The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-29
.1E ESTABLISHED 1865.

i
sg1. .mado men we're essential to their
Rsuccess. They were obstacles which
they overcame, aud thus won dis.
tlnction and honor. Thousands of
others have been discouraged by
those same obstacles and found an
appropriate place among dullnrds
and drones. It is true that many
eager men have laid the foundations
OF future usefulness and greatness,
in study between tho hours OF their
labor for bread, aud by tho light of
q pine knot or opon fireplace; but
many others have spent the samo
time not more protitably than in
careless, sleepy iudolence, and have
by tho samo light undermined their
mental and moral health with vile
boeks and eornpanlonship, and in
learning tho first lessons in vice. We
/ have all seen handsome and quite
elaborately carved articles or trim
kets which woro made entirely with
pocket knife. As ourosities they
challenge our interest, because Of
tho ingenuity of their construction
with such simple tool; but wo do
not regard thsm as moro useful for
that reason; nor do we for moment
suppose that> the pocket knife was
essential to their construction, or that
their beauty or mort would have been
diminished by tho use Of more effec-
tive and suitable tools. 1t is we'll to
remember, too, in considering those
who succeed, Notwithstanding diff
oulties, that not all successes, even
though so gained, are of that useful
and eleysting kind that should OK
cite our admiration. Tho churlish
ourmudgeon who by sharp practices
and avaricious dealing has amassed
fortune should not be permitted to
csjole us by bonsting of his early
privstions and sordid self-denial; we
ore at liberty to resent in any case
tho attempt to cover a multitude Of
sins with the cloak of tho self made
man, by playing upon our regard for
the wc.th and labor that conquers
| useful and honorable career; nor
should tho successful political hack
be allowed to distract attention from
a damaged character by parading
bis humble origin, his lack of
early advantages and the struggle of
boyhood, as independent and suf1i-
cient proofs that he is entitled to our
suffrage.
The truth is, the mort Of the sue
cessful man who has struggled with
difficulties and disadvantages must
bo judged by the kind Of success he
has achieved, by the uee he makes Of
it and by its effect upon his charao-
ter and life. If his success is clean
and wholesome, if he uses it to make
his follows better and happier, and
il be faithfully responds to all the
obligations of liberal, public spirit-
cd and useful citizen, his struggles
should add Immensely to tho honor
aud consideration he deserves. If
on the other hand his SUCCESS ia of
the grasping, nordid kind, if he
clutches it closely for bis solfish
qualification, and with success he is
bankrupt in ehsractor, sordidly mean,
useless 40 a citizen, or Of evil influ-
once in his relations with his fellow
men, his struggles should not save
him froa contempt. Those included
in either Of these classes may in the
ordinary aeceptation be termined
self-made mon, but it 10 quite evident
ths! they are 30 called self-made
mon not worth she making. Let us
exclude these from further considera-
tion and direct our attention to the
manner Of production and tho char
acteristics and use Of the men who
fit themselvou to benefit and improve
human conditions according to their
environments, who if they fulfil thsi@
mi'sion, learn that the fruits bsR
gather arc sweetest when sha ssS
others, and who chcerfullyS
ben0faetions to their 70
self.imposed tithes in
their accommodations Of
heart. This will not
from our topic.