Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-08

Napoleon, even at the age of Is
years, had learned one OF the secrets
OF success.
In writing to one Of his brothers
about an assignment which he had
received in line of duty he voiced the
opinion that 1t was very unusual
assignment for young man and a
very difficult one.
He knew, instinctively, the value of
boosting ones self, and upon any and
every occasion. Even in letter to
the home folks he never lost chance.
Most men in such a world as this
would do well to take hint from this
procedure.
Blowing ones own horn is q very
valuable accomplishment, If done with
discretion and some modesty. 1t Is not
necessary, as the young Napoleon
knew, to go on house top and do
it. A letter to ones brother Will serve
very well.
Imagine Lucien, or Joseph, or which,
ever one of the Bonaparte boys 1t was
written to, going around telling the
neighborS in Ajaccio all about 1t.
Eyes, Napoleon has just got a big
assignment, to make calculations for
some new artillery placements. Big job
for such a young fellow. Few mer
get put on that sort of work. Very
important. very"
The first thing you knew 1t would
be all over the town, as no doubt 1t
was.
The man who later was to be En-
peror thus early showed his knowledge
Of the right sort of publicity.
Modesty and humility are all right.
but when 1t comes to getting ahead
in such q world as ours. there can be
little doubt that the man who does
not permit them to handicap him will
have q much better chance, everything
else being equal. to get there" than
he who is reluctant to talk about his
own merits.
Those who make commencement ad-
dresses would do better to give the
youngsters some such advice as THIS
than to fill them full Of the old hocum.
in some line or other, were to say to
the boys and girls: my dear young
people, could hand you the usual
sort Of chatter, about working hard
! and being honest and refraining from
theft, end that sort CT thing. You
knsw that already You have been
hearing 1t all your life.
THE older you get the more you
will discover that there is an amazing
d1LlOuIlJ VI VI QJAl al ~, dAtCA La
you know 1t, or at least you ought to
know 1t.
What you don't know is what few
men learn until they have been out in
the big world for 10. Is, 20 years or
| longer And even then few OF them
will be bold enough to admit in public
| that they have learned 1t.
| But ], here and now. announce my
self with new boldness. My advice
to you, my dear young people, is not sc
much to be honest, or hard working, CT
modest, as to toot your own horn with
in the limits of modesty, decency and
| respect fer the rights of others.
Almost every successful man I know
talks a great deal about himself. He is
never loath to inform others that what
he Is doing Is worth doing. He always
gives the impression that few other
men work as hard as he does.
Now do not jump at conclusions
| Perhaps he does work harder than most
| men. Mostly there Is no doubt that he
does. But he sees t. it that other men
realize it, He is not willing to let good
| fairy or nice little bird tell the world
| about 1t.
AT every opportunity, without be-
coming a bcre-and he tries to be very
| careful about this-whenever he finds
| occasion to talk about what he is doing
or what he is going to do. he makes
sure that every nearer will go away
with the idea that his is big, big Job
done in q big, big way"