Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-30
TO SUCCEED
Is SUCCESS

| one nlSnt some Two or three
years ago, the Columbian Opera
house was packed to the doors with
a motley gathering OF interested hui
manity, with one accord intent upon
the performance going on before
them.
There was so much to see then,
Rows and rows of fascinated faces
all varying in expression, but alike
in one particular-the undivided at
tention given to the speakers words.
Some listened with would-be indif-
ferent air, others looked mildly in
credulous; some appeared amused,
others unbelieving. The great ma
jority. however apparently believed
every word. Why not? 1t is not what
we believe, not so much our ideals.
as the keeping of good faith with
them, that counts.
Besides. there was plenty, of inter
est, to even the most skeptical
Some sound philosophy was uttered
that night Even to those character
izing it as foolishness, phrenology,
commonly called "bumpology." has
its attractions. Probably from the
fact that the unknown is the most
interesting factor in human lives
Though they may be unwilling to ac-
knowledge it. people cannot help but
wonder as to what the future will
bring. This complex life of ours is
so puzzling. too. at times, that we
hail eagerly anything which pre-
tends to throw any light upon its
mysteries.
After delivering a general lecture
the speaker examined number of
heads. reading the character and cap
abilities of the subject. 1t is with
one only of these readings that this
article has to do. The man in
question was at that time citizen
of the town In substance the phre
nologist said: This is man who
|isnt fond of hard work He pre-
| fers soft snap. o, he'll work, but
he isn't going to do more than he
has to in fact. he would Just little
rather have nice easy job than to
have to get out and rustic for liv-
ing"
| The question: What can I do
best?" is of vital Importance to the
youth of to-day. All around us we
see misfits. square pegs in round
holes.-men and women doing their
work poorly. and making, If not mis-
cradle failures. at least succeeding
but indifferently.
The boy-the girl-about to start
out in life, viewing these warnings.
should remember that not all of this
want of success is due to a mistaken
choice of vocation In life.
'"The fault. dear Brutus, is not in our
| stars
But in ourselves that we are under
lings.'
1t is the person and not the posi-
tion which is lacking. He who is
unfaithful in small things. is unlikely
to be worthy of larger trust. Not
to uncongenial work may these fail
ures be traced. but to the inherent
qualities of the individuals themsel-
yes. Among these are: lack of per-
severance. unfaithfulness, a tendency
to slur over work instead of doing II
thoroughly; and more common than
all shirking ponsibility-doing the
least possible amount of work for the
greatest amount of pay
Slipshod methods, incompetency,
and unreliability will never bring last
ing success. Everything has its
price If you give counterfeit or
cheap coin, you cannot expect a
staple article in return. You may
cheat the world out of soft snap
for awhile, but sooner or later the
reckoning will come, when pay you
must.
We may not all be able to do what
we would, since we are limited to
greater or less degree, by circum-
stances; but we can do what comes
to our hand to the best of our ability.
That old rule is as good today as
when first given to the world. What
soever thy hand findeth to do. do it
with all thy might"-and keep on do
ing it.
One whose life is keyed to such
note as that will succeed in spite of
everything. Nor will it matter
much what that persons attempts.
For while there will be some things he
will necessarily do better than 9TH
ers out of everything he undertakes
he will wrest a measure OF success.
What is more no person. place. or
thing will be able to prevent 1t.
This brings us back to the aues-
ton of responsibility. In Justice 1t
should be stated that failure is not
ALWAYS due to Incidence, There are
of course other causes but the
scope of this article will not admit
of a discussion. other than along gen
eral lines. One other however. Is so
common as to demand attention.
Briefly speaking it is a combination
of fear and distrustfulness of self
This is deadly in its results since its
victims are hurried to their graves
by millions yearly. 1t is worry. not
work that kills.
Daily, we see men and women. cap
able and worthy but bowed down
under the cares and tasks which