The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-07-20
oppoRFuNITY s 10 IAaaARp.

OPPORTUNITY 1s NO LAaaAHU.
There is gray-bearded maxim
honored on account of its venerable
age, which runs thus "Opportuni-
ty knocks once at each mans door,"
John J. ingalls, once went a.sonnet-
ing around this proverb, and some
say he wrote the finest sonnet ever
written by an American. am in
clined to think this is so; and if tits,
it proves for Us that truth is one thing
and poetry another.
The actual fact is that in this day
Opportunity not only knocks at your
door, but is playing an anvil chorus
on every mans door, and lays for the
owner around the corner with club.
The world is in sore need of men who
can do things. Indeed, cases can
easily be recalled by everyone where
Opportunity actually smashed in the
door and collared her candidate and
dragged him forth to success. These
cases are exceptional usually you
have to meet Opportunity half way.
But the only way you eau get away
from Opportunity is to lie down and
die. Opportunity does not trouble
dead men, nor dead ones who hatter
themselves that they are alive.
The reason more men do not hear
Opportunity when she knocks is be.
cause they themselves are knocking
at the time. Let no man repine on
account of lack of early advantages.
Rare-ripes run away from advantages
they can not digest them. "If I
had my say l would set all young
folks to work and send the old ones
to school," said Socrates, 42o B. c.
What Socrates meant was that after
you have battled bit with actual
life and begun to feel your need for
education, you are, for the first time,
ready to take advantage of your op-
portunities and learn.
Education is a matter of desire. An
education can not be impaired. It has
to be won and you win by working.
And this fact also holds: The
best educated men are those who get
their brain development out of their
daily work, or at the time they are
doing the work. Quitting work In
order to get an education was the idea
of monk who fed from the world
because he thought it was bad afal-
lacy we have happily outgrown. It
takes work to get an education 1t
takes work to use it and it takes work
to keep it.
The great blunder of the colleges
is that they have lifted men out of
life in order to educate them for life.
All educated college men know this
and acknowledge it.
In his last annual report President
Eliot of Harvard made strong ap-
peal to parents to get their children
into the practical world Of life as soon
as possible. and not exnect cnliane
Those who want to grow and
evolve should not give too much time
to the latest novel and daily paper.
Don't spread yourself out thin. Con-
centrate on few things-the very
best educated men do not know every
thing.
Choose what you will be and then
get at it. You'll win.
If you quit, it simply shows you
did not want an education you only
thought you did-you are not willing
to pay the price.
The other day In the Michigan
penitentiary at Jackson, I saw in a
convict's cell three architects de-
signs tackled on the wall, and on a
shelf were several books from a COR
respondence school. "Is 1t possible, !"
asked DR.. Pray, the prison doctor.
'1hat convict is taking correspon-
dence course in architecture I" "Not
only that" was the reply, "but a
good many of our men are studying
hard to better their mental condition.
This particular man has gotten be-
yound the amateur stage. You see
he has been working at his course
for three years. He draws plans for
us and is doing work for parties out
side." Then we hunted up the man
and found him in the marble shop.
He seemed pleased to know that I
had noticed his work. ''You see,
he said, 81 only work six hours
day for the state, and after that my
time is my own, and ! try TO improve
it; there are no bowling alleys, pool
rooms, nor saloons here-no place to
CO." And he smiled. tried to,
but couldn't-my eyes were filled
with tears. A convict getting
practical education, and so many Of
as who think we are free frittering
away our time.
If, in its anxiety to present Itself,
Opportunity will break into Jail,
surely those outside can not complain
of Opportunity's lack of persistence
in hunting out the ready and willing.
--E1be,t Hubbard.
LET TIE GIRLS Know.
What right has a girl tomarry and