The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1915-01-28
:. SALMAGUNDI :.
BIZ Uncle Goshdingit 1858

what we preach. This is critical
dart that hits US where we keenly
feel it. But let us remind our in
mate critics that while the question
is fair one, we take refuge be-
hind the old moss-grown reply: fol
low rot our practice, but take the
advice we give as it agrees with
your present moral requirements.
Don't always expect preaching and
practice to 90 hand in hand. Be-
cause one fails in the practice of
ones preachments, it does not al
ways follow that there isn't just a
kernel of wholesome counsel and
truth in our well-meant sermoniz-
ings that will not precisely fit your
moral need. After quenching your
thirst at a cold, clear spring of
water, you care little about its
source if it has relieved your i'm
mediate need. The same attitude.
should be granted to preachment.
If you have found a CLEAN of cheer;
ray of hope that has given you
bit more courage; a flash of coun-
sci that has directed you to good
purpose, be grateful for it's benefit to
YOU. and care not about the source.
A man recently discovered a duck
lying on the shore of pond that
had turned into good substitute
for soap. The explanation given
for this phenomena is, that owing
to the SUMS heat and the alkalo:d
nature and moisture of the soil, it
was converted into soap. This is
surprising fact. but not near so
wonderful would he the transfor-
nation of duck lying in pot of
boiling and sailed water into soup.
The man that turns smiling face
toward adverse circumstances, who
despairs not when things 60 wrong,
and in spite of tribulations, big and
little, still grins at fate, has achiev-
ed self-mastery. Fate can not
force a scowl intense enuf to shake
his optimism. He never loses hope,
discourages. or parades his woes.
He is the fellow that rises above the
mediocre. His shield of optimism
is impregnable, to all the frowns
that destiny directs at him. His
strength lies in his attitude of come
on-you can't-scare- me toward every
obstacle that gives him another OPP
portunity to conquer with smile.
Some folks always stand around
in this mortal vale of ours with the
same Joyous aplomb of the gaudy
pole our commercial instinct sets
before a arber-shop, for the pur-
pose of attracting the attention of
Opportunity. They never think of
stirring their clogged energies into
a semblance of motion and make a
show to meet opportunity half way.
They expect Opportunity to reach
down a glad hand to yank them to
the attitudes of success. With the
same useless confidence and cheer
some folk put into pink circus-lem-
onade. they hope Opportunity will
single them out because of their
doubtful virtues in the form Of the
aforesaid barber-pole. But Oppor-
tunity isn't going to be hood
winked by any such gaudy mac
ton. Opportunity loves to be hunt
ed, striven after and appreciated as
worthy of some chase. No POM
pous laggard that has the wheezy
energy of fat poodle can hope to
receive the favors of Opportunity
in the manner described in the for
going. Opportunity favors those
most that hustle after it most. So
don't be barber-p pole, but hustle
out after Opportunity when you 60
out from among US, and you'll not
want for the things worth having,
in your future.
The art of forgetting is of as
much real worth as the art of re-
Numbering, when we practice for
getting the things it does no good
to remember. We can, if we will,
cast regretful glances backward to
a picture of the past, it were better
to forget. But before you is an 9TH
er picture, far more cheering that
should lure you into the habit of
forgetting the picture behind you.
The picture before s;mbolizes hope,
while the one behind you is the pic
ture your sins have marred with
ugly masses of color. Forget it.
Forget also the little irritations you