The Washington herald., 1916-01-08
The Luck Zone.
by JOHN ID. BARRY

The believer in luck was talking TO me about
an acquaintance who was having successful ca
reer in politics at wouldn't surprise me if he
were to reach place of great distinction, in spite
| OF his not having great ability
What would the explanation bcf" said
Hes in the luck zone"
/! The reply made me curious. My questioning
brought out this answer: Some people Jget in
the luck zone early in life. Others get there in
middle life late in life, they get there
at ALL Some people get in for short time and
don't seem to be able to stay in. Others, like the
man we are speaking of when once they get in,
seem to be firmly planted there for good They
have one streak of luck after another. Roosevelt
used to be the ideal example of this kind in our
public life. But during the past few years luck
has turned against him and it looks now as if he
might never get into the luck again. But
these days. perhaps very soon we shall, find him
standing there with the people gathering around
him as they used to do.
Though was interested in these remarks, |
| did not wholly agree with the spirit behind them.
What | heard called luck seemed to me to be
associated with qualities not necessarily related to
luck ability to make the most of situation, con-
lhdence, energy, persistence, together with other
qualities belonging to character Roosevelt though
! he had undoubtedly been lucky at certain stages
| OF his brilliant career, had not by any means relied
on luck for his success. For example when he
was virtually forced to take the nomination for
Vice President, many people believed that his po
litcal career had been sde-traclrd and were
Iastounded when the death OF Mckinley, at the
hand of an assassin, made him President. But, if
that assassination had not taken place, even in the
Vice Presidency, Roosevelt would have made him
| self powerful figure. Besides, as President it
he had not possessed the qualities necessary to
meet so great an emergency, he never could have
won the confidence and support OF the country.
As matter of fact in one sense. we all live
in the luck zone. Every day opportunities come
to us for good. 1t is for to accept reject
The saying applies even to those who are not given
what we call a fair chance in life, to the disn-
herited. For cruel their lot must be, it, too
has its reles in those dispensations OF Providence
which are not in any way associated with worldly
advantage. 1t is unique cstonable that some people
have spent all their lives in poverty and have yet
led happy lives. They surely belong in the luck
zone. On the other hand, there are those who
world regards as the luck zone. who are surround
ed with the tokens of luck, and who neverthe-
less among the most miserable Of the earth
What is the explanation? 1t seems to me that
selves. 1t carries with it kind of alchemy, a
gift far greater than the power the believers in
alchemy used to long for and that some of them
used to strive for all their days The daily ex-
perienceS 1t can turn into gold
| The people who are always having good things
happen to them. really good things, the people that
go radlanty sailing through life, rule, have
great deal of confidence, only in themselves
but in the multitude OF subtle forces that influence
us in our living that almost part of us When
ithey wake up in the morning they likely to
have pleasant sense OF renewal. They approach
the day with cheerful expectations. They start
in state Of mind that tends to make the day sue
cessful So many of u.s. the other hand, begin
in way that is simply ruinous that shows are
| far removed from any state of mind associated
with the luck zone. If luck came near we should
be likely to it off. The radiant people, how
ever, instantly at home with luck. They can
even achieve the feat OF turning bad luck into good
luck
Sometimes nj course had luck secns tn droD