The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1908-05-15


And it. When I read, and other
wise, learn, about the wonderful
achievements of persons who have
been deprived of the use of some of
the senses, or of other parts of the
body that are considered necessary
in order to make a success, it ap
pears to ne that there is little ez-
cuse for those who fail to achieve
or ut least to make way for them
selves. There are, however, ones
who are mentally incapacitated AM
incapable, that should be exemp
from criticism. 1t is the mind tina
moves the man in any case, and +
he finds way out, if he makes his
way it must be through this wonder
full agency, the mind, whether h,
uses his hands to write or to hoe, 0
whether he be helpless and direct
other hands how and what to do.
In many cases it has taken obs
tacles and difficulties 10 bring out
latent powers that lie hidden, dor
mant and undiscovered. Elever
years ago an actor upon the stage
was suddenly stricken helpless with
spinal trouble, brought about by't
Stage fall which was palt in the
play he was acting, but proved to
be too real. He went to hospital
in Brooklyn, where he remained
nine months, but without improve
ment. His money was all spen'
and he had no where to go. The
doctors told him they could do
nothing more for him and he would
have to 60 to a public hospital, but
he begged them to let him stay one
week more and he would himself
earn money to pay them. With an
incredulous smile they consented
He had never written line for
publication but, hesays, 81 thought
and prayed and at last the inspira-
tion came to me to write a song
He wrote the song and sent it to
May Irwin. He had to borrow pen,
INK aud stamp to do it, but he was
rewarded by receiving a check for
twenty dollars. Ne wrote another
lyric and sent it to Weber and Fields
and they sent him another twenty
dollars. This was the beginning Of
a useful and successful life. 1t had
not been by any means smooth
sailing; his strength gave out under
the strain but he never gave up and
after six years of trials and untiring
effort he was able to move into a
little home of his own. He had not
seen the outside world in all this
time. One may be able to find the
secret of his finding a way out in h.,
own words:
al never gave up hope. worked
That's the thing to do-work!
Don't sit around and dream ano
say, l'll do it tomorrow when l feel
more like lt'-get busy, grab hold OF
it, butt right in. l have no fool
ideas about the work do, you un-
derstand-I don't write for the
highbrows-but l get at the people.
They write me letters right out of
their hearts-ah, that's what makes
life worth whilel To work, to be
able to help the folks not as well
fixed as you, to be independent
ah, It's fine to be alive!"-Kansas
Farmer.
This wonderful man is Charles
Noel Douglas of Brooklyn, N. Y.
H is now editor OF two publications
and ass ciate editor of three others.
Through these he reaches six mill
ions of people. He has published
a book of poems and number Of
popular songs. He has compiled
two volumes of quotations entitled
"Forty Thousand Sublime and Bea,
tiful Thoughts, which are taxa,
from the writer's of the world. Wnel
he finished this work he collapsed
He does not do all the work himself,
but keeps others busy. His nurse,
who is also his stenographer, and
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