Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-04-09

..
occasion | have been impressed with
the marked reserve force and power
of one of the present members in con-
gress from Iowa. Recently, when at
his home, was shown his library of
over 1000 volumes, covering an I'm
usually wide range of subjects, histor-
ical. biographical political, scientific,
including the best in literature proper
and the standard works of fiction. The
owner of this library said to me: MIR.
Lee. there is not a book on these
shelves, but has been read by me-" In
reply to my exclamation of astonish.
ment, he added: 81 began over thirty
years ago to do some good reading
each day, if such thing was at all
possible. have made it rule where
ever go to carry a good book with
me- 1t has been by utilizing the spare |
moments outside of business hours,
that | have been able TO do SO much
reading
no longer wondered at his clearly
evinced reserve force and nrrier on
the stump and in congressional de-
bate. The reading of good books has
been the fixed habit of his life. He
has in reserve vast mine OF general
information from which to draw
Emerson's Philosophy.
A personal incident may interest
you. | began reading Emerson about
five years ago and today the twelve
volumes of this author are among the
most thoroly and carefully read of any
in my library. | have found his phi
losophy mine of wealth for practical
ideas to be used in every day business
I al; hot nd
books placed in my hands twenty
years ago and had read them then, it
would have been worth a fortune to
me at this time. The central thought
of Emerson's philosophy is individual
ity, reliance upon self-qualities vital
ly essential in successfully fighting
the battle of life. I shall close these
remarks this morning by quoting a
few of the sayings of this great Amer
lean philosopher, which have proven
especially helpful to me in taking firm
hold upon the practical affairs of life.
"To believe your own thought, to
believe that what is true for you in
your private heart is true for all men,
that is genius.
"a man should learn to detect
and watch that CLEAN of light which
flashes across his mind from within.
more than the lustre of the armament
of bards and sages.
God will not have his work made
manifest by. towards
Trust myself every heart vibrates
to that iron string. 81
"Let man then know his worth,
and keep things under his feet. Let
him not peep or steal or skulk up and
down with the air of a charity boy a
bastard, or an interloper in the world
which exists for him.
"Discontent is the want of self-reli-
ance; it is infirmity Of will
welcome ever more to gods and
men is the self-helping man.
Insist on yourself; never initiate.
''Whoso is heroic will always find
crises to try his edge.
Every action admits Of being out
done.
Nothing great was ever done with
out enthusiasm.
at is very certain that, we ought not
to be and shall not be contented with
any goal we have reached. Our aim
is no less than greatness.
cali successful men have agreed on
one thing-they We're causationists.
, They believed that things went not by
luck. but by law.
There is always room for a man OF
!, force. and he makes room for many
Society is troop of thinkers, and the
best heads among them take the best
places.
> Concentration is the secret OF
! strength in politics, in war. in trade
Z in short in all management of human
affairs.
i "The manly part is to do with
c might and main what you can do.
$ 1.-THE best use of fate is to teach us
$ courage. Then be brave, be
S cause there is one good opinion which
5 must always be of consequence tt
g you. namely your own.
/ do that which is assigned you, ant
J. you cannot hope too much or dare tor
much.
"They can conquer who believe the,
. can
! ! "The man must be SO much that h,
u must make all circumstances indiffer
u emit.
Tho we should burst we can onl,
y be valued as we make ourselves valu
. able.
; '1f you would not be known to d,
Z anything, never do it.
! Don't waste life in doubts an,
II fears; spend yourself on the work be
: fore you, we'll assured that the RICH
y performance of this hours duties vii
J, be the best preparation for the hour
or ages that follow it:
s.
/ The nameof death was never terrible
o To him that knew to live.
a ~
n "Man is his own star; and the sou
g that can
J. Render an honest and a perfect ma
k Commands all light, all influence, a
e fate:
e, Nothing to him falls early or too late
d. Our acts our angels are, or good or il
,r Our fatal shadows that walk by II
STILL" tsf