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LUCK.

(From the Liberal Review.) People who have big balances lying at their bankers are prone to say that there is no such thing as luck. All wordly prosperity is, they will lead you to understand, the fruit of sagacity and industry. They become terribly indignantwhenitis hinted thattheirgood fortune is due, in no small degree, to circumstances over which they have had no control. Their scorn, when it is said that their poorer acquaintances have bad luck against them, is awful to behold. Yet the truth appears to be that there is a great deal of what is popularly called luck in the world. The man who rules the office whi«h he once swept out may be a singularly gifted and meritorious being, but there are others, equally excellent, who fail to rise as he has done. He will, of course, say that this is their fault. But such is not the case. There are only a certain number of places which men may occupy with distinction to themselves, as is proved by the fact that the world does not appear to miss men who die, let them be never so useful when they live. Consequently, a large number of persons must look in vain for the means whereby they may distinguish them-

selves and rise to affluence. While only ten men out of a hundred have the ability-to- do certain things—to soar from the position of an office-boy to that of a merchant prince, for instance—a still smaller number get the chance of showing what they are capable of. Indeed, a proportion of these ten, instead of being placed where they might cover themselves with honour, are set in .the midst of uncongenial surroundings, and put to work which is utterly distasteful to them: Naturally, i they cut very sorry figures when they are coin-' pared with those with whom all the conditions mentioned are reversed. The influence of luck may, however, be traced in. more direct ways than that which, we have; indicated.' - Some men are born rich, while others are bom poor. Again, some people ax - e endowed with handsome faces and graceful forms, while others aie burdened with unattractive physiognomies and ungainly figures. All these things, so far as the people most interested, are concerned, are. mere accidents. Blit , their influence is stupendous. It would be a waste of. time for us to set forth what wealth can do, but wo may point out that in the race of life he who has a light purse is, indeed, heavily handicapped. Poor younger sons, whose only fault is that .they have been born a few months after their elder' brothers, should be, able,, to speak eloquently upon this, point. Then institute a comparison between those who are blessed with personal attractions and those who are hot, ahd .it will be found that a vast deal’of the estimation in which people are held is due in no small degree to causes over which they have no control, and that it has no connection whatever with their intrinsic merit. It is true that a great deal of nonsense .is talked to the effect that people, may make themselves liked or disliked as they choose; but most persons do not act as if they believed the nonsense. The men are few and far between who desire to pay attentions to a dowdy-looking female, though she may have a sweet nature and may make a point of always being amiable. Indeed, most men do not appear to care to go to the trouble of discovering that she has a sweet nature and that she always makes a point of trying to please. On the other hand, they are eager to pay court to a capricious beauty, though she may be mean-souled and the victim of a thousand whims. It is not to be supposed that a beautiful woman yearns after love more than a plain one does. Yet how easy it is in many cases for the one to obtain it, and how difficult for the other to do so. And when there is a contest between, the two what fearful odds has the latter to contend with. Her best speeches will remain unnoticed, so , will 1 her kind actions, the most trivial performances of her rival will be so eagerly scanned that nothing that is worth noting can be easily passed by. It ,is pretty much the same in regard to men. He who has a pleasing exterior and a gushing - manner, the outcome of the peculiar nature with which he has been blessed, is much more likely to make friends than is the individual who is his his. antipodes. Now, it sheuld not be forgotten that the man who is able to make many friends without taking any trouble is placed at a great advantage as compared with the man who is hot.

Having said this much we cannot refrain from coming to the conclusion that there is such a thing as luck, and that it is at once unwise or pedantic for the prosperous to deny its existence. At the same time, though it ; is well to remember that man is the creature of circumstances, it is a mistake to imagine that he is altogether so. This, indeed, would involve an acceptance of the. soulrdestroying and dismal fatalistic creed. The truth is, that though he cannot control circumstances, he may, to a limited extent, mould , them and adapt himself to them. For instance, he may not be able to choose his friends; but if he cannot do this be may at any. rate make a selection from the acquaintances who are thrown in his way. In other, words, he may take the best from the materials which come to his hand. He can - do so in all matters. If he acts thus prudently, ;he will, let what may happen to him, be spared from the necessity of reproaching himself. Indeed, an easy conscience, begat by the feeling that he has done his best, is the one thing which does not appear to be dependent upon luck. He may know that he is so constituted by nature that he can never hope to soar above the crowd of , mediocrities who live their lives in such a manner that for all .the, world cares they might just as well never live them at all ; but if he does his. beat, if he' bears his trials and disappointment in secret, if he works hard at his occupation, distasteful and .unsuited though it may be to him, he may at least keep a light conscience. This may not be. much to be thankful for, but when it is remembered that most people seem to get more bad luck that good, and that life is, to thousands, a dreary and monotonous affair, it is as! well , to make the most of it. It morel over, be borne in mind that ' however much luck may favour certain people it will not establish their prosperity unless they help themselves. To send a man sailing pleasantly along the stream of success selfhelp and luck, must enter; into partnership. Each is useless, for a permanency, without the other. Besides, luck will not stick; to those who decline to assist, themselves ; while.it is disposed, in the long -run, to favor bravehearted souls who. even when it'frowns darkly, are courageous enough to cry,.“ Never say die.” In saying this we do not mean,to imply that it does not resolutely set, itself against Some of the victims of'its wrath.’ We could not state so much in the face of the fact that the Slothful often’ reap what the industrious have sown, and that ' many carefully thoughtout schemes bring ruin to their , promoters simply, because they are deficient, in one particular, or are floated , td-day when they ought not to be floated till to-morrow.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM18761130.2.20

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4896, 30 November 1876, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,313

LUCK. New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4896, 30 November 1876, Page 3

LUCK. New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4896, 30 November 1876, Page 3

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