Oxford eagle., 1905-01-05
'gET.IHERE' SPIRIT.
MIGHTY POWER OF ENTHUSIASM
AGAINST OBSTACLES IN THE
PATHWAY TO SUCCESS.
"Dead-in- Earnest Men-What Some
Of Them Have Accomplished
Talent OF Less Impor-
tance Than Zeal.
Nv orisnn swett Marden.


Bv orison swett Marden.
tFoundcr ans Editor 't success Masa.
,in. author cf "rusr .rs 20 the Front.
"Eisins m ne word % Architects Of
Fate. Etc)
HIJow is It. Mr Garrick," said a
n learned bishop To the famous
aeiar that you can by your acting. per-
suade people that a made-up story Is
rue while have difficulty in making
them believe the real tru'h?" Is it not,
my lord" was the reply. that you
preach the truth as if You did not believe
II. while act that which is not true as II
did believe it,
The enthusiasm Tor his art which
made David Carries the greatest actor
Of his time. is absolutely essential to
a!sh achievement in any field OF en-
deavor. You will search in vain, in all
the wide range Of history or biography
for any record Of haif-hearted or in
different worker who accomplished any
thing for himself OF for humanity. The
martyrs. the inventors. the artists. the
musicians. the poets. the great writer's.
the heroes. the pioneers Of civilization
the movers Of every great enterprise
those Of every race and cline who have
led the world upward from the dawn OF
history to the twentieth century-have
been enthusiasts, consecrated, dead-in-
earnest. people.
Enthusiasm Clears the Way.
Success is often due less to unusual tai
ent or ability than to enthusiasm. No
barrier. however formidable. no obsta-
Gle. however insurmcuniable It may
seem TO the timid or faint-hearted. can
bar the way to determined youth filled
with enthusiasm for high ideal.
Lincoln was consumed with a desire
for an education. He walked six miles
to borrow grammar, and after return
ing home with it studied its intricacies
by the light of pine knots lie worked
out problems in arithmetic on a wooden
shovel by the glow of log fire. He did
rot dream OF high office in those toll
some days and nights. when his love Of
learning urged him 10 keep a book in
the cracks Of the logs in the loft. where
he slept. So that he might have 1t al
hand at peep of day, bu, who shall say
that this early enthusiasm in pursuit
of knowledge did not lead to the white
house and make him the liberator OF q
race?
The world makes way for The man who
believes in his mission No matter what
objections may be raised or how dark
the outlook NAV be. he believes in his
power to transform into reality the
vision which he alone sees. Enthusiasm
makes him proof against every discour-
agement
Palissy's Long Struggle.
Palissy. to.ling in the face Of poverty
and failure 10 discover the secret of the
white enamel, was 50 intoxicated with
enthusiasm that men thought him a
fool. Gods fool he was with great hone
in his heart, for the realization of which
he gladly suffered the loss Of all things
II was only his burning zeal in the pnr-
suit of his ideal that kept him alive dur
ing the long years of toll and privation
that preceded his triumph Writing OF
this period, he said. himself: y was so
wasted in person that there was 70
form nor prominence of muscle on nv
arms or legs. also the said legs were
throughout of one size So that the gar
tiers with which tied my stockings were
at once. when walked. down upon my
heels. with the stockings. too I was
despised and mocked hy all
II was enthusiasm which enabled c.
rus w. Field. after 13 years of effort and
defeat. to lay the Atlantic cable. 1t was
enthusiasm. in spite Of carping critics.
that sped Stephenson's locomotive to its
triumphant goal. I; was enthusiasm
that sent Fulton's Polly" on its sue
eessful way up the Hudson. to the dis
may and CONSERVATION OF his croaking
detractcrs.
Nhe'her We turn our eyes TO the past
OF 10 the present. we find no great or
useful achievement which is not the re-
suit of this master passion. Whether II
be the ordering OF house or the law
Of a statesman for nation. the
Of business or the teach
ing OF a school. the painting of picture
or The perfecting of an invention. this
element must be present or
the result will be either total failure or
only half a success.
High Requirement. from All