The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-11-15
VICTORY WILL UNDO THE WEAK;
DEFEAT WILLINSPIRE THE STRONG
Many splendid things have been said about victory.

many spleHdid lHnBS Dceh sdlu duoul NNUy'
The picture of the victor we see with our minds eye is a
triumphant and heroic figure, receiving the plaudits OF the multi
tude. The picture Of the vanquished is one OF despair and de-
lection, with jeers for his effort and insufficient strength.
Too often we overlook the fact that victory may lead to
ultimate defeat, and temporary defeat is but the preparation for
a greater victory.
The disposition frequently is to overesimate the significance
of victory and entirely lose sight Of the value OF defeat.
When the weak in strength OF character, but powerful through
strength OF influence or other outside assistance, are victorious,
they frequently become vain and pompous, and obsessed with
their Importance.
When the immature or those with undeveIoped strength are
BY force OF circumstances defeated, they merely utilize the ex
perience for a greater trial and the achievement OF a greater
victory. #.T.
There are times when victory is the iorerunner OF defeat;
times when defeat is the forerunner Of victory.
Some persons are so constructed temperamentally that defeat
marks their finish. and there are others for whom victory is mere
ly an inspiration to greater tasks.
The man who can stand up under the responsibility Of vic
tory is making progress; he understands the philosophy Of life.
The man who can rise again from the ashes of defeat is
stronger for the experience, and on the highroad TO victory,
The victor who can be generous with the %vanquished is evenly
balanced. The defeated who can weather his experience without
becoming soured on the world will not always fail.
Every life is a round Of defeats and disappointments, Every
one has had them. Some have succumbed to reverses, while
others have overcome them.
No successful man has been successful in every enterprise,
Many times the inspiration for greater effort came from temporary
reverses. A man of that character makes use Of defeat as a spur
4 to greater achievement.
Time and infinite pains and a will to succeed are the prime
requisites of everyone who would grow and expand, and fill a
larger sphere of usefulness,
Carlyle once said that genius is the art Of taking pains"
He might have been called a genius, but he knew that he was a
painsiakng, studious person.
Maupassant was a great writer because he took infinite pains.
Balzac spent hours over a sentence.
Modern writer's tell us that the hard work is the best work
that the production that flows freely and without the necessity
for concentration and revision is usually the poorest, contrary
to the general suppositon that the novelist and short story writer
produces under the spell of inspiration.
Not a, painter ever won fame but he painted and painted
not a musician ever attained the heights of a master but he PLAYED
and played increasingly.
When we discuss victory and defeat, naturally our thoughts
turn to war, and especially the recent war. 1t was a ,.al victory
for this country because it gave lis a renewed and a revised formula
Of patriotism. 1t separated the loyal and the disloyal and marked
one with the distinction that belongs to every worthy citizen, and
branded the other with the mark Of shame,
1t gave us a new estimate of the things worth while a new
vision OF our mission, and an outlook upon the world that we live
in, and a sense of our responsibility for its peoples outside our
own dominion.
Germany was crushed and battered, starved and torn to her
foundations, The government went TO pieces, 1t must have been
a dreary day and a %forbidding prospect for those unimaginative
people.
But who can estimate the value Of that defeat? What posi-
biirhes lie before the German under a government of which he is
a part and IN which he has a voice? How bitter would have
been the fruit Of victory. Defeat was the only salvation for them
IF indeed, there is any.
Victory for this country and the associated governments wa,
provldential, t was the mission they were designated to per
form. 1t brought to those nations, and especially to MS q new
conception OF the part we are expected to play among the GOV
ernnents oil the world, 1t is a noble enterprise, but it is on,
that should bring us to face it with humility.
As kiping has said:
For heather heart that puts her trust
,t&r In reeking tube and iron shard,
All valiant dust that builds on dust
And guarding call not Thee to guard.
For frantic boast and foolish word,
Thy mercy on Thy people, Lord.