South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-01-06
Tea Table TaLks
BY May De Witt Talmage
Us INDNIDUAL LOST?

Reminiscing with an old man the
other day, listening 10 his anecdotes
OF the great men. generals and states
men OF the past, 1 asked him why
lit is that nowadays. compared with
the days Of the past. there seem TO
be so few great men. Is it because
we only recognize greatness and
genius in restrOspectiOn, or is il that
time have changed and personalities
have been lost in the interest of the
result Of work, the great movements
that are exploited. and great priuci-
pies overshadOwing the individual.
1t seems 70 me that the standards
Of greatness are higher today. The
general status of living is raised to
such an extent that it is a very diff
ficult thing for any individual to be
able 20 go beyond the ordinary
standard of the day.
1t may be heresy 10 say il. but I
believe we have Daniel Websters in
all our big cities This is the direct
results of general education, cheap
books, newspapers. magazines with
live topics that find their way into
all the homes. cabins as well as pal
aces. The boys and girls in the coun-
try as we'll as in the cities have
chances they never had before Night
schools, evening classes in the col
leges correspondent courses lee
lures, are all helping and inspiring
those who have a drop of ambition in
them.
It's an easy thing nowadays to
get on in the world" if you just
have sufficient want. Those early
pioneers Of greatness had TO have
almost Herculian strength TO accom-
plish anything above mediocracy in
any line. Ii was like the early set
tiers who had to cut down forests.
make roads and ford streams in
their search for new fields.
Today. successful men and women
tell us how they made their sue
cess; they overcome difficulties. We
try 10 avoid their mistakes, are en-
coUraged by their pluck and the
overcoming Of difficulties in their
path. They have cleared a path for
us, and the hordes of men and wo-
men striving for success make it a
difficult task for any one to reach
a pinnacle that is far and away from
all the rest. The general standard
has been lifted in every direction.
The present war has been such an
Illustration of the loss Of individual
glory. Where are the great generals
like those who stood out as land
marks in the Civil and Revolutionary
Wars? Team work seems TO have
taken the place of individual work
II is directing the government, and
military affairs Of all the great ma
lions. OF course, there is great in
.dvidual efficiency, but what is the
use of carrying a bow and arrow
when the other man carries a ma
chine" as the maxim goes Many
minds are better than one" has as
its result director meetings and con-
ferences. The stronger minds infiu-
ence the weaker but the consensus
of opinion in finance and business.
the flood of books, magazines. and
good literature, that nearly deluge us
at times. lifts the standard so high
that we miss the great names and
leaders of the days gone by. although
we are proud of the group of ire
mendously able men and women with
great individuality, -cleverness or
genius who have reached a pinnacle
Of personal success. that is like a
beacon light urging us all onward
and upward.