El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-05-22
Quits Public Bar to Win Fame
Patrick Henry Needed Only OPP
portunfty; WebsEer's Failure and
Marvellous Success as a
Speaker.
By Madison c. Peters

- ATRICK HENRY. the orator OF the
revolution. cane from behind the
4 bar. having sold whisky IN his
father-in-law's hotel He was lazy and
untidy. But his opportunity came 10
him at q in the Parsons cause. in
which he was retained to plead the
peoples case against Ministerial
Taxation" Never was there such an
arraignment OF the pillars OF the
His hour had struck His speech com
menced the revolution in Virginia he
discovered himself He found ne was
a born orator. he seized what was
thought a common occasion and made
IL great 1t was his first good chance
since he had got on the right track
He beSeleged the chance and conc ueleu
the opportunity. Having found his true
bent as a speaker, he now became
conscientious student
Daniel Webster's Failure
Daniel Websters first ATTEMPT IN
speaking at Exeter academy was a
failure He broI-e down Completely ana
burst into tears He acquired such an
antipathy to public speaking that he
never tried again while at the academy,
but it is only Just TO say that his failure
was due mainly TO the fact that the
boys were constantly making fun Of
the awkward baclzwoods lad because Of
his homespun clothes and rustic man
ners-
This country lad whom the city boys
had made the butt OF ridicule and con
cealed under his rough exterior talents
that later moved the nation and daz-
zled the world
Daniel Webster was a marvel OF ply
steal and intellectual endowment but
his greatest gift was his prodigious ca
paclty Tor hard work He furnishes one
OF the most striking Illustrations Of the
truth that the greatest genius. like the
richest soil. yields it choicest fruits only
TO the most careful tillage.
Henry Clay Diffldent.
Henry Clay was a diffident boy. In
his first year in Lexington, Kentucky.
a young law student Of 20 he Joined a
debating society. The discussion being
apparently ended the chairman was
about TO put the question according
TO custom. TO decide which side OF the
proposition had been best maintained.
Clay whispered 10 a friend that the
subject did not seem 10 him 70 have
been exhausted and was promptly
called upon TO speak He arose. and in a
hesitatinEs hating voice began, Gen
tlemen Of the jury" Everybody laughed.
claimed. Gentlemen OF the jury" and
then sat down
Encouraged by the pOliteness q the
chairman Clay tried again Gathering
courage. he launched forth into IN eIo-
Quent speech that carried away his
hearers with enthuiasm- His reputation
as an orator was made, and so effect
years after his humiliating failure in
that debating society he had won. at
twenty-nine, a seat in the United States
senate
Reeeher's Success.
Henry Ward Beecher. the most bril-
liant pulpit orator America has ever
produced. was a dull boy with a weak
memory As a child he disliked all kinds
OF study.
Though in manhood he had a fine
physique, ne was boy i'll favored IN
FORM and feature and had a half-stut-
ter1ng way Of speaking.
He had made up his mind TO become
sailor, but his father, the great LYMAN
Beecher, in spite OF the boys duIIness
Kept him at school. At Il ne determined
20 De OF service 20 society and began
70 study with greater zeal. entering
Amherst college. at II from which ne
graduated without distinction
His first church in Indiana had l9
members and his salary was s200 a year.
his teachers at Lane thought that the
sIna1l church IN the obscure town lust
ABOUT suited TO Henry's talents
But Beecher soon made a place for
himself He did not stand around for
somebody To give his q lift he lifted
nlmsel1- He did not wait for a call 10
biz church with big salary; ne knew
that a fine church and great salary
could not make a great man It was
work that he wanted and the oDpor-
tunity that he sought He felt that II
there was ANYTHING In him q small
place vel filled would bring IL out
Grasp the Opportunity
God gives a man enough If he gfres
him opportunity A wise man viii make
more opportunities than he finds
Great opportunities are the wise i'm
provement OF small ones.
II Beecher had sighted his work AT
LaWrenceb burg Indiana. and worried
about his salary and earned no more
than he was paid for. he might have
died an obscure country person
What other men have done. YOU nav
DO Carlyle says He can who thinks
he can Emerson says. Nobody can
cheat YOU out OF ultimate success but
yourself"