Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-12-19
HOLIDAY NOTICES.
Things for Consideration at New
Years.

Things for Consideration at New
Years.
Undoubtedly a great many who read
this have determined whether by
formal resolution or not to try 10 make
1896 the most successful year of their
lives To these a few of the notices
and sayings of successful men, TO-
gether with here and there an anec-
dote, showing how they put their no.
tons into practice, may possibly be
helpful. If read Alright, much that fol-
lows will show that one essential feat
ure Of success is hard work. Genius
may be necessary for the highest sue
cess, but given ordinary intelligence
no one need fail who is willing TO eX-
ert himself continuously. But there
must be mental toll as we'll as physi-
cal. The day labOTer who is satisfied
to exert his muscles only will never
rise above day wages. The clerk WHO
is satisfied to do his work perfunct0T-
lily without eXerting his mental powers
in striving to become something better
than clerk will remain in that sta
ton. The handicraftsman who does
not work with his brain will always
be handicraftsman. But in striving
for success it must not be forgotten
that there are other and better sue
cesses than those of a financial nature.
1t is better to achieve character than
wealth, but character may not be won
without intellectual activity any more
than money.
Quite as important to success in life
as continued activity is the Selling OF
your opportunities when they come 10
you. Many eminent men have eX-
pressed this idea in many ways. Here
are a few such expressions which have
been gathered by Orison SWEET Mar
den and printed in the first chapter OF
his book, Pushing to the Front"
Things don't turn up in this world
until somebody turns them up.-Gar-
field
We live in a new and exceptional
age. America is another name for OPP
portunity. Our whole history appears
like a last effort of divine Providence
in behalf of the human 1ace.-Emer-
son.
Vigilance in watching opportunity;
tact and daring in selling -on oppor-
tunity; force and persistence in crowd
ing opportunity o it's utmost of posi-,
bic achievement; these are the martial
virtues which must command success.
Austin Phelps.
Il will find a way or make one"
There never was a day that did not
bring it's own opportunity for doing
good that never could have been done
before and never can be again.-W.
II. Burleigh.
Are you in earnest? Seize this very
minute.
What you can do, or dream you can,
begin it.
''The truest wisdom is resolute
determination" said Napoleon once,
and his career was an eXemplifcation
of his words.
Mr. Marden gives the following en-
tries on the fly leaf Of the Greek leXi
con owned by Edward Irving as an
other exemplification of the same idea:
six o'clock a. nj, Edward Irving,
promise, by the grace CT God, to have
mastered all the words in alpha and
beta before a m.
Eight o'clock a. nj, Edward Irv-
ing, by the grace of God, have done
it."
Russell Sage, who has certainly won
success of a financial sort, once told
the writer that he had saved himself
from failure almost solely by the
strength of his will l asked him what
he did when he met with an appar-
emily insurmOuntahle obstacle.
81 never met with such thing"
said the fnancier and railroad man.
whenever anything has been in my
way, I have just removed it. The
young man who has will enough can
always remove the obstacles that con-
front him."
"'Tis not what a man does which
exaIts him." said Browning, "but
what he would do"
The great violinist, Geradini, being
asked how long it took him to learn to
play, replied, Twelve hours a day for
20 years"
This is virtually the keynote to the
success of many eminent men in all
lines. Edison, the electrical inventor,
this idea with regard to +
himself: !
Anything I have begun is always .
on my mind, and 1 am never easy I'M
til it is finished"
Darwin, the great scientist, whose
theory Of evolution has wrought a
greater change in the views of think
ing men than any other theory that
has been preached in modern times,
owed much to persistence. He was al
most always i'll. For 40 years. said
lis son, che never knew one day Of
health" Yet during those four dec
AIDES he used to force himself unre-
to pursue the work which he +
lad set out to do, Many a man with
he strongest constitution would have
'hTunk from the enormous toll per-
OF med by Darwin, but he stuck to it
With a patience that was marvellous.
Charles H. Cramp, the shipbuilder,
Il talking of success and how it could
,e obtained, declared its greatest Sc