The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1917-03-02
MAKING THE CHANCE.


boys have no chance nowadays, and
insist that the social and industrial
fabric is all out of skew, owing to
monopoly Of opportunity by those
born with a silver spoon In their
mouths, or have reached the silver
spoon stage through means Of brains,
muscle or manipulation. 1t Is not the
chance, but the boys themselves, re-
sponsible for success or failure In
almost every instance where the young
man enters upon the struggle of life.
II the boy Is in earnest in his ambi-
tion, and the stuff is in him to face
and overcome obstacles, he will reach
the goal. If the boy is Indifferent, bent
on riotous living, without aim or OBJ
1ect in life, lacks self-discipline, is
more bent upon pleasure than some
serious accomplishment, Is easily dis
|couraged and generally does not care
dash what the future has in store,
for him failure 1t written across his
life atsthe very beginning in incades-
cent characters.
What occasioned this suggestion of
boys and chance at this time was a
conversation had few days ago with
X. G. Johnson, one of the early set
tiers In the Wanicut lake section. Mr..
Johnson had recently mad a letter
from his son, Sidney, now living in
Chicago. Sidney Johnson's record is
one that should stimulate every young
man to action. The father is compare
lively poor man and did not have the
means to put his son through college.
1t Is barely possible had he had the
means. young Sidney would not have
made the record that he has, for the
man who travels the easy road to
learning as rule has little incentive
to make the most of his opportunities
1t Is hard knocks that brings out the
best In boy, If there is any good in
MIN, and he is taking the knocks while
carving out a career. The lad swas am
bilious for an education, with the aim
OF becoming physician in the end,
and he bent every energy to accom-
plish that object. He worked his way
through the Normal school, gradual
ing with honors. He entered the State
University While in the University he
made discovery in biology that won
scholarship in the Northwestern
University, at Chicago, one of the
leading institutions of the kind in
the country. He graduated, and is now
holding professorship in the Uni
versity, teaching anatomy. Hats off
to young Johnson May his success
be an example for other lands to fol-
low.
Mr. johnson is not the only young
man, practically from Oroville, to
win his way through the several gra-
dations that finally carried him to the
great Northwestern University, a stu
dent for medical degree. Studying un-
der Prof. Johnson, and the two young
men are as close friends as Damon
and Pythias, Is Leo DeMerchant. son
OF Mr.. and Mrs. s. A. DeMerchant. In
his school work young DeMerchant
Kept abreast with young Johnson for
some year shut eh had to take two
years Off to teach school for means
to continue his studies, and Mr.. John
son secured lead in the race. But
Mr.. DeMerchant is out for his Sheep
skin, and if earnest effort and indo-
mitable energy will win the prize, the
prize is within the grasp of the young
man. What grand record these two
OKanogan county boys have made.
and the same chance is open for any
boy, not too greatly handicapped by
misfortune, who will apply himself as
these boys have.