San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-05-03
FILL YOUR OWN PLACE.


The world is only halfmade and
its work is only half done. This is
apparent to every close observer.
One OF the chief reasons for this
unfortunate condition is that so
many people are out of their nat
ural places. The world is like a
game OF croquet in which every
player Is hitting the wrong ball,
with Inevitable confusion as the
result and no possibility of deci-
ding the game in the end. When
the infinite number Of players in
the great game OF the world are
taken into consideration, along
with the fact that to each individ-
ual is assigned different place, lit
is not difficult to understand that
each one must fill his appointed
place or inextricable confusion
will result. There is no time for
swapping places while the great
business of life goes on.
1t is therefore of the first import
ance that each one determines
what his place is to be and having
so determined sticks to it. In fact
it is not so much Importance what,
as how. That is, the filling OF your
place lie more important thing
than the place itself. There are no
sepcial places fitted for the special
people. Like the old maids prayer
for husband, "Most any one Lord,
will do" Education forms the
Common mind. These sermons have
nothing to do with the uncommon
minds. These are a law unto
themselves. The common mind is
common property and can take a
common place in a common sense
way. To these there is no special
place required, only that it be
their place and that Of no one else.
To all such the great thing is not
the place, but the filling Of it.
Tom or Dick can do the work of
Harry or Ned without any de-
rangement OF affairs, but once Tom
has chosen his work and settled
down to it, let him sbandonSit to
try on what Harry has undertaken
and two jobs are neglected. Rest
lessness is the curse of all achieve.
ment. 1t is the rolling stone that
gathers no moss. The tortoise al
ways wins the race as against the
hare. 1t is not speed but bottom
that counts in the the great exer-
lions of life. Stephen A. Douglas
had the most speed and distanced
Abraham Lincoln at one time.
Abraham Lincoln had the stlck-to-
ativensss and in the end he won.
Lincoln knew his place and when
he found it he did not swap horses
crossing his LIES stream. His
estimate Of himself was truer than
That Of his fellows concerning him.
He knew his place.
Before you cook your hare catch
it, was the form of the old receipt
books. Before you can fill your
place young man you must select
it, catch it, catch on as it were, and
having done that stick. 1t Is quite
likely that there are half a dozen
places that you would fill with
equal credit to yourself, with equal
profit, butt is necessary that you
chose your place early in life, II lit
lie possible. 1t is best, because it
settles an important question, and
all things, like coffee, should settle
themseies early and stay settled.
To settle the work Of life places you
in the best possible position to pre-
pare especially for it, and the ear
lier the kind of work is determined
on the longer the time in which to
prepare before that work must be
practically undertaken.
In determining this matter the
utmost practical common sense is
required. Unfortunately this is
the most uncommon kind of sense.
1t is Of more value to its possessor
than genius or talents, for it di-
reefs the attention Ind fixes the
decision upon that wi ich is natur-
ally within the powers to accom-
plish. The man WHIP can only
strike one or two is always out of
place in position where he must