The Washington herald., 1915-01-19
BEGINNING AGAIN.
BY oRIsoN SWEET MARDEN

I'm pretty well burned out just now
hoys, but I'll start all over tomorrow.
I'll 90 right to work to build the plant
over again This is just a temporary set
back; don't forget that
There was a grandeur in the courage
that nerved and sustained Thomas A
Edison as he watched the hungry flames
lick up his 100000 plant at West Orange,
n. J., that is as far above mere physical
bravery as that of the martyr at the
stake is above the courage of the profess
sional pugilist.
The distinguishing trait of a great soul
is his abii:ty to get on his feet every time
he falls.
1t is characteristic OF such an one not
to be cast down, mortified or defeated, no
matter how great the calamity, how ap-
palling the loss that has overtaken him.
He stands erect and faces the foe under
the fercest fire.
Mr.. Edison was cheerful; he even
smiled when he assured newspaper re-
porters who questioned him that he
would only wait until the flames were
Quenched to begin all over again, ana
calmly quoted these lines from kipling' s
famous poem, IT.
II Vol can make one heap Of all your winnings
And risk it all turn Of pitch and toss
And lose and start again at your beg1nnings'
And never breathe a word about your loss
Yours is the earth and everything that's IN It
And-which s mOre-yUu'u be a man, my son.
There is no doubt that courage has
formed at least half the ability Of every
successful man. 1t has enabled even
mediocre talent to perform marvellous
feats. The whole history of achievement
shows that it has overcome. that it mas
Locn more than a match for great calami-
IA dirasf nnNprtE- fO- inVp I'D
ism, for physica: defects and bandicaps,
| for all sorts Of obstacles and misfOrtunes.
Including as it does, the grit that
makes one stand firmly to his purpose, In
| spite of all disbursements, it is the
very quintessence of character. 1t is the
bravest soldier in life's great army. When
| all of the others have shown the white
| feSther, have turned their backs on the
enemy. it has faced the shot and shell
| II has performed ali of the impossible
! things in the worlds history.
| Courage of itself is a tremendous con-
| structive force. To dare to think Oul
own thoughts, to dare to make our owl
program, to dare to live our own life II
| our own way: these are all terrific factor.
| carving away at our destiny. To dare Il
do is a mighty force which. if backed b!
a vigorous resolution and the grit o
high moral courage will perform miracles
i
| to accomplish and believe We can-this ,
itself is a great creative, shaping force
More people fail in life through not dar
ing to attempt the thing they believe the!
can do than from almost any other cause
One of the greatest handicaps in life
battle is COwardice, the temptation L
run away from enemies. to allow onesel
to he discouraged by fear doubt, TEN
porary failure, the obstacles that loon
ahead.
How many become discouraged an,
give up hope just before their ship come
in. have known people who had grow
tired of the struggle, who lacked grit L
hold on and committed suicide only a fey
days before news came that FORUM
had been left them from some unsuspect
ed source. or that the work of their lif
was about to be crowned with success.
| How many inventors have almost take
the last steps in devices that would hav
helped the world and relieved their ow'
stress of poverty, but gave up just befor
the light came.
Nine-tenths OF the people in the grea
, failure army would never have been ther
} but for the lack of sand, the courage tina
holds on in spite of all disappointment
and reverses.
. Whatever else successful character
J may lack, whatever weakness they pos
sess, they invariably have staying power
: No matter how brilliant or daring yo
may be, IL you lack the courage that
founded on stability. fixity Of purpose
= you will not succeed. But II you hav
that, the sort of divine courage tha
makes an Edison begin again at sixty
seven. no temporary failure, no setback
| no obstacle can keep you from your goa
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