The Washington herald., 1917-03-17
Generals in the Ranks
ny oRIsoN SWEET MARDEN.

The man spoke very broken English,
but was amazed at his native intelli-
gence. He had, however, cultivated
only little corner of his brain, Just
enough to enable him to get living,
bat nothing at all commensurate with
his native power. If he had been able
to get at his mental resources he
would have been manager or presi-
dent of the railroad upon which he
was working as section hand. This
man, who might have been a king
among men was mere pigmy because
he had never brought out his latent
power by mental training and educa-
ton.
Here was giant chained by jig
INorance. He was naturally endowed
with mighty power which he could
not use, because the power was not
free. 1t had not been released. 1t
was we'll locked up in his brain. He
evidently did not know how to remove
the paddock OF ignorance.
The ability of many people is not
only locked, but padlocked, and they
have apparently lost the key, for they
never seem to be able to get inside OF
themselves or to find what is there.
They live upon the surface of them
selves, never diving deep into their
latent possibilities. Only a small
part of the average persons ability
ever comes to the surface, is ever de-
veloped or used.
One of the most unfortunate delu-
sions that ever entered youths head
is that it is only now and then a
genius is born, a man of commanding
ability. The fact is there are tens of
thousands of great possible leaders,
people who could do tremendous
things if they only realized their
strength, and used what opportunity
they have to develop it. Every youth
should be taught that there are plenty
of Lincolns and Grants, that are never
heard from, simply because of their
lack of faith in themselves.
Great men and great women are in
hnitely more common than is gener-
ally supposed. The Creator has not
put all the genius in few people. The
fact is there is great ability, superb
talent everywhere in the mass of peo-
pie who are never heard from outside
of their own little environment-peo-
pie who would rise to great occasion
if the emergency or the opportunity
should come to them.
1t is we'll known that if there are hum
dreds of strong men of large ability
working in inferior positions in our
great business houses, banks, railroad
Offices and other places who are tied
down by others depending on them
by invalid wives, crippled children, or
large young families. They may be-
lieve in their ability to do things bet
ter than they are doing. but they will
not risk impairing or jeopardizing the
comforts of those dear to them by
taking any chances, by risking a GER
tainty for an uncertainty.
1 am great believer in the generals
that serve in the ranks, in the possible
merchant prices who remain employees
all their lives, owing to ignorance of
their possibilities or because of ham,
pering circumstances which keep them
from making the initial effort.
Everywhere we see starved, stunted
lives, people who couldn't believe in
their possibilities, in their inherent
greatness. They couldn't realize that
they were born into this world to do
a certain work; and that to do that
work they would need every bit of
power they could develop.
Mature arms each man with such
faculties as will enable him to do
something impossible to any other"
One reason why there is such a dead
level of mediocre work in the world.
such lack Of originality and so much
repetition of the same inferior quality
of work is that so few of us develop
the particular faculties with which
nature has especially armed Us for
our work. That is why every one is
not doing the thing the Creator in
tended him to do-something impossi-
Bile to any other.
This is why so many people are dis
contented, unhappy, doing their work
perfunctorily, grudgingly-they have
never found their right place. They
are not doing the thing they were
made to do. They do not know what
it is, because they have never analysed
themselves or tried to discover their
latent possibilities.
The wisest thought of the seven
wise men of Greece was expressed in
the two words carved over the en-
trance of the great Delphic Temple:
Know Thyself"
"Know thyself" This is really the
chief huSineSc of mon - I.,- A..