Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-06

Here Is a comforting Summer thought
It Is not so much ones own cowardice
which holds one down, not ones own
mediocrity so much, as the fear and
resulting mediocrity OF too many of
those with whom one has to deal.
In the ordinary walks Of this life 1t
Is an antiseptic thought that one Is not
alone in his poorer points, but Is sur
rounded on all sides by perfectly similar
human beings.
The idea Of ones uniqueness IL q
good thing to lose as early as possible.
Every one is normal enough, whatever
normal" may be: he is like unto thou
sands of other human beings.
This frees q young man from the be-
lief that he alone possesses bad traits,
uncomfortable traits, and, on the other
hand, makes him tolerant Of others,
once he realizes that they, too, suffer
from the same complaints.
How many boys and girls there are
who hug the deluSion that they are
quite different from the remainder OF
the world!
II they only knew II, Johnny at their
elbow Is thinking exactly the same
thing. and feeling quite as miserable
about It,
~ Is ODC lnIlk 10 iccl OIlAJ ONiC ID
uniquely great, and quite another that
one Is uniquely cursed with timidity, or
lack OF push" or any Of the ordinary
qualities which make for success as the
world in general knows 1t.
Few are endowed with the former.
but many with the latter. 1t is this
class that flnds 1t necessary. every now
and then. to stop and think.
The members Of the greater group
will md 1t profitable to call their own
attention from time to time to the plain
truth, that in most things they are as
other men.
There ere few human beings who
have not accused themselves at some
time or other Of being cowardly in their
dealings with others, OF failing to take
bold, decisive steps which would either
make or break them.
Afterward let them look around and
admit TO themselves that the same cow
ard!ce in others was a restraining in
fiuence all down the line. and that such
mediocrity as they may display is -four
ished on every street corner and in
almost every contact of the every CAV.
There are few men who could not do
better than they do II they were re-
leased from the fear thoughts which
envelop them like q cloud thoughts
given out by others and put into prac-
teal usage in the shivery little doings
OF the everyday life.
Every one can think OF hundred ex-
amples from his own lifes history. no
matter IN what walk OF life he func-
tions. when he was held back. not 20
much by his own fear or timiditv as
by the wall Of inhibtions which had
been built up by others
It is q thing OF many walls in fact
Society. at large. has its high wall,
msnifesting itself. among others. in the
fear, What will They Say?"
This mighty They" has held back a
million men from their best. not so
much through any fear on their part
OF what others would saw as because
the shrinking and hesita ton of those
near and dear to them often held them
back.
Such tangible fear thoughts. mani
tested in images of mediocrity. where
everything would be safe, have kept
countless thousands from the fun meas
ure Of success which might have been
theirs il there had been no such traits
IN human nature.
1t will not do for any ambitious man
or woman to thoughtlessly accept the
verdict Of associates that lack OF GER
tain qualities in them has prevented
Them from rising to the heights Too
often the heights are blocked by the
same poor hesitation, the same timid