The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1915-01-14

plan to carry through big publici-
ty campaign for him throughout the
eastern states. OF course, bis ven
ture was big success. Then, one
day when Jimmy was about ready
to fit, one of his clients hove on the
scene and proceeded to view his
newly acquired property. After
some considerable trouble and the
friendly assistance of a few of the
natives, he was finally able to locate
the spot where they should have
been but. sad to relate, there were
about twenty fathoms of salty brine
between where he sat in a boat and
his prize lot below. So in other
words, Jimmy had plotted and sold
goodly portion of the bay. Of
course the gentleman from the east
was stung, aud straightway pro-
ceeded in the usual manner to get
satisfaction; and | presume he thot
he had evened the score when Jim
was sentenced to five years in
prison.
Jimmy free man, and No. O56-
"a, a convict" although outwardly
the same person, were very differ
ent inwardly. For while Jim had
been either wasting his time or
fraudulentiy securing money, he
had never been looking to the fu-
ture or condoling his past. No.
05624, on the other hand, made
study of his past failings and began
to lay foundation for his future
success. The first thing he under
took to accomplish was to become
his own master; for he knew be had
plenty of sand if he could once get
his inner-self under control. Now,
although in prison, where every
minute of his time as you might put
it, was under the direction of the
institutions officials, he yet was able
to discover many ways in which to
begin his trial of self-mastery. He
started first by overcoming various
habits, practices that were injuri-
Gus either to his health or would be
temptation for him to make an ex-
cuse to get away from the right, if
narrow road. Then he made prac.
tice of being truthful, honest, indus
trious and courteous; and although
he slipped quite often at first, he
never gave up, and thus had good
control of himself when his release
came.
However, before that time came,
he made a serious study of his
qualifications for success or failure
in the different occupations that he
was capable of filling, and decided
to again enter the service of some
railroad, if an opening should pre-
sent itself. With this view in mind,
he got in communication with the
railroad where he had formerly
been employed, and secured po-
sition through his former chief.
Although it is only few years
since Jimmy D. began his new
lease of life, today he is well up the
ladder on his climb, and he is not
alone making a success in business,
but also in life. He has a lovely
home, (if modest) a loving wife and
two dear little children to brighten
and cheer him when he gets home
at night.
Now Brothers of the Silent City,
l have an idea that if you and l
were to practice little self-mastery
while we are here, and settle our
mind on making a success at any
one occupation we may select as our
future work, that when our time of
release comes, whether through pa
role or in the natural run of events,
we Will find it not only of great as
sistance, but quite probably a solu-
ton of the problem. That every
man being released from such an in
stitution as this. has to face on re-
gaming his freedom, and either live
down his past and prove his man
hood to very unsmy phetic public.
or find himself once more within
these familiar walls, or some SINH
lar place elsewhere. Therefore, let
us take stock of our various vices,
faults and failures, and see if we
can't contrive before the end of this
glad new year with Gods help, by
which all things are possible, to be
able to conquer and control, few
at least of them, so that when we
once again enjoy our freedom we
will be able to exclaim, not only
with our tongues but in our hearts,
that glorious refrain, l Am My
Own Master" And be able to
prove it by our future success in
life; thereby not only gaining our
| oun olfroanact and onioumopt. for