The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1902-10-23
looking forward.
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M;i;iji Ma';i

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The first object of this search should
be work.
Many of us can trace the cause of
failure to idleness; and herein, 1 be-
lieve, lies the trouble with ex-prisoners
who are arrested seventeen times in
three months for absolutely nothing"
1t these men told the whole truth we
would probably find that they were
idle and would also hear a story that
warranted action on the part of the
authorities. The world knows no
sympathy, but is sternly just; and if
the ex-prisoner hopes to be successful,
he must do as other men-he must
work. Success is placed before every
one with the proviso that if we want
it we must work for it. In other
words, it is put to us on sound prin-
ciple of finance; we must pay in ad-
vance, just as the man who desires
physical strength must first resist temp
tatlons that weaken the body, or he
who wishes to be called hero must
first do something heoric.
To this end we should have conf
dence in our own ability. 1t has been
we'll said that the men and women
who are successful in worldly way are
those who have confidence in them
selves. Nothing is impossible to those
that believe, tho we often fail to realize
it through lack of faith. The world is
sure to step on a man who does not be-
| lleve in himself. Every man carries with
him his success or failure and which
ever he becomes is the result of his
own work and is not dependent upon
outside conditions. The only power
we need is the power for work and the
grit, persistence and common sense to
stay by it until it is done and well
done.
Nor should we forget in our search
to always have an eye to knowledge
1t is something we should acquire
wherever and whenever we can. Edu-
cation is valuable in any calling and
indispensable to success in many; and
while it may not be positive remedy
against crime and degradation, it is an
important factor in the making of
good citizens, besides promoting mo-
rality, economy and thrift. All crime
and degradation are not the result of
ignorance, but they certainly decrease
as education increases.
Education is easily obtained in these
days and there is no excuse for any
one remaining illiterate. In this insti-
tuition we have an evening school
which the authorities point to with
considerable pride-and justly, too,-
yet there are probably men here who
are in need of little practical knowl-
edge, but will not grasp this oppor-
tunity to learn. These men are
devoid of hope, lacking in the power of
imagination, are without ambition and
in their hearts realize that they do not
desire to be any better than they are
They will not believe as Ruskin says,
Education is leading human souls to
what is best and getting what is best
| out of them."
Neither poverty, difficulties nor fail
ure should be an obstacle to the realiz-
alton of our hopes. Poverty, in way,
is blessing, inasmuch as it is an in
centive to work, and good work is al
ways crowned with results. A life of
poverty may be a serious business, but
it is not drawback to success. As
for difficulty, what is it? Merely some-
thing which tells us of the amount of
energy necessary to accomplish our
aim, notice of the necessity for exer-
tion, scarecrow to the lazy, a stimulus
to men. As to failure, there is no such
thing except to the man who SO wills
it. What often looks like failure, may
not be so. Out of it we might reap
such riches of character as patience,
diligence and perseverance. The only
failure we should fear is failure of
spirit and heart in life, which, even
with all its misfortune and misery, is
not a burden. but has always been
worth living and is vastly more glori-
Gus in this age than ever before in the