Newport daily independent., 1903-04-17
GRIP AND HOLD ON.
IndomitabIe Will and InffeXible FuF7 pose Applied to Right Ends
 Guarantee Success.

We have somewhere read a quaint proverb that says: Grip Is a good dog. but Hold On is better" Many life. says Philadelphia Young Peo- pie, is frittered away, and many good chance for success is ruined be- cause the grip has been too light and the hold loosened possibly at the very turning point of victory. It Is well to be careful that the object IS worthy of the effort and practical be. It is well to measure the difficulties in the way, to test the strength Of the enemy:" but when that is done and a good grip secured, it is better to hold on. though dangers threaten and diff fculties multiply. The promises are to him that overcometh," not to him who fails. The crown is for the victor, and not for the vanquished, and the idea of victory includes that of strug- gle. an intensity of effort that knows no thought of defeat, and will never give up while there is even "a forlorn hope," out of which victory can be wrought.
 Temporary defeat and apparent fail ure may prove to be blessings ill dis guise. without which any after sue cess would be impossible. Through them we shall see certain things in a new light; w nall learn lessons only gained in the sometimes bitter school of experience; we shall be taught to estimate our strength more correctly; we shall develop capacities that are de- lightfully new to us; we shall rise to a higher and broader plane; we shall turn that which at first sight is evil into great personal good.
 Grip, without Hold On, is always making mistakes Like the dog that sees his reflection in the water and drops the toothsome bone he holds in trying to grasp it's shadow, Grip is per petualIy striving for the unattainable. Hold On, with Grip, makes fewer points, but maintains them until the desired result is attained, and reaps the full harvest as a reward. The Apostle Paul furnishes a good illus tration. His grasp of Divine truth in its fullness did not come early, but when it came it was with tremendous energy, and through long and painful years he held on even unto the very end of life. Prosecuted? Yes, driven from city to city, scourged, yillihed, hated, stoned, thrice left for dead by his enemies! Some might call that defeat, but his strong soul knew no such word! Without support? Yes, at times it seemed impossible to move the people with the great saving truths of the Gospel; his own brethren. even, turning against him; but with sublime indifference to all obstacles he moved right on, determined that no power of Satan or of the world should turn him from his purpose Hear his words, which have rung grandly through the ages, and are as full of vital power to- day as when first uttered: We are troubled on every side, yet not dis tresseG; we are perpleXed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; east down, but not destroyed"
 Let the young man and the young woman who read this remember that such an example is before them, and that the same indomitable will and in- flexible purpose applied to any object in life will be sure to win, in the long run. It is no less true in secular than in religious life, and proves the cor rectness of the homely but true ad- vice: Be sure you're right, then go ,head,"