The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-08-10
Patience, One
Qualify Many
Writers Lack
Many Today Sit on Park
Benches From Over
Writing Theme Good for
a Few Stories-Should
Wait for New Ideas.
BY SOPHIE IRENE LOEB.
.HE other day I was talking with
Horace Fletcher. the well-known

TIME other day was talking with
Horace Fletcher. the weli-known
economist and humanitarian.
He was talking about a great
writer who 10 now sleeping On park
benches-all because success seemed too
slow and he gave up too soon.
DO You know what causes most OF
the misery in this world7" he asked;
what makes people 20 on the toboggan
and land in the down-and-out club?
ut Is Just this-they lose the faculty
Of patience and let out their energy In
Impotence.
I'm my long experience with people
~ over the world I find one truth
that applies to every one.
You can't be on the crest Of the
sometimes. Therefore. do not resist.
but save. your strength and your shout
Ing until you arc again on the crest
Of the wave.
Trouble Does II.
But with most people. II things
are going along right for them. we'll
and good. But let little trouble come
along they begin to be worried they
try to fight 1t: use up endless energy
II resisting something that perhaps
must como. OFTEN they get so ex-
hausted trying to overcome a seemingly
trihing difficulty that when success
full thing does come along they are too
tired to grasp II.
NOW take this writer" DR.. Fletcher
pointed out: there was no individual
with more brilliant prospects than he.
A few years ago his name was heralded
in every household. l remember a series
of articles he wrote for foremost mag.
axine. After the first article appeared
they had to employ a small army of
stenographers to answer the letters that
came pouring In to the ma gazine offices.
He continued successfully for con-
siderable time. when he wrote two or
three things that were not so good. The
editors asked him to wait until he found
something good again.
But he would not wait He could
not see 1t. He thought he ought to be
able to strike high pitch every time,
having already reached II with such
glowing results. So he kept on writing.
forcing his energy to reach another ten
strike.
Work Gets Far-Fetched.
Continuing in this way. quite natur-
ally his work seemed forced. strained
In a word. he resisted the wave when
II was down and insisted on reaching
the crest whether or no.
"He found 1t wouldn't work. and in
stead OF resting a little. waiting little
he become discouraged. respondent, and
believed he had lost his talent. He grew
sullen and morose and took no interest
in things. Even when an order came
70 him now and then It was with
difficulty that he summed up enthusiasm
enough to make II interesting. So II
continued until he had nothing to do
Then he took to drinking. with the re.
suit mentioned
This Is only one example. How
many hundred truly brilliant people &c
TO waste because OF this trait cannot bt
estimated They burn themselves on,
In an effort to be headliners.
II they would only be content to work
quietly, steadily, while waiting to gel
on the crest Of the wave. they would
be carried there by the very force OF
their persistent patience and non-resis
lance against forces stronger than they
People who get In the down and out
class are usually those who get down
ward view of themselves prematurely
II they would only realize that success.
cannot continue singly-there mus
be periods Of depression. It Is natura
law.
Failure. after all. Is for those wht
recognize II. Give 1t a little absent
treatment.
When you think you are on the tobog
gan. look up! There Is a very large
sky.
(Copyright 1851