The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-09-30
THE TEST OF RESPONSIBILITY.

Events prove in many ways that respon-
sibiity is the greatest character builder.
Experience, of course, offers exceptional
possibilities for The development OF charac-
ter because of its varied opportunities, but
the fact that these opportunities are not
always used to the best advantage retards
the fullest natural development. Respon-
sibility, however, forces its obligations and
has small regard for individual preferences.
1t is because of this latter reason that II
Strengthens and develops the best that is in
US. Were we to consult our own wishes 1t
is only natural to suppose that we would
choose the easiest way of doing things, the
line Of lest resistance, as it were, in all re-
lations of life. We would choose for our
selves JOY and peace and prosperity and
would leave for others all sorrow and strife
ane poverty. Without intending it we
would develop into self-centred and selfish
beings and our characters would become
warped and twisted out of all recognition
to the Great Model after whom We are all
patterned. The grip of responsibility is
often relentless, but it touches slumbering
depths and galvanizes hidden forces into
life, and its effects are we'll worth its hard
discipline. We never know what we can
do until we have made the attempt and
while there are many persons who accom-
plish little simply because they lack conf
dence in themselves and prefer not to make
the effort for fear of failure, there are others
who because of some enforced obligation
take up work which they had avoided and
perform it with high success. The sense
of responsibility steadies the nerves and
brings strength and confidence of its own
which rob the responsibility Of acme of its
burdens and increase a PERSONS faith in
himself. The man who has no real respon-
sbilities, who is not conscious of high
and sufficient reason for doing his best,
who lacks a lofty purpose, is seldom man
of great moral strength. He may command
the esteem of those with whom he associ-
ates and may lead an exemplary life, but
he is seldom regarded as an especially
strong or dependable person. His freedom
from responsibility gives him only super
fetal strength that cannot stand the test
of experience and that does not enable him
to discharge the weightier duties which
come to him from time to time.
The test OF charactes is made at all times
and comes occasionally when we do not
feel equal to its demands. Yet the man
who has felt responsibility and who knows
something of its exactions need have no
fear but that he will measure up fully to the
test Ii is not to be expected that we shall
succeed in all our undertakings. All that
we can do is to try and if we succeed or if
we fail at least we have the comfort of
knowing that we were not afraid to take
the risk. If We do not accept the oppor
tunities that come to us simply because we
are afraid of failing we display weakness
not flattering to our sincerity of purpose
and are unable to know whether or not we
could have succeeded. Acceptance of our
opportunities often entails the acceptance
of heavy responsibilities and for that rea-
son we fear them and even refuse to take
advantage of them. The responsibilities
that are actually forced upon US, however,
without warning and often without prepar-
alton On our part are those that really
sound the true depths of our natures and
test our strength of character. We may
make miserable failures of our attempts to
meet such responsibilities in worthy man
ner, but we can do nothing worse than fail
and in such conditions failure is no dis
grace. The failure to measure up to our
obligations after earnest effort on our part
to do so really develops strength that We
did not know We possessed and sometimes
even upon the heels of failure we fee
strangely encouraged to try again and in
the second venture to profit by the mistakes
of the first. In these circumstances victory