The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1895-08-15
PERSEV FRANCE.
THE STRONG LEVER.
Prizes Difficulties Away.
Baltimore SIN.

Baltimore SIN.
Although no one quality = sufficient
to command success III Iie,7 undertake
ings, perseverance is one OF the most
essential. 1t frequently compensate5
for lack Of ability or preliminary train
ing. Every body is acquainted with
the bright young man who has never
fulfilled the predictions OF his future
greatness, and if one should seek the
reason for an explanation Of his failure
it would generally be found IN lack
of perseverance. The slightest DIM
Guilty or obstacle is sufficient TO turn
sucb a man from his course. He tries
one profession or business after another
only to find that hard work and pa
tience is required in all OF them, and
as he has an exalted opinion OF his
own powers and merits, he IS unwilling
to 90 through drudgery necessary to
command success. Other men OF SINH
lar natural powers succeed IN the pro
fessiOns he has abandoned because they
have been persevering. Obstacles have
only whe:ted their appetltes and made
them more jealous, and the result OF
Dersistent endeavOr has been such men
tai and moral training as makes amends
for want of special ability.
IT IS. indeed, a common observation
that the dullard, if perseverlng, has a
distinct advantage oyer the quick learn
ar who makes little effort and cOnse-
auently gets little mental exercise
There is advantage, Of course, IN having
both natural ability and perseverance
but if one can not have both, persever-
ence Will be found more conducive tC
success than talent. As the great ma
jority OF young men are not specially
gifted. this is to them comforting re
Election, for they can command the
other quality. 1t will be found OF spe
cial service to them during their schOO
wears. No matter how dull they may
he. if they will persevere IN their stud
les, determined not merely to memo
rlze. but to understand, their lessons
they will not only succeed III that pur
pose, but Will acquire such training as
will be of the greatest service to them
in after lfe-and when they get
out into the rough world they vii
need sterling qualities to obtain success
They will not find any great demand
for their services however able they
may be- On the contrary, the worlc
will be entirely Indifferent to theil
presence, if not to their existence
-. :u L~vo hard work getting ever
so much as chance to exhibit thei
powers, and get little sympathy if the,
should fall and few congratulations il
they should succeed. Under these dis
cOuraging circumstances, SO differen
from the optimistic views of yOun.
graduates, they will need all the forti
tude and perseverance they can com
mand to keep on doing their full dut,
to the best of their ability until tn.
day of recognition shall come And i
will come to those who persevere, 70
the world, though cold and suspicious
is not ungenerous to those who hav
been tried and proved worthy Th
merely able man will never get
chance to exhibit his powers if b,
should be discouraged at the first re
buff, and to prepare him for such dis
appointments and encourage him il
his efforts to overcome them, h
should be trained at school and a
home to persistent effort-to persevel
ing endeavor.
Much that Is learned In school ap
pears to be dismissed from memOr
on the day of graduation and is neve
recalled or utilized, but It's good in
Huence lasts through life If it has help
ed to train the mind of the student il
habits of close study, of logical reason
Ing and OF persevering effort to con
quer difficulties. These are among th
chief purposes of true education, TO
they help to develop the mind an,
strengthen character