Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-06-20
BECAUSE THEY ARE CUTTERS.
Reason Why So Many Bright Boys
Fail.

Reason Why So Many Bright 6oys
Fail.
What is the matter with the youths
OF toduy? They are bright; they arc
active; they can do things; thy know
things: they are abreast Of the times.
But only one In ten makes success
Take the boys of Centralia. Line
them up before our desk this Saturday
night, 100 strong between the ages OF
16 and 26. All, they are fine appear
ing lot Of youngsters. Every one OF
them strong limbed, robust, well
dressed, manly looking! Most Of ther'
need an old fashioned hair cut; some
of their hands are too soft; here and
there a vile cigarette smell clings to a
human form; possible half dozen
wear the hang dog look Of a sin
hardened soul; dissipation mars the
beauty of q few faces-but taken as
whole you will not find 100 better
clad, brighter, more promising young
men anywhere. We know these boys
like a book. There Is scarcely one OF
them but what has had or does have,
more than an even chance to win In
the battle of life. Schools, friends,
an opportunity to work, chance TO
make a start-these are the common
legacies Of all. And yet out OF the
100 splendid specimens Of brain and
Drawn that pass in review before US
this Saturday night 80 will go down
in the gloom of defeat and only 10
will be crowned with the apple bios
SONS of success.
Why is 1t that only In 10 succeeds?
Why, in this dawning hour of the
twentieth century with its marvellous
privileges and wonderful opportunities.
do nine men out Of every ten fall?
What quantity do they leave out Of
the equation Of life that makes zero"
the answer Of the problem? 1t Is not
brains; 1t is not energy; 1t Is not cap
ability; 1t Is not want Of opportunity;
It is not environment. What Is 1t then?
Force, will power, determination, iron
In the blood and sand in the craw!
Ours Is a race of white livered quilt
ters. We won't stick. The old Spar
tan spirit of heroic determination Is
lacking. We need red blood and grit.
Take the boys of this town lined up
before us. Call the roll on the question
of application and note those who are
doing hard, persistent work. Not 1 In
| 10. These 100 boys. how we love them
all! How we wish they all would win
some merited degree Of success. But
alas, these boys care nothing for sue
cess. They want to dress we'll, to live
well, to have a good time, to smoke.
play pool and cards and make merry
while they are young. They are cul-
tivating costly habits; they are spend
ing all they get hold Of; they are SOW
ing to the wind. One Of these days
they will wake up and find the harvest
past. How do we know? The same
way you may know-open your eyes
and look around. The lesson Is print
ed in box car letters everywhere.
Every successful man you see Is
man Of force: every failure man OF
weak will and faltering purpose. 1t Is
hard doctrine we preach, but a true
one-a doctrine of privation. discipline,
frmness, drudgery in youth, but at
its end Is the golden crown Of success.
The lads who crafty every whim now
and drift with the tide Of pleasures In
youth will go down before the storm
of adversely when life's trials come on.
Only the hardy, resolute, self -disciplin-
ed can outlive the storms Of life and
succeed.-Centralia, Mo-, Courier.