The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-03-30
IN SPITE OF CIRCUMSTANCES.

We succeed just as often in spite of cir
cumstances as we do because of them. The
latter condition, inferring of of course that
the circumstances are in our favor, is en7
tirely natural and only to be expected and
accordingly we do not feel as though We
are justified in taking to ourselves all the
credit for any success we may achieve.
When We succeed, however, in spite OF
circumstances; or in other words, when We
rise superior to conditions then it is that
we show the real fibre Of our natures and
deserve all the credit that can be accorded
US. However,, if man has it in him to sue
coed he will do so notwithstanding unfa
vorabe conditions. The ability to achieve
success is just as much gift as the ability
to paint or write, or to do anything we'll
that lies especially in our power. It's just
as natural for some of US to succeed as it
is for others to fail, and all conditions for
or against our success are only means to
an end. The man who intens to succeed
realizes that he must rise far above many
of the circumstances of his life and the
secret of doing this is part OF himself
and is never readily acquired. Some of
the most distinguished men Of the past
men who have left the deepest impress upon
history's pages, fought and wrought in
conditions that were far from conducive to
their success; yet because they heard the
call of an unknown voice summoning them
to effort, and because they felt the thrill Of
faith in themselves which could not be
questioned they dared and won. They
found way for themselves out of the diff
culties of their positions, and ignoring the
discouraging influences that surrounded
them they yielded themselves to the sway
of the genius that was theirs. Shakes
peare's mind wandered in far countries
through realms of kings and princes while
his body occupied a humble abode in Eng
land; and Goldsmith, we are told, suffered
many physical privations while writing his
fame securely in the hearts Of men.
There are few of US who can expect to
achieve anything like the success that has
immortalized these great men and Others
of older days but there is no telling what
success is in store for many persons who
as yet have done little or nothing to de-
monstrate their winning powers. We can
at best, however, only hope to win the sue
cess which we crave, and whether that sue
cess shall be lasting or whether it shall
wither in our hands only time can tell. Il
may be that many Of US have believed that
success lay within our grasp time and time
again and that but for some unfortunate
circumstance, or chain of circumstances
results would have verified our belief. The
fact, however, that we we're not able te
grapple with these circumstances and over.
power them shows that we allowed them tt
master us. A man must be able to master
conditions, otherwise they will ma ter him
Of bo rh ouoooolc ponc fret Ia n
to master himself before he can even ex.
pect to command attention. We forget thai
fact, generally speaking, and look for re-
suits which we have no right to expect
Self-mastery however, is subject toe
wide for present discussion and assuming
that we acquire the art by studious ano
earnest effort we can only then hope to
succeed in mastering the conditions tina,
govern our immediate lives. Understand
ing these conditions is the first step toward