The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1904-12-22

And 20 my career began. 1t was
hard, cruelty hard. with snags and
tumbles unnnmbered during that first
year. But it could be only a little
while. I though. before some brilliant
future would open up to me. worked
/ hard, so hard that sometimes there
came tears Of bitterness that blurred
the magnlfylng glasses for a moment.
II was work so distasteful. so unlike
my dreams had pictured. But then
my thoughts reverted to the biogra-
pixies. All great people had been so
hampered. took comfort, resorted to
the Il will' process; / turned my
thoughts successward and redoubled
my energies. With perhaps a small
feeling OF pride in the self sacrifice.
gave up my friends and frlvolities
and stuck TO my work.
TO be sure. all my efforts were not
without their reward. The monthly
stipend grew somewhat stouter, re-
sponsibilities were added 10 me, and
occasional compliments began TO drift
my way from the editors desk. My
position was changed until. after three
years. began in a tiny way 10 be
somebody. Kind friends. sweet
friends" began 10 meet me with pleas
ant words on my wonderful success"
and dear Old ladies' congratulated my
mother on her daughters brilliant
career until her head was quite
turned. / admit I felt at times a bit
puhfed up with Importance. but in the
noon glare Of my consciousness l had
to hide q smile at the absurdiiy OF it
oll for knew in my dream-filled
heart that this they called success was
not even 4 faint shadowing Of what
had determined on. tried 10 write
now and then things that my best
fancy dictated. anu though there were
words Of praise from a scattered few,
knew that the callous editor read
them not at all. or. II he did, probably
commented, pretty good rot, guess.
II anybody likes that kind Of stuf.'
Tour years. five years have gone and
the horizon is still far far away and a
little cloudy; the brilliant future, it
seems, IS under lock and Fate appears
to have mislald the key. stop a bit
and look about me. I have never
loosened my grasp for n moment on the
dream Of success, indeed have fed 1t
fatter all the time and have worked
toward it always; but so far as re-
suits 90, 1 seem just as many leagues
away from that future. I have writ
ten a dozen or more things that
thought really good. quite worthy TO
go 10 the magazines as fOre-runners
OF what is 10 come from my pen in
the day OF my greatness. The dozen
or more, somewhat soilel and travel
worn, are still in my desk, having
shown no disposition to stay long
away from me.
! can think Of nothing the subjects
Of biographies could possibly have
done that I have rot done And now,
taking a pause 10 look about me, l sit
right down in the middle Of the road
the same that l have been travelling
at such a furious pace. seeming 10
get nowhere IN partlculaT-and ponder
a little Could they have been wrong,
all those Biographies or is it that
am all wrong? With such perfect
they told the same story,
only the names and dates varying,
Now what am l to do. poor, misled
worker that l am? Having heretofore
walked always with my nose down to
the rules Of success carefully laid out
in the books, think in future 1 shall
throw biographies 70 the winds and
begin living out a new, strange
biography all my own. shall work as
l wish, unfettered. unguided by others
experience. and though, and probably,
the little tin god Success may still
turn up his little tin nose at me. l
shall have my Joy and my freedom.
Biographies Of the great ones may Sc
hang.-Nadonal Magazine.