Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1895-09-05
Tmid Mems Errors.

We are tlmid ut all times. bu
some men seem born especially tim
I'd and grow more so the longer the
live. Unless they make a bold
stand against their inclinations il
this respect, they are not likely I,
increase their stock of self-esteem
end they are fortunate if they gair
livelihood.
The writer has cause 20 remem
ber one Of his attacks of timidity
He had Embarked, not too wisely
in a stock exchange speculation
with an acquaintance. That sam,
evening he hurried to the latter'l
house and said he was 50 tortured
by anxiety that he would like to be
out OF the enterprise. The other
laughed and said that he would
take all the risks if he might have
all the profits. He there and then
guaranteed the writer against loss,
on condition that he would be sat
istied with the return of his oriei-
nal investment. The result was
that the timid man stood where he
was, and the other made so per
cent. on the purchase.
Unless he struggles hard against
his instincts, the timid man is
bound to have to suffer a deal of
despair, if only in the earning of
bread and cheese. He is apt to get
into groove and think that be-
cause he is there he is safe and snug
for life. He makes no allowance
for the accidents of existence inst
because its frightens him to imag
inc they occur to him. And SO
when, through no fault of his own.
ne is thrown out Of employment, it
Is as il the world were suddenly
turned upside down.
Contrast him with the typical
American whose determination and
resource are marvellous to some of
the rest of us. This gentleman,
having failed as a printer, turns
hopefully to a farm, and if that also
works but badly, consoles himself
WI With .tasg tas thonghs that he is ens out
shop.
We once knew q city magnate
who rendered US words of great
comfort upon one occasion. my
boy he said, 'the best step | ever
made in my career was a downward
step. | was getting f12O a year,
but l liked not the faint prospect
of that Office. l therefore Joined
Messrs. B on e7O q year, Thir-
ty years afterward this gentleman
was 'Messrs. B. himself, with
thousands a year income. The
thing for the timid man tof to
impress upon himself or .mport-
ant truth. He fancies that he is
quite extraordinarily timid and
humble; that hardly any one can
be found 80 unfortunately endowed.
But it is nothing of the kind. The
majority of men are innately timid.
Call it supremely cautious, if you
will. Perceiving, however, that
you are undoubtedly timid, other
men Immediately assume an air of
audacity, which deceives you if it
does not deceive themselves. A
certain brave man who lived for
years among the Maoris, before they
were anything like civilized. says Of
courage: Il don't believe in it at
ali nor ever did, but there is some
thing far better, which has carried
me through several serious scrapes
with eclat and safety mean the
appearance of courage. If yen have
this, you may drive the world be-
fore you"
This is comforting and more than
plausible. Experience confirms the
truth of it. So do Lord Wolseley
and other men who have had to do
with soldiers in time of battle. So,
too, does Emerson, the quiet think
er and rnraveier of the tangled
roots of the mind.
Always do what you are afraid
to do says Emerson, quoting some
one else. And again Every man
is actually weak and apparently
strong. To himself he seems weak,
to Others formidable. You are
afraid of Grim, but Grim also ia
afraid of you
Words like these ought to the
timid man, not yet enlightened
about his neighbors, TO be worth
much, perhaps millions, perhaps