Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-04
= slst e n c e T..
By F. o. CARTER.

foaming sea, the little Reliance started from her
snug boathouse on the Atlantic coast towards the
deadly Goodwin Sands, where a gallant ship was
being torn to pieces by the angry waves Fifty
lives, perhaps more, were at stake. IL required
faith and courage and effort and persistence 10
bring that boat alongside the doomed vessel, and
not one of these qualities was lacking in that noble
crew. who had labored for fifteen, maybe eighteen
hours until every soul was saved.
How often do men start thing and then leave
the task unfinished? How frequently the spontan'
eous and not the persistent effort leaves lives with
Weakness failure and ruin. 1t is very easy to be-
gin a thing. 1t is very hard to carry the same
thing to a conscientious finish.
Most all men who have been of true service to
the world found it hard work Who has not heard
of Demosthenes, he walked by the sounding sea,
or climbed rugged mountain day in and day
out, until he could speak and thrill the hearts OF
whole nation.
Glorious you say! Yes! But, remember that
there was time when he could not pronounce the
first letter of rhetoric (his own art) He started
in his undertaking. he continued, he persevered
until Brougham could say of him, "The first OF
orators! At the head of all the mighty masters OF
speech"
Tht first shot does not win the battle The
first blow of the pick does not remove the noun
tain-side. Neither does the first effort gain the
prize or attain perfection.
Most men have to make their destinies.
Very few find easy, clear pathway. This is
good thing. Let the young man by force of circum
stances be compelled to cut away his bridges Let
he must of necessity develop one of the most es-
sentia elements of sterling character.
Was it not Moody who was told times innumer
able to give up preaching? But how could he! He
one of these souls who had set his face to-
wards the goal and he must preach. He must
learn to face an audience. He must persuade men,
because the eternal destinies of thousands hung
upon his victory.
Milton had enough discouragements, sorrows
and Affections to have driven most men to des-
pair.
Blindness overlook him in the selfimposed task
of writing in behalf of his country. He was perse-
cuted and forced to live in obscurity. He was in
need of life's necessities Why could he not give
up the fight? Why! Because his heart throbbed
with passionate zeal, the nations need lay hard
upon him, and Gods voice calling him to duty.
Blindness poverty, encouragement, lack of appre-
citation on the part of his countrymen could not
stay his pen, and we have his immortal epic para
disc Lost"
Persistence can be cultivated. Nay, for sue
cesSful life it must be developed You cannot be
a Greek scholar in a day. You cannot master
mathematical astronomy in week. Your ideal
which can be realized in year is worthless. You
must have purpose which will take whole life
time to achieve. So the constant dripping of wa
ter changes wood into stone, as time and patience
transform the mulberry leaf into satin, the fal
tering one by ceaseless labor may become Verit-
able son OF God.
Remember, there is nothing eternal in trick
plays and fake movements The football team that
relies upon accidental chance plays rather than
upon the SteadfaSt effort of each individual player,
cannot have abiding success. Life has place Tor
every man. She has success for everyone. But
she demands her price. She has but few free
gifts. She has no place for the halter the doubter
or the respondent one.
He who at every turn gives up and forgets the
goal for which he started, must inevitably be
stranded among lite's shoals and shadows
Have purpose, Oh, man! Move heaven and
earth to reacn the crown Go through fire and
water. Stick at nothing and the laurels shall be