Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-09-02
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
BY Fl. AddingtOn Bruce

MO, man ever achieved much in this
" world who did not believe profoundly
-, in himself. This is truiSm so trite
that it would scarcely seem to require state
ment.
Yet like many another familiar truth. nv
RAIDS of people fail to take it to themselves
They so far fail that they allow unjustifiabe
disbelief in their own powers to take posses
sion of them.
Looking about they fix their gaze on some
outstanding figure in their line of work a
leader who has won fame or wealth. or both
fame and wealth
81 wish could do what he has DONE" they
impotently murmur "But it is, of course
impossible He had advantages have never
had He was better endowed by inheritance,
enjoyed better education.
Mine is pigmy mind compared with his.
He is a born genius That is why he has pros
pered"
This, consciously or otherwise, is the atti-
tude taken by untold numbers Nor is it sur
prSing, in view of the bettling influences to
which many are subjected from their earliest
days.
In childhood, their natural aptitudes unstud-
led, they are pitchforked into a, rigid educa-
tlonal system making next to an allowance for
individual trends. Obvious "mSfitS" parents
and teachers combine not so much to help
them as to fill their minds with ideas of in
ferority.
They are reproached for their dullness Other
WHO happen 10 into the school
curriculum are extolled as superior beings GER
tain to travel fast and far, while they, the in
feriorS, lag behind. Later the terrible teach
lngS of the heredty fanatics impinge upon
them with crushing force. They now know
what is the matter with them If they did not
get along in .School-and they Enthusiastically did
MOTT was because they were born in some
degree mentally defective. The best they
can nope for is to earn difficult living in
a subordinate role
Poor SOu1SI 1od To hall
Sc res, they are truly fated to mediocrity and
obScurlty unless "a happy chance intervene-aS
1t often doeS-to awaken them to a beated
realization that they can accomplish more
than they have thought.
Otherwise they continue to founder, contin-
ue tutilely to marvel at their more success
full fellowS-more successful largely because
they have refused to acknowledge inferiority;
nave. through good fortune and i'll, chung stub
bornly to the belief that they have it in them
to succeed
81 can and will" has been the creed of
the victorious, whatever their origin, whatever
the blessing or the blight of their heredity
With 81 can and l will" they have climbed to
the heights, even despite the handicap of a
family history that would give an eugeniSt the
creepS.
"Of course there are limits" as the wise
William James long ago observed. "The trees
remains that men the world over possess
amounts of resource which only very excep-
tional individuals push to their extremes Ct
use"
Belief in self that is master key to these
hidden, wondrouS reservoirs of power And
belief in self should be reSolutely asserted by
all. Then would mankind progress in ways
and at rate undreamed today.
The young bride in the SAKE blue jumper
bit her bun sadly.
"Men are really too mean for anything"
she said
whats the trouble now?" asked the girl
in the pink georgette sash, toying with an
eclair
''Why, 1 asked John for a motor car today
and he said that I must be contented with the
splendid carriage that nature had given me-
%-
Billy Sunday delights to tell of the subtle
criticism administered him by a Philadelphia
girl for his informal method of preaching.
The revivalist halted at the end of an i'm
FASHIONED harangue, rolled down his sleeves
put on his coat, and said:
"And now, dear friends, does any one want
TO ask any Questions?"
All of the congregation were silent except
the pretty girl in the front row. = She said;
"May I SmOke?'