Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1940-02-15
Copyright 1894, Arno B. Reincke,
Reincke- Ellis s-Younggreen
& Finn, Inc.
ChicapO

Copyright 1894, Arno B. Reincke,
Reincke- Ellis s-Younggreen
& Finn, Inc.
Chicago
A friend and | were discussing
"self-pity" the other evening
when he offered a suggestion
which is worth passing on:
Just before he drops to sleep
on those nights when the outlook
seems particularly drab he calls
into consciousness the picture of
a man he admires tremendously.
AS the episodes of this mans life
unfold before his inner vision
they always prove quick solv-
vent for the days accumulated
poison" Thus my friend is
able to fall asleep in perfect re-
Taxation, to awaken with renew
ed courage.
The first scene of his picture
is laid in a crossroads store in
the middle west, where young
man of %, a partner in the
store, had learned for the first
time that failure is easier to
achieve than success. 1t was a
bitter lesson, punctuated with
sheriff's sign on the door and
realization that he had lost ev-
cry penny of seven years saw
ings. This tense scene carries
with it all of early youths poig-
nant grief and disappointment.
The scene then shifts to the
young mans second partnership.
After two years of struggle to
accumulate another stake, he
tried again, determined not to
repeat the mistakes which had
forced his former partner into
bankruptcy. He must succeed
this time; he could not endure
another period of hardship like
the last.
But he failed again! His new
partner drank op all the profits
within two years. Not only did
this young business man see his
savings swept away the second
time, but he faced an indebted
ness which he knew would crush
him. In desperation the partners
agreed to terms of sale that
proved disastrous. At the end
of the year the purchaser failed
to make his payment, sold the
entire stock of merchandise,
gathered up the receipts and
took French leave. Then the
partner died, forcing the young
man to shoulder the debts Of
both.
1t was a bitter experience, but
he refused to go into bankrupt
cy and, after years of miserable
penury, on his thirty ninth birth
day, he paid the last dollar of his
obligations.
After this second mercantile
failure a friend came to his res
cue with the offer of a job as
surveyor. He was forced to bor-
row in order to buy a set of in
struments and a horse. But he
never took the job. One of his
creditors levied on the instru-
ments and horse and took them
for debt. Destiny seemed to
have singled him out for failure.
Life then dealt him the most
cushing blow of his career-a
blow to the heart from which his
spirit never recovered. His first
and only enduring love suddenly
died and, as he afterwards said,
his heart followed her to the
grave.
It was too much. He went
down, to the verge of insanity.
"At this period of my life /
never dared to carry a pocket
nife," he wrote long afterward.
Within a year he had broken so
completely that he had to be re-
moved to his parents home 800
miles away and nursed back TO
mental health.
Ten years later the sun broke
through the clouds for a brief
hour. Believing that this "fail- |
ure" might succeed in politics,
some of his friends secured his
election to Congress. But again
he failed. After he had worried
through two short sessions his |