The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1894-09-13
PLUCK.
Be Sure you Have a Good OBJECT IN
View. and Then Pursue it.

Be Sure you Have Good OBJECT in
View, and Then Pursue it.
The modern definition Of this word
is boldness, resolution, intleXlblllty OF
purpose. firmness Of will, determina-
ton to succeed at ali hazards in what
ever enterprise one may be engaged IN.
No one ever became great, or sue
ceeded in this world, without the posses
sion of these qualities. Washington
had them in an eminent degree. lie
first marked out his course, and then
pursued it to the end. DsappOlnt-
ments and defeats never discouraged
him. and when checked for time in
one quarter he tried another course
and kept on it until he accomplished
his purpose. This was what made Gen
eral Grant a great man. Other great
generals tried to fight their way through
the enemies country, were checked,
discouraged, fainthearted, then retired
and their places filled by others who
were no more successful. General Grant
gave evidence of his great qualities
infiexibility of purpose and rrmness OF
wil-while in command of armies IN
the West, and DonelsOn, Shiloh and
Vicksburg fell before his boldness and
determination. Called to the command
of the Army of the Potomac, when the
Union people were discouraged and
almost disheartened at the numerous
defeats of our armies in the East, he
entered into the work with his usual
pluck. He electrified the country by
his famous dispatch-''I will fight it
out on this line if it takes all summer
and then pounded away until the
Confederate forces dissolved LefOre his
sturdy blows, and the American Union
was saved Edison, the great "elec-
trical wizard" commenced struggle
for existence as poor neWsbOy, and
early gave evidence that he was posses
sed of an unbOunded amount OF pluck
and never permitted poverty to dis
courage him. Day and night he labored
diligently at whatever he found to do
studying over some problem that arose
: in his mind at times for sixty hours IL
succession without stopping to cal
or sleep until he discovered the thing
he sought for. In this way he made
those most remarkable discoveries thai
: other eminent electricians deemed t(
be impossible. These exhibitions OF
pluck in time enabled him to fill the
y world with wonder and made him ia
Il nous and immensely wealthy. But to-
L his resolution and determination man.
>. of the now familiar and valuable cleo
u trical devices would not probably hav'
. been discovered IN many years to come
u if ever. All the really useful and grea
q men of the world have pursued slmlla
> courses in the lines OF study or enter
Il prise in which they were engaged. In
10 discovery of America was accompllshe'
/ by the indomitable pluck OF Columbus
% who never allowed opposition and dis
20 couragements to battle him. All grea
IL explorers in the wilds of Africa or L
{, the frozen zones We're men OF plucl
~ Stephen Girard, the great Phlladelphl
~ millionaire. labOred under great dlSaC
% vantages for many years, but he had
u purpose in view, determined to be tn
io richest greatest and most emlnef
IL merchant of his time, fought on regar(
u less of opposition, and success finalI
I'll crowned his efforts, and unabled hi
'y to become one of the greatest beneta
'' tors of his age. And so it has bee
10 since the days when Moses led tt
'io children of Isreal through the wilde
III ness. pluck is sure to win in the en-
70 No boy, no matter how poor he may
GU when he starts in the world, need ev
l0 m be discouraged if he is only blesst
w. with pluck Of the right kind. Be SUI
-, ~ you have a good object in view, al
~ then pursue it with inflexibility OF pu
VI pose, firmness and will, and never pe
'iS NIT yourself to be turned aside by opp
LII ,n sition, or become discouraged by tel
are porarv defeats, and the result Will
,re victory in the end.-The Advance.
ap " ~. 49,;