River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-02-22
HARD WORK COUNTS.
The Genius of Labor Alone Produces
Lasting Success.
Famous Americans Who Have Had
to Toll Patiently and Long he
fore Arriving at the Goal
of Their Ambition.
Especial washington Letter.

10R1tsaA
|T1HE boys and girls. young men
and women, of this country are
taught to respect old age, but
that is not enough. They should be
taught to seek the society of the old
men and women in every community
and listen to the stories of their expert
ences in the years that have passed.
There is a dear old man or a lovely
old lady in every little town or village
who could be helpful to the individuals
of the rising generation, and who would
be glad to be so. Every young man or
woman who would seek their society
would not only bring pleasure into
their fast fading lives, but would derive
benefit by drinking from the fountains
of wisdom which flow like well springs
from the minds of those good people.
These reflections come forth as the
result of an evening with an elderly
gentleman who was once a command
ing figure in the national councils, but
who is now living a quiet life in his de-
clining years. He said to the writer:
"You are perfectly welcome to tell what
has been said, but 1 do not like to see
my name in print, and so you must not
make mention of me. There was a time
when / sought newspaper ~notoriety, for
the newspapers make and unmake pol
iticians. But when a man leaves all that
behind him he does not want to be mem
toned in any manner, except in the
obituary notices."
The venerable statesman and philos-
opher narrated incidents which surely
ought to be laid before the reading peo-
pie of the country, for they afford food
for thought and encouragement to
those who may be discouraged. He said
that there are times in the life of every
man when the world seems very dark,
but that the skies always brighten to
those who keep on doing their duty to
the best of their ability. One of his il
Illustrations was this:
$50 into any city, big or little, and
you will find a street corner so crowded
with wagons and other vehicles that it
is dangerous to attempt to cross. But
if you will wait awhile you Will find
that all the distractions have natural
~ removed themselves, and the street
is as clear of Instructions as a country
road. Therefore, when Instructions
come in the pathway of life, if you only
wait, they will remove themselves. If
people would only understand this sim
pie truth, they would do less worrying
when they find their desires Temporal
rily thwarted."
Then he added: There is a line in
one of the classics which says: The
frozen river and the ~leafiess trees do
not complain. They wait for the sun
shine of spring and summer Wise
men and women learn to labor and to
wait. Many a man who has been de-
feated in his dearest aspirations has
risen afterwards, and been stronger
and greater han he might otherwise
have been"
BY way of illustration he referred to
the career of Andrew Johnson, of Ten
nessee, the unlettered tailor who was
unable to make any progress until his
wife educated him. He was again and
again defeated in his political. ambi-
tions, but he struggled on, and finally
he became a member of the United
States senate, vice president and pres
ident of the republic.
In January, 1889, Adlai f. Stevenson,
of Illinois, was nominated for a posi-
tion IN the supreme court of the Dis
trict of Columbia, but the senate re-
fused to confirm him, and he retired to
private life. Four years later he was