The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-11-13
THE SUREST WAY TO
CONFINEMENT is WORK

- 0o tAASiNN q PihC III AC bNot oSNithNiS Nl'H N~ 'NN'N'
what are the institutions most likely to contribute to human
happiness?"
Napoleon wrote upon the subject, and though there were
many competitors, the prize was awarded to hin Many years
afterward, when seated upon the throne, his minister, Tailyrand'
sent a courier to Lyons and obtained the manuscript.
Thinking it would please the emperor, he one day, when they
were alone, put the essay into Napoleon's hands, asking him if he
knew the author. Napoleon. Immediately recognizing the writing,
threw it into the flames, saving that it was a boyish production,
tml Ct visionary and impractcable schemes,
Thus does the opinion of man on the subject OF happiness
change with the passing years and the encroachment OF age, Civ
ing warrant for the assumption that the pleasure of youth is in
its visions, and the pleasure of old age nIits dreams.
When Napoleon was a young officer, friendless and poor,
subsisting upon the pay Of a lieutenant, which was quite made
quate to support him in the rank OF a gentleman, often embar-
RAISING him and exposing him TO the keenest modification, COM
polling him to seclude himself from his brother officers, and keep
aloof from the haunts of amusement and dissipation, the expert
ence may have embittered him, but it gave him opportunity to
devote himself with indefatigable energy to the acquisition OF
knowledge and to provide himself with mental discipline which
should prove Of such incalculable advantage in the brilliant career
upon which he subsequently entered.
If we were permitted to hazard a guess as to the things the
youthful and h~igh-sprited officer felt would contribute most to
human happiness, while he lived upon an inadequate pay and his
i mother with six children younger than he, who was only II, was
quite unable to supply him with additional funds, we should say
that he rebclled principally against his lack OF funds and the
poverty of his family,
No doubt he felt that he was the victim of a cruel fate that
gave to other boys of his age every comfort and luxury and every
diversion that youth delights to revel in, and consigned him to a
barren room and a scant fare and only books for pleasure.
He loved to dress in the height Of fashion; he delighted in
the society OF brilliant men and women, and, had fortune smiled
upon him, no doubt he would have been the beau OF the ballroom
and no social affair would have been complete without his pres
ence. He would have delighted in such an experience, and nc
doubt would have shone respondent for a little while in a small
and select circle, and eventually would have faded away into the
obscurty from which mediocrty never energies.
Thousands of young men Of today feel as we assume Napoleo,
felt They may apply themselves to business and labor through
sheer necessity OF making tongue and buckle meet. They coun
II a hardship that circumstances prevent them from INDUCING il
the pleasures that others more fortunately situated are surfeitet
with, and yet lack the strength Of character 10 test their mettl
in combining and 'aborious work,
They do not understand that the provocation for steady ap
phcatron is not the thing that counts. 1t makes no difference
whether a young man renounces a life Of pleasure in order to Fl
himself for a place OF responsibility, or whether he is compeue,
by the necessity of making a living to give to the work he
engaged in the best that is in him. The thing that counts is tina
2 young man develops his muscle and his mind by constant ap
plcation and in doing so is fitting himself for the bigger id
that lies ahead.
iainre, that the training or lack Of training in you'll, was III
deciding factor in determining the extent of his usefulness il
after years.
The boy or young man who souanders his years or his for
tune has the same experience. He finds. when il is too late. tina
the lost days cannot be recalled or that the fortune he threw to III
winds is forever gone, never to return.
Responsibilities, cares, vexation and ANNOYANCE come ear,
enough, we are told, so why spoil the carefree days of youth?
But i IS not too much to impress youth that each day NO
improved is a lost opportunity.
When men approach middle life they are prone to look hack
ward and lament the loss of golden opportunity.
lhey see clearly what was gained or lost by application c
lack of it.
They see in the distance, looking backward, what younger me
fail to see surrounding them.
This is not a pessimistc view. It is merely a recital Of IN
things that have come into the life OF every man and largely il
fluenced his future.
The law of averages has not suspended operation. The con
pensaton for labor or idleness is in the same ratio. The est
mate OF values changes but the values remain fixed. A thing
consequence loses none of its worth because someone underest
mates its importance, The value is not heightened by emphasi
A young man should begin early to assay the experienc,
and opportunities that come to him according to their relat,
merits. and il he does he will find that hard. honest, patriot
work is pure gold and that many Of the diversions are the dros
The Jewish hospital campaign is making splendid progre
and If the people of the surrounding territory will do as we'll
Memphians the campaign will be a splendid success and of bi
duration.
The killing OF overseas veterans by !. w w. because t
soldiers had the temerity to parade on Armistice day is an inc
cation OF how Americanism affects some people.
The coal miners now have an opportunity to meet with t
mine operators and negotiate for increased wages and pay
time of