The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-06-07

has aptitude for public affairs he is not
likely 10 succeed. and if he has power
to succeed he must expect all kinds Of
ups and downs. To-day successful and
popular. tomorrow defeated and cen
>ured: sometimes justly. hut more fire.
luently unjustly. To withstand all this
he must have good nature and the quail
ties Of self-adaptation. lie must learn
that his own personality is not important
to anybody but himself. and consequent
~ the people do not care anything about
his grievances. lie must keep them to
himself. When he meets with disap-
pointnlent he must accept it ~ Ill right
and be satisfied to abide by il no matter
how permanent its ~nSequencc may be.
If time should enable him To recover.
rs il probably will, ii will not only be
clear GAIN. hut he will he stronger than
ever. while if he do not Recover he is no
worse off because of Keeping his temper.
| 10 not think my programme can be
outlined for :; young man. excepting in
the most general way. Situations are
constantly changing. and one is likely
TO be called upon to meet unforeseen ext
]@encies that will turn his career into
unexpected directions. but this much
i Young man can always regard rs alb
S~olutely essential To genuine success in
any of the important walks or relations
81 life. public or private; he must be Il
hard worker. No matter what his in
tcIIectual endoWmcnts may be. invcsti-
Cation and preparation will always be
necessary to the satisfactory discharge
of public duty. The men who depend
upon natural genius" or upon the
'in>piration ot the moment" are moi
safe examples to follow.
And not only ml1St hn bp 1i6rpnt hut
he must he honest and sincere in all he
does. Only temporary advantages can
he attained by :; sacrifice Of these quail
ties. and they are never worth what they
cost. There is only one safe rule. and
that is to stand at all times for honest
conviction without eQnlvOcaIion or dis
semhlmg of amy kind. His views may be
erroneous. OF if correct they may not pre-
vail, but however that may be. a man is
strong only when he advocates what he
believes.
Following these ideas Il man should
attain as high Il success as his Qualiiica-
lions may fit him for. Assuming that
they are of the best, and that he attains
important place and high distinction, are
the rewards sufficient To Justify the
struggles and sacrifices involved? AS Il
general rule they are not. The salaries
~ WI VI ~ lttlH / tie
They are seldom sufficient to pay en-
| penseS. The honorS are all that is left.
Nine times ont of ten they are fleeting
and unsatisfactory. However attractive
they may appear when far removed they
almost always dWindle and ~diSappoint
on near approach. 50 that if one only had
words of appreciation and encouragement
he would be undcrpaid: but when instead
Of words Of appreciation and encourage
ment he is criticised. lied about. and
abused. held up to ridicule. and subject
/ cd to detr1ction and disparagement. the
reward is poor indeed. And yet men 60
on pursuing these delusiyo hopes and
seeking these ~unremunerative rewards.
Why. no one can exactly tell. except upon
the theory that hope springs eternal i'll
the human breast. 1t is bad to-day but
We hope it will be better tomorrow.
!. Il. FORAKER.