The Washington herald., 1915-10-08
THE TONIC OF SUCCESS.
By ORIsoN SWEET MARDEN.

Mrs. Estelle Lawton Lindsey, the
only councilwoman of the city Of Los
Angeles. by a unanimous vote of the
council was recently elected mayor of the
city pro tenn. during the absence OF
Mayor Sebastian and President of the
Council Martin Betousk at the San
: Francisco Exposition. Speaking of the
dignity bestowed on her. Mrs. Lind
sey said: The effect on me- personally
Is to make me exert myself to be
worthy of the honor shown me-"
| There is no more interesting phase
OF psychology than the influence of
success upon the human mind. 1t is a
tremendous tonic that stimulates us
: to the development of powers and re-
/ sources which, perhaps. we had not
hitherto dreamed we possessed. Every
time we win out we feel an added
sense of power. Each success in
creases our belief in ourselves and re-
news our courage, and courage is half
/ the battle.
Take. for example. the wonderful
change wrought in President Wilson
by his election to the Presidency of
the United States. After his retire
ment- from Princeton University. not
long before his election as governor
of New Jersey. Mr. Wilson was evil
IDENTIFY SO moved by the uncertainty of
the future. and perhaps SO doubtful
of his ability to provide adequately for
his family. that he applied to the
Carnegie Foundation for a professors
pension. His sudden. and largely ac-
cidental. elevation to the highest posi-
ton in the land has swept all such
fears and uncertainties forever out Of
his life. Confidence, firm assurance
in regard TO the future. a belief in his
continued success. have taken the
rf nf INT,
There is no doubt that Woodrow
Wilson is very much larger man to-
day in actual potency than he would
ever have been if he had not been
elected President. His continued ad
vances have drawn out possibilities
that might have remained dormant
but for the tonic of success. the stimu-
lus of a great motive. His election
to the presidency Of Princeton Cni-
versity enlarged the man. thrust great
responsibilities upon him. His cleo
ton to the governorship of New Jer-
sey gave him another enlargement
and called out further powers. But
his election to the Presidential chair
in the White House has made a con-
summatA call upon all his reserves.
and every atom of the man is meas
urinC up to his enormous responsible
tiles in this crucial hour in the worlds
history.
If every human being could he
aroused. walked up 10 his possibilities.
to the potencies that are latent within
him. and would do his best to utilize
them. 81 rapid would be the advance.
so marvellous the changes we should
not know this old world a the end Of
n single year.
Why DO we not all get that Won
derful tonic which induces the great
singer. the famous artist. the success
full actor the noted specialist, to the
incessant. everlasting practice of his
or her specially? Because most of us
are not willing to work hard enough
for the initial successes that stimulate
10 further endeavor: or we want to be
a bsolutely certain Of the end before
we begin.
While you are wasting your time. !
envying the empire achievements. en- /
vyinC the race masters, you are los |
ing an opportunity for your own ad- |
While you are wondering !;
what that mysterious power is which !
changes a mere operative into su- !
perintendent. foorwalker into |
an ordinary cook into a chef. !
a bell boy into hotel manager. a |
chorus girl into star. poor un- /
k nown lawyer into a Choate or an
Elihu Root, a reporter on a country ,
paper TO a prime minister. district
school teacher to A college president.
there are those with no more ability.
and no higher placed than you are
" no are actually making this trans
formation right before your eyes.
Many a man has been surprised at
he sudden unlocking of the door into
, new chamber of his possibilities in
he great within of himself at thirty. !
or even sixty years OF age. /
30 that his life was never again the
same because he looked out at the
world with a new vision.
Copyright 1881