Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-04-09
: BY A. w. LEE, OTTUMWA.

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but God alone shall truly determine
the difference between these degrees
of greatness.
True Philosophy of Human Effort.
What then is the true philosophy un-
DERIVING human effort? Every man
and woman has by divine right and
privilege, work to do in the world.
What the extent or the full import and
character of that work is. no one
knows; not ever the person himself
until he has endeavored to the utmost
to effect its accomplishment, and it is
only when death closes our eyes to
earthly affairs that our efforts in this
direction should cease. Men are diff
ferently endowed. There is a vast
difference in natural abilities. Environ
ment and opportunity are important
factors in the material results effect
ed, and yet there are men SO endowed
that they seem to make all circum-
stances Indifferent. But the pathway
of duty for every person whatever the
natural endowments, whatever the en-
vironments or opportunities, is so
clear that no one who seeks it can fail
w hio ~. II io W oCulSA ouIs SoLhplS
bend and develop to the
ents and abilities which WE
else possesses, but those which WE
possess. 1t is to do our best, not
somebody's best, but OUR best, each
and every day, hour and moment of
our lives. ,r,ss4
A few years ago, when read of the
material success or accomplishment of
great things in life far be-
yond anything that could
hope to do, of men Of my own
age. it discouraged me. l thought
what is the use, if Tive to be hun
dred years old cannot do as much
along these lines as these men no old
er than myself. have already done.
Then the thought came to me of some
millions of others whose opportunities
have not even been as great as my own
and it occurred to me that they had
from their point of view, cause to be
even more discouraged than had
been. Then ] asked. shall we all cease
our efforts because we cannot be
Roosevelt or Edison or Dolliver or Hill
lis, or general managers of great rail
ways or millionaire iron masters or
merchant princes. Then light broke
upon my consciousness that has never
failed me since. said, MOI" God
has given me certain abilities and OPP
portunities. am myself, am no.
body else. From this day forward
will be all that | can be and reverently
thank God for the opportunity to dc
my work in the world, whatever 1t may
prove to be-" assure you that since
that hour,I have had peace and com
fort and satisfaction in life such as
never experienced before.
Should Be Ambitious.
You should be ambitious? Yes, the
highest worthy ambition is not toe
high for anyone. l believe in it, mos
emphatically do believe in it. This
ambition should fire and nerve eacf
and every one to the greatest possible
effort, every day of his life, from the
first years of conscious responsibilit.
to the day of his death. Whoever does
this, has won success. John Wanna
maker, himself one of the most sue
cessful men of our day, emphasizes
this point in a recently published ar
ticle. He says: 1T Is difficult to de
leTUllllS WlldJ 10 SuSSScS. n hAho"i
of the way to attain it, is not SO diff
cult. Summed up, it Is Just this; III
your best every day, whatever 20,
have in hand" Mr.. Wanamaker ADDS
"The principal failures in businesses
far as can judge, are from lack
definite plan, shiftlessness, trying t
; find some new way to suddenly lea!
into high position, instead OF patlen,
ly plodding along the old road OF II
dustry and integrity"
have no doubt but that there ar
those in this audience this mornln
who will in coming years, win di'
tinction and fame in the councils {
: the nation or in their attainments
the business, professional. sclentlt
I. or literary world. There are other
who will go to make up our glorlou
/, American citizenship, whose name
! will be known only to their nelghbol
! and friends. If each shall have don
his best, WHO but Divinity alone sha
say which of these has won the grea
est success in life.
Daily Systematic Reading.
> In addressing this splendid body
D Young men and women, feel impelle
t to issue note of warning. When yo
/ leave these college halls, you will
J. the main, give up your text books. {
i not also give up reading. Then it
e that you should begin daily, syst
g matte reading of good books. Histor
biography, philosophy, science, re
g gion. The lives of the greatest me
Q this nation has produced are standir
examples OF the value and necessi1
n of such a course. The fact that Be
n jamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, al
; thousands of other great and success
It full men, never saw the inside of CT
i. lege, has even caused the question
: be seriously asked, whether or not
college education pays. These me
e got their education from readir
S books, from personal study. The CT
!? lege man with the foundation wol
s. which he has secured in his COLES
e course if he will but utilize the sam
n has in my judgment an immense a
e vantage over the man who has new
e enjoyed such opportunities.
mon, there is little. If any doubt, tn