Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-07-17
LUCK or psRstvlNxJSr.

Jsss si.,. BY l.. ,. Iiebes OF PHEASANT River
ssnse.l
The topic on which have been ~.
ouestsd 20 present a few thoughts IL,
(which briugs the greater measure OF
succcss, luck or perseverancey feei
at . loss how to commence, ~ csndor
compels me To own az the outset that l
am In ignorace as to what luck really is.
There IL said to b. such q thing In the
world, hut have never claimed any
special Acquaintance with h. Perhaps
In my life experience ! have often met
the changeful elf, but have failed To rcs-
ognl,e him under the proper name, attri-
butlng my Successes or failures to other
causes than good or bad luck. Now l
am not going to stand up here to-day to
assert that there Ia no such thing a.
luck, or that Il does not In some cases
bring the highe.t possible measure OF
success, but I shall affirm that what To
onlookers seems the merest chance, or
luck, very often IL the result Of somr-
thing much more substantial, a combl-
nation Of staying qualities. Indeed
often think the much used word needs
another letter To complete Il, for that
much Of the so-callcd luck In this world
!. simple, downright pluok.
Hut our question stands, (which
brings greater success, luck or persever-
aneey" Defcrring to the convictions Of
many. suppose We allow that luck IL
sometimes emlnently successful. These
cases are .o few as to prove the excep-
ton rather than the rule, and were u the
reverse, what deductions should We
draw Would q sensible person rely on
luck alone, without individual prosper
hys For luck IL ever counted . nckle
goddess at beat, smiling to-day, to-mor-
row frowning; so he Who courts her
favor will find her the elusive maiden of
the poet, "uncertsin, coy and hard Ia
please" while he who depends Tor for
tune upon perseverance. viii hnd fer the
prosalc mstron, prompt To serve him n
long a. he Ia her Il faithful.
Regarding luck, then, a. an unknown
and very uncertain quantity In our prob
lem. thlnk that for all practical pur-
poses the sooner II Il eliminated the bet
ter. that we NAV learn ou what Ia de-
pend, sud In our calculations let us give
high consideration Ia perseverance az
being the known quantity which will
not fall Ia lead Ia a certain measure of
success. Hut of course perseverance
alone can not he expected to carry one
"a the TOP round of prosperiiy's ladder,
though without II We generally look In
vain Ia see him commen'e 10 mount II.
lie must unite With his perseverance.
energy and q certain amount of courage.
This union forms what the Westcrners
ter.ely denominaie sand" and u man
In those parts hs. not . good share Of
"sasd" they "reckon" that he IL pretty
sur. To fall Aud venture to prciict
that her. In New England thi. same
s,nd, oftener than anything else, Will
bring the highest measure of success.
Many possess other traits contribut-
ing materially To their success, and they
ARE people who are often called lucky.
A rare union of good Judgment, fore
sight and intuition enables them To do
the right thing at the right time, Ia
grasp the golden opportunity when pr
ssutei. These talents are so unobtru-
si,. a. to be unnoticcd by the superh-
cial observer, who, seeing the effect
without understanding the cause. z'tri-
bu,es Ia luck the results Of superior
wisdom.
lie Who has not these gifts, labors un.
der dlsadyantages, but whatever our
talents or opportunities, Ne should nev-
er slt Idly down waiting for fortune, or
chanc,, or luck to carry u along, but
ever keep striving aud toiling onward,
With courage, hope and perseverance,,
aud With our eyes vide open, assured
that fortune seldom smiles all of the
tlme ON any, aud when We meet with ne
ycr.e-, use them a. spur Ia renewed
energy.
hut, again our order strives to teach
us that the highest success IL not mate
rial prosperity, but the education aud
development of our natural faculties--
the bringing our mental aud moral pow
er. on Ia the highest possible plane. In
short. making the most We can of our
selves while Ne enjoy our allotted span.
Aud Ia this work shall ~e not leave luck
out IL our plan and take for our watch
word, 1--WE will per-e,erc." While We
nav spply these rules 10 our general
lie work, We find them also appropriate
to Grange work, for, promising that
Grange at the start has just the right
Kind of members Ia give n good send
of. aud l. pronounced lucky, amid the
vicissitudes of life, what are the chances
of keeping those workers. And " life's
yicissitudes bring aftsrwsrd to her desir-
able elements, giving new impetus to
the work. though she rejoice at her
good luck" let her not depend alone
upon IL. for, 10 through mi.mansgemen,
or shlftlessness that Grange falls Ia live
up % her highest privileges, and work
on th. highest line of her opportunities,
fitful aud uncertain will be her prosper
iiy. and depending only upon luck. u
liable suddenly to succumb Ia sore mis-
chance.
Brothers and sisters, let me empha-
sire thi. statement: Nowhere more than
In the Grange do We need "sdAd." The
courage of our convictions, fearlessly
and freely 10 stand up for true Grange
principles: coursge to labor to bring
our order NJ toward our highest ideals,
and perseverance 10 work on, In spite of
the discours gements which are sure at
times Ia meet us.
Dear friends of Pomona, let US not
consider perseverance a. rare and dis
tsnt beacon light, toward which we turn
our eyes but once a month, but hght
for each days enlightenment. Iet Us
carry II Into our subordinate Grange
work. and II at any time our meetings
seem small. or not In every way quite up
to our wishes, may We redouble our
earne.tness, aud by perseverance CON-
pei success.