The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-11-28
A Girl With the Right Idea.
By.ORIsON SWEET MARDEN.

rising young actress who began
her career a few years ago az a chorus
girl said recently: Il may never
achieve II, but my ambition is to be
prima donna in the metropolitan
opera Illus, Perhaps IL | work hard
enough some day may be. who
knows? But even II l fail. at least
will be striving to do something big.
and will have set high goal for my
self. and that is much better than
fiOunderinG along from season to sea-
son doing whatever offers"
Whether OF not this girl succeeds
in becoming famous prima donna her
life will be . success because she Is
earnestly and Professionally trying TO
do the biggest thing possible to her.
II every human being were doing
the biggest thing he or she is capable
of doing. our civilization would h"
revolutionizcd. and the world would
tie Il much happier and better place {"
live / IMAM { is today
Former President Taft says. There
is no hell worse than the COnt@mp la-
ton of never having end@avO'eh %
have made something of oneself
To look back practically upon
thrOwn-away life; To he conscious that
one has done nothing of value for
himself or society; TO realize that he
has wasted his time. squandered his
- y
work /. the great life program which
the eager boy planned Is indeed
sorry restrospect for any unhappy
mortal To feel that one has used
only just enough Of his ability to en-
able him to make a bare living. that
ne has missed the only chance hH
knows anything about for mski1g
good in the large sense. for making
a manly COZ. 20 humanity: to
be conscious that IL has never done
his best and TO feel the t0rments Of
the perpetual protest within him
against his horrible vast" Of tn" pre-
cious days Of half or nearly all Of
lifetime-this is certainly lamentahie.
Once you have taken the first step
toward its realization. II IS really
easier to cultivate a high purpose. to
make the most Of yourself than IL u
TO be q nobody. TIL, Very Consciousness
that YOU are DOING Your level best,
that you are trying with all Your
might to make real sucreSs "i
life. a fine contribution TO the race.
is 4 perpetual tonic. = stimulant which
gives infinite satisfaction ana maN'S
YOU harry. when YOU are trying 10
do the biggest thing possible to YOU
Won arc enlarged. improved. uplifted
by the mere effort to do. ON the other
hand. when you are dOinS only your
SECOND bcs. the fact that YOU arc
working along the line OF least resist
anc.,. that you are practically wasting
your mower not using your life as
sets IT, the best advantIg is a per
netuaI rebukc. The sting Of con-
science rohs. you of the happiness you
would have in bringing into play. in
using to the greatest possible advant-
age your finest abilities. your noblest
and highest powers. II you are not
doing the biggest thing you are capa-
bic of doing You are less OF man
less IF woman. and you know IL
You cannot have your own unqualified
reSpecS hen you are not using To the
utmost and making the most of the
gifts the Creator has given YOU.
Theer is no other satisfaction in life
like that which comes from the con-
seriousness of ones doing his level
est every day OF his life. living as
fine a life and following as true
purpose as is possible. Most of the
peopie who are discontinued. restless
and unhappy in the world arc 50
largely because of the rebuke which
they are getting from the great within
of themselves. the rebuke Of that some
thing inside OF them which always ap-
pIauds the right and condemns the
wrong.
Copyright I9l5l