Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1921-08-06
Something to
Think Ab0ut
FACING THE MUSIC.
By r. II. WALKER

7 UST when or under what circum-
y stances the expression facing the
music" originated is, so far as know,
unrelated history, but one thing is
certain, II is one of the most express
sive of the many pungent American
isms that nation apt In coming
phrases has originated.
| suspect that it had some sort OF
q military application in the begin,
aing. that 1t meant that soldier
should always face the front where
the band was playing and where the
action was going on.
There are, as | understand 1t, only
two explanations for soldier being
shot in the back
One Is that one of his own men,
too excited to take proper aim, wound
I'D him unintentionally. The other is
that he had his back to the enemy
and was running away
Y The fellow that is facing the music
never gets hit in the back.
That is Just as true Off the field
N battle as it is on it. And it proves
that there is only one way to fight and
that IL facing the foe squarcly.
You never can evade REAL trou-
BILE. You may defeat it. You may
overcome what seems insuperable.
But to do that you have to FIGHT
1t, not FEAR it.
And the best way TO battle any
thing Is to face 1t squarely, fight It
fairly.
If You ever saw two boxers in the
ring and one of them fought with
the side of his body towards the
other, you will have noticed perhaps
that the man who fought sideways
never landed blow with the hand
that was farthest from his opponent
If he tried to strike with It his
competitor knew long enough In adj
vance to thoroughly guard himself
against its effects.
The welltrained boxer faces the
music. He stands squarely in front
of his adversary where either hand
will have to travel the shortest pos
Sble distance to land.
The man who turns away from
trouble, who thinks to escape ii by
avoidance. who doesn't face it brave
ly and manfully indicates lack of
courage and an absence of judgment.
Nothing will give your adversary
more encouragement than the evi-
dence which you may display of
desire to quit
Many a man has won q fight after
he has lost it simply because his op-
poncnt gave up when he was not de-
feated.
ships of Columbus who really made
the trip from Spain to the new world
and that was Columbus himself All
the others quit days before the shore
Of San Salvador was sighted. Col
umbuS won because he never turned
hiS back TO The dangers, never took
his eyes from looking forward. he
always faced the music.
There are two splendid memorials
to this exhibition of sheer courage.
One ia the statue of Columbus In front
u the great terminal station Mt Wash
hgtOn; the other the inspiring poem
"Sail On" by Joaquin Miller If you
cannot go to see one you can surely
read the other without great trouble.
II danger threatens you FACE IT.
n adversely threatens you FACE 1T.
n you have lost your job or yOut
money OF even yoit sweetheart put
Oh the best front you know how and
battle whatever circumstance presents
Itself face to face.
1t is related by Sir Charles Napier
that by fearlessly facing a tiger he
sent 1t covering back into the
Jungle If he had turned away In the
slightest degree he would have been
killed.
The Psalmist says, "Thou madest
him (mam to have dominion over the
works of Thy hand. Thou hast put
all things under his feet"
One of the truest things ever said
by politician was the telegram
which state of Maine man sent to
despairlng candidate-'Remember
God hates a gutter"
Everybody hates gutter. A man
may love and gain applause but
gutter doesn't get even sympathy.
Face the music. Fight good fight.
Then, win or lose, you will have done
yourself the credit of trying the best
you knew how, Of giving the best that
was In you or being down, perhaps