The Washington herald., 1917-11-03

one supreme aim, one master passion.
I The man who would make himself fel.
on this hustling planet. who would
make a breach in the compact con-
servatism OF our civilization, must
play all his guns on one point. A
wavering aim. faltering purpose. has
| no place in the twentieth century.
\ man may starve on a dozen half
| learned trades or occupations; he may
| grow rich and famous upon one trade
| thoroughly mastered, even though II
be the humSlest.
What this age wants Is young men
| and women who can do one thing
\ without losing their identity or indi-
y;duality. or becoming narrow. cramp-
ed or dwarfed. Nothing can take the
place of an all-absoI bing purpose
education cannot, genius cannot, will
power cannot. The purposeless life
must ever be a failure. What good
are powers. faculties. unless We can
use them for n purpose? What good
would be chest of tools to a carpen-
ter unless lie could Use them? A col
lege education. a head full Of knowl-
edge, are worth little TO the man who
cannot use them to some definite end.
1t is a great purpose which gives
meaning to life; it unifies all our pow
ers, binds them together in one cable,
and makes strong and united what
was weak, separated, scattered.
The man without purpose never
leaves mis- mark upon the world. He
has no Individuality: he is absorbed IN
the mass. lost in the crowd, weak,
wavering and incompetent.
There is no grander sight in ths
world than that of young man fired
With a great purpose. dominated by
one unwavcring aim. He is bound TO
win; the world stands to one side and
lets him pass; it always makes way
for the man with will in him. He does
not have one-half the opposition to
overcome that the undecided. purpose
lees man has, who, like driftwood,
runs against all sorts of snags, to
which ne must yield simply because
he has no momentum to force them
cut of his way. What a sublime spec
tacle it is TO see a youth going straight
TO his goal, cutting his way through
difficulties. and surmounting obstacles
which dishearten others, as though
they were but stepping stones! De-
feat, like gymna sium. only gives him
rev power. opposition only doubles
his exertions; dangers only increase
his courage. No matter what comes
to him. sickness, poverty, disaster, he
never turns his eye from his goal.
The man who succeeds above his
fellows is the man who, early in life
clearly discerns his object. and toward
that object habitually directs his pow
crs. Thus, indeed. even genius itself
is but fine observation strengthened
by fiXity OF purpose. Every man who
observes ViCilantly and resolves stead
fastly grows unconsciously into genius.
Unfortunately. many people seem to
think that it is unnecessary to make
any very great effort to maintain the
highest level Of their ambition. They
take it for granted that ambition Is an
inborn quality. which will take care
of itself and need not be cultivated or
ministered in any way. As a matter
Of fact. the ambitious mood Is one
that must be carefully fostered and
constantly encouraged.
There is a sort of rudderless mood
that takes possession of some people,
mood in which they have no deep
desires. no great ambition, no program
OF action. This is O very DANGEROUS
and insidious mood, and if often in
dulsed in is likely to have serious con-
sequences. Without a steady adher-
ence to definite program. there can
he no effective results from ones ef-
forts. 1t is absolutely necessary not
only to make out n reaso enable and in
te!ligent life program. but to force
oneself to live up to it; not intermit-
tently. but steadily and persistently.
no matter how we feel. This alone
can make a strong character.
One talent utilized in a single direc-