The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-09-03
PERSISTENT ENDEAVOR.

T.
An able writer notes as the chief
characteristic of degenerates their
inability to be attentive. Their
brains apparently get tired and
their thoughts wander. Men who
are distinguished for their intelli-
gence, morality and skill of hand
are of course strongly contrasted
with degenerates, and one of their
characteristics is attention, the
ability to follow line of thought
or study to its conclusion. They
are men not easily discouraged
by failures, and the success which
generally crowns their efforts is
due to persistent endeavor. Those
who have given no thought to the
subject will be astonished by OBJ
serving what marvellous results
can be accomplished through per-
sistent practice. Patience and
persistent endeavor will enable
any one to become highly skilled
in any mechanical operation. 1t
may be true that for the arts some
special natural talent is required,
but if SO the talent is needed only
by those who aspire to very high
rank. The greater number of
successful artists, sculptors, au-
thors and musicians have in fact
no special gifts, but have made
up for this deficiency by high cul-
tivation of the mechanical means
of expression, and technical skill,
without genius, produces in the
long run as satisfactory results as
genius without technical skill.
The application of these thoughts
and observations to the course of
ambitious young men and women
ought to be obvious, but it will be
as well, perhaps, to make it per-
fectly plain. If it be true that
practice and persistent endeavor
will enable one of ordinary intel
ligence to attain such a high de-
gree of skill in some speciality as
to make him remarkable among
men, and if it be also true that
even in the arts technical skill
counts for as much as talent, then
every ambitious young man and
young woman should feel encour-
aged to persistent endeavors to
master the trade or art he or she
has determined to follow. There
will be many discouragements, of
course. 1t will seem at first to be
impossible to guide and control
the hand with sufficiency and pre-
cision to accomplish desired re-
suits, but we know by observation,
If not by experience, that the most
stubborn hand will yield to prac-
tice, and that persistent endeavor
will make any earnest boy or girl,
not merely a good mechanic in
some chosen field, but one of such
exceptional skill as to command
in the world of business,
There is no battle-ground in
this fight for him to occupy who
wants his vote to count for or
against protection, monopoly,
class legislation, sectionalism,
Federal despotism and extrava-
gance, says the Norfolk Virginia
Pilot. He who favors existing
conditions and would see them
extended should vote for the Re.
publicans. He who desires a gov
ernment pledged to equality of
light and against favoritism, to
restrainsts on corpo-
'atlons, to impartial punishment
If wrong doors, to constitutional
observance and economical adj
should range himself
N the side of Democracy. These
ire the great contending forces.
me OF which must Individually
'revall. There is no room between =.
hem except for the political que :
lila and bushWhacker