The Coconino weekly sun., 1896-06-04
WHY MEN FAIL.

The New Yo, k World" some time invited confessions from those who felt themselves to have m ado failure in life, and as will readily be supposed, there was no lack of responses. Most of the writers lay the Llams of their poor suc- cess upon themselves, though some ascriLe it to circumstances. One man, at least, charges his failure to his wife, but with no great show of justice, as is clear, even from his own statement In any case, he should have changed his plea or held his tongue.
 One man was ruined by gambling which will ruin any man, no matter how rich he may get,-and another makes a some hat similar confession when he says he came to nothing through trying to get rich too suddenly One nan lays his poor success to want of concentration and perseverance, but signs himself, Try, try again ," and one who has "dabbled in too many things" made himself master of noth. ing, and consequently, as he says, has to take the bottom place everywhere still another man, a type of large class, fell through strong drink He heads his sad story with motto from Emerson, The die of God are always loaded, and thus continues
 l fell from an estate of influence, usefulness and ease to a condition of drunken .pauperism because I lacked self,control, pride, ambition, discipline possessed some of the minor virtues industry, integrity, honor, cbastity- but these proved an inadequate bull wark against the evils of social drink ing.
 Beginning business life at twenty, with a fair education and a good knowledge of stenography, at thirty l was in charge of newspaper and was an official court stenogrspher, blessed with loving wife and children and a peaceful home, and in the enj yment of an income of about five thousand dollars Energetic skilful, apt, I was successful in my official and private vacations; generous, liberal, unselfsh and open.hea'ted, had many friends friends and wide acquaintance.
 l drank moderately, j"ined in an occasional game of poker with friends, laid an occasional wager on an election, a ball game or horse race-never to the material depletion of my purse and was neither gambler nor rake Twenty years since, companionable drinking at open bars was more respect able than it is now, and being in daily companionship with lawyers, court officials, ju'ymen, witnesses and politi clans who indulged in social glass, I soon became regular drirker.
 As "a c nsequence of over indulgence, my health began to fail, and as custom grew into habit, felt the need of stimulants when my work was pro.
 
 longed or perplexing. l well remember the shock to my self respect when I first took drink alone, bu. l never stopped to "breathe and exercise the soul by assuming the penalties of abstinence"
 Finally nervous prostration com pelled me to resign my official position and to sell my badly encumbsred bnsi. ness. and soon was a wreck financial y physically and mentally and one morning found me at the mirror gazing at my haggard features and wondering if l had in reality gone mad ~
 Is it possible that my story will cause any young drinking man to stop in his downward way9 I, too, was sure that l could never sink to such depths, and 1 piti-d the wretched ones below me. But hs,e I am, and there are countless thousands coming my way. And they forget that the dice are loaded ... .....