The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-06-28


oeive If He Wins, and He'll Win.
Did 1t ever occur to you when YOU have
made that easily spoken answer, 81 can't"
to some proposition that if you only mado
up your mind and put down your foot YOU
could rs readily say, IL WILL" and, what's
more, adhere to tho rcsolutionp If YOU
have never thought of this and YOU have
the time and inclination to consider what
q mnn-or woman either, for that mat
tcr-can do when he is determined it shall
be done, read this story:
1t is about man who, when he was II
Fears old, said to friend who had been
bantcring him that he would not volun-
tarily look ut his reflection in a mirror for
20 years. Think of that length of timcl
1t was just rs long rs Rip Van Winklc
slept, and you know how no changed in
that period. Seventeen years of that num-
Der have come and gone, and this man of
strong will says he has kept his promise.
md this, too, in tho face of all manner of
devices on the part Of his friends to make
him take glimpse Of himself
This man who does not see himself ns
others sec him is we'll known In business
circles. There Is nothing about him which
should make him refrain from having us
much use for II mirror rs any other man.
About 33 years old, of tho average height
and we'll built, his dark fncc Is an intclli-
gent, attractive one, his mustachc Is we'll
trimmed, and his hair, which is somewhat
spare ut the temples, is as nicely parted
and as carefully brushed MS that Of any of
his fellows. His nccltc, too, is tied in
the most approved fashion, and indeed his
whole appearance is that of tho well groom
eel man who spends an hour or two every
morning before his dressing case, making
sure that everything is just so before no
presents himself to the gaze of the public.
In the days of his youth he must have
been very handsome boy, and there Is
little doubt that he took rs much pleasure
from his own image IN the glass as any
youngster. 1t may DO that he was given
to gazing ut himself too frequently, for 1t
was from this penchnnt that his resolution
grew.
He was visiting n young lady acquaint.
nnco ono day, and she caught him looking
into mirror every few minutes. Sho
knew him so well that she felt at liberty
to remark:
III wager that you could not keep
your eyes from n mirror for an hour"
Perhaps his pride was touched by the
innocent words. At any ratc no replied:
II can, and not only for one hour, but
for enough of them to make 90 years"
This was seemingly so prcpostcrous that
the young lady offered to make IL wager
for anything he pleased then and there,
and so the bargain was closed. There arc
few who know what arc the terms of the
bet, and there may DO n nice little ro-
nance hidden behind it all. But that's
not the subject of tho story Enough it
Is TO know that he says that from that tay
to this he has never glanced into a mirror
or, in fact, ut any surface that would
cast his rcficction-and those who know
him we'll do not hesitate to say that this
is undoubtedly So
1t was II little inconvenient at first. I
must admit" he said to me tho other dny.
for knew my hair wasn't parted we'll,
and that my necktie must BIO oil askcw.
But. after few days the awkwardncss
passed away, and you may easily imagine
that at this timo the last thing ever
think Of Is looking into n mirror"
He has been shaved in barber shop In
an up town street off Broadway for many
years, and his popularity is known to all
the BARRIERS. Hc was in the proprictor's
chair one day, and his eyes were closed
The man of razors took n small hand
glass; held it close to his face and sudden.
ly exclaimed:
"Oh look!'
But that was an old game to his custom
or. Keeping his eyelids shut, he turned
his face TO one side, cautiously opened one
eye and then slowly moved his head until
he could sec that the barber held some
thing in his hand.
81 guess not, " no said rs he put out his
hand and showed the glass aside. 81 have
been tried that way too often in the last
II years to be caught now.'
He has gone to the same tailor for years
and he never looks Mt himself us he dons q
new suit. His tailor knows what he
wants. Is aware that some Of his friends
would inform him If his garments did not
fit him rs they should, and in addition to
all this feels that he Is put on his honor to
do tho right thing by customer who puts
faith In him. And no one can truthfully
say that he is not we'll dressed man. So
1t is also with his halter. He looks at the
style of the hat he desires to wear after
having made q careful selection but he
leaves 1t all to tho tradesman and to his
friends as to whether in shape and other
wise it is suitable to his face.
What has all this taught your"
That man can do many things, If he
will, which may seem almost impossible to
him at first blush. 1t has helped mo In
many ways. was very heavy smoker,
IL or 10 cigars day being my average
My doctor asked me to stop on the first of
the year anu not to smoke until Feb. 1.
did it without any trouble. No, it was
not New Years resolution, and probably
that was the reason it was not broken
After the first month no told me 1 could
have cigar after each meal, and 1 don't
eat more than three meals day"
When the 90 years is passed, will you
look into q mirror"
II will indeed, and think will take
more pleasure out of it then than If I
had been looking at myself all tho time"
Does tho lady with whom you made
the wager know how you have kept your
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