment. Deiberation
is wise, but "the man who hesitates ID lost"
This ia true whether one applies it to business
or to winning the hand OF fair lady. Sir
Walter Scott said
"He either fears his fate too much,
Or his deserts are small,
| Who dares not put IL TO the toucn,
To win or lose it all"
| Having decided upon the course of ones
action, perseverance must be exercised IL one
would accomplish an object. AS many men
and women have been ruined by lack OF per-
severance as by want OF decision. "Persever-
ance conquers all things" was another OF my
copies, and have lived long enough to be
convinced of its truth.
The habit of industry is another essential
to the accomplishment of anything. INDUS
try must prosper" is favorite quotation OF a
| friend who, by well-directed effort has &C
ouired a fortune. His children have been
! carefully educated, and from babyhood have
been taught the value of time. l do not mean
| to convey the idea that they have always been
| kept at work-on the contrary, the most de-
| lightfu and refining means of recreation have
been provided for them but regular hours OF
work and play have been insisted upon.
| There has been no Time LOT the girls 10 lOll,
or for the boys to "loaf;" consequently the
girls have become women of refinement and
education-a power in any society-while
the boys are honest, capable men of business.
The partner of my friend has allowed his
children to spend their time as they chose
go to school or stay at home, as pleased them
best. As a result they lack all the essentials
to the accomplishment of anything. They
have no decision of character, no persever-
ance, no habits of industry. The daughters
shine (?) in society only because their faith
er's gold is reflected in elaborate dress. The
sons are loafers, because having never been
set at work in boyhood, they cannot or do
not set themselves at tasks now.
Natural talents are great inheritances, but
unless coupled with the essentials above men
toned, will in the race for the goal of accom-
plishment, fall far behind medium ability care
fully trained. The old fable of the tortoise ano
the hare is repeated every day in human ma
ture.
Two editors have come under my observa
ton, the one richly gifted by nature, the 9th
er having the least imaginable amount OF ma
tural talent; yet the former is too undecided
too unsystematic-I had almost said too lazy
to WELD his brilliant pen except under
great pressure, while the other is Flooding