The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-04-18
POSSIBILITIES OF YOUTH.


The pride OF life looms large among
the motives that determine aspira-
tons This is the golden season OF
opportunity. We should make much
Of It while it lasts. When old age
creeps on and our younthful yigor be
comes atrophied it IS too late to think
Of what We might have done.
II amounts 10 something to walk
down the street and have people
point you out as man who has ac-
complished some great mission,
whether It is 10 accumulate wealth
OF to carve a great name in the world
OF men and women.
The chosen youth gets what he goes
after. The chance is open to all.
The youth who thinks that he has
only to idly wait and fate will thrust
greatness upon him Is sadly mista-
ken. He must work out his own sal
yation The purse of Fortunatus may
smooth the way, but real work must
be done by the boy himself if he ex-
poets to be successful.
Most Of our great men have start
ed life with but little before them.
One of our presidents was a tailor
and his old-fashioned shop still stands
as monument to him; another was
"A carpenter, another chopped wood
for an existence. At the time none
OF them ever thought the day would
come when they would occupy the
presidential chair.
Fate sometimes makes it easier for
some than for others, but fate is
usually just in the distribution of her
gifts. s@
When each boy is born there Is a
special ability to do some one thing
better than another born in him. The
wise parent will seek to discover
what this inclination or talent is, and
then develop it.
Some have a natural gift for me
chanics others for mathematics, 9th
ers for commercial pursuits, others
for music, for art, for architecture.
The high school education is merely
preparatory. Some are satisfied to ac-
Quire this education and then follow
ordinary occupations without making
further search for success. If the
youth feels that he is destined to ac-
complish something definitely great,
he should apply himself to that end
and all should feel that there is a
reward ahead awaiting them.
The youth should be encouraged in
whatever purpose he has in view, pro-
yided, of course, that It is a worthy
purpose.
Too many fathers laugh discourag
ingly when their sons talk of what
they expect to be or expect to do.
They do not help in the right way,
feeling that the business which is
good for them is likewise good for
their sons as well.
Many a bright boy has been put to
work at some trade or occupation for
which he is entirely unsuited when
little help would have developed
his natural bent
Great men are made. They are no.
born to greatness. They come into
his world with the possibilities OF be
ing celebrated, in some walk of life,
but IL is only through personal appli-
cation that the goal is gained.
Take advantage OF youth while the
chance lasts. It can never be renew
ed The wonderful fountain Of per
petual youth is a myth. It has caused
the death Of more than one adventur.
cr who sought to find it. There IS
but one youth 70 every life and 1t is
TOGO brief II the opportunity is not
accepted in youth 1t can never be ac-
cepted at all. It Is something that
should be remembered by every
young man--Commercial Appeal.