Essayist.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1193, 4 November 1882, Page 4 (Supplement)

Essayist.

SECRETS OF SUCCESS. Demosthenes, when trying to encourage the Athenians in the defence of their country, speaking of Philip, said : “ And again, should anything happen to him ; should Fortune, which still takes better care of us than we of ourselves, be good enough to accomplish this ; observe, that being on the spot, you would step in while things were in confusion, and manage them as you pleased; but as you now are, though occasion offered Amphipolis, you would not be in a position to accept it, with neither forces nor counsels at hand.” His translator adds : “ Important advice this to men in all relations of life; good luck is for those who arc in position to avail themselves of it.”

If we accept this advice, we find the theory of waiting our turn, or sitting still till Fortune shall throw the prize into our lap, a mistake. We hear men exclaim: “ Well, I can’t help it. What is to be, will be.” Or again: “It must take its chance.” In these cases, we are afraid the chances are very much against success.

To be successful, nothing should daunt us. If we preserve, determined to succeed, we shall be continually finding help and assistance where we least expect it. When all our efforts fail, and we arc sunk to the very brink of despair, Providence steps in, and bids us hope again. Perhaps we can make our meaning more apparent by an illustration. A young man who had adopted literature as a profession, was walking sadly along the streets of Paris, determined to rid himself of his life. Through great privations and hardships had he struggled and persevered, but without avail, success would not attend him, and he had determined to die. As he slowly and sadly pursued his way to the riverside, rain began to fall, and unconsciously he paused beneath a portico until it should cease. Standing by his side, was another, who likewise sought shelter from the storm. As they waited silently together, a portion of the brickwork above them gave way, and the companion of the would-be suicide was struck dead, The magnitude of his contemplated crime came forcibly before the young man’s mind, as he saw how wonderfully the hand of Providence had preserved him. Accepting it both as a warning and an encouragement, he started home with renewed vigour and a fresh determination to succeed. He is now one of the greatest of French dramatists. We will give another illustration, to show how important it is that we should watch for, and seize upon, small opportunities, without waiting -for the time that shall require a mighty effort —a time that may never come. A young man had travelled on foot many weary miles to reach a free college. Arriving at his destination, he told his story, and asked

for admittance. But the place was already full. Not liking to tell him plainly in words, the superior filled a glass so full of water, that not another drop could In added, and silently held it towards the young man. He understood the sign too well, and turned sadly away. But a moment afterwards his face cleared, and stooping, he picked up a withered leaf; this he carried back, and placed on the surface of the water. The incident was his salvation; for he was at once admitted into the institution. We are hero taught that nothing, however formidable it may appear, should daunt us in our way through life ; for of a surety, man’s extremity is God’s opportunity.

Another secret of success is a proper appreciation of the value of time. Samuel Johnson tells us: ‘He that hopes to look back hereafter with satisfaction on past years, must learn to know the present value of single moments, and endeavour to let no particle of time fall useless to the ground.’ A learned gentleman who had to wait at a railway station for a train, was heard to exclaim : ‘ Ten minutes lost for ever!’ Here is one of the greatest secrets, we had almost Baid the secret of success. Time waits for no man; therefore should we seize upon every moment for profit. Often, whilst contemplating an action, men will say : ‘ I must do this, or that, when I have time;’ but the time never comes, unless they are determined to find it ; for there is nothing in life that men could find an excuse for neglecting were they not compelled by interest or necessity to find the time to do it. Again, there are men who start in life with every chance of success ; surrounded by able and willing friends, with all possible advantages to insure their success, who yet remain in the position they were first placed in ; or more frequently, letting slip all the precious advantages they have possessed, eventually become objects of charity—pursued to this end, as they would say, by their evil destiny. And all this without any outward or perceptible fault. There are no signs of substance wasted in riotous living, nor any apparent neglect of business. This, when first looked at, appears very mysterious; but when considered for a moment, it becomes apparent that here there has been no aptitude for seizing the favours of Fortune, no valuation of precious moments, but an easy and fatal faith that all must be well with them.

Another great secret of success is confidence in our own powers; for if we do not believe in ourselves, how can ,we possibly expect that others will believe in us I A man may have every attribute for success, and yet remain “ a nobody ” for life, for want of confidence in his own powers—an over-diffidence, standing silently in the background, when he should come forward to be seen and heard. Such a one will find his want of confidence increased as time passes, until at length there will be such a wide chasm between him and his fellows, thaf he will find it impossible to cross.

“ Waste not, want not,” is an old maxim we will touch lightly upon : not that we think it of least importance. On the contrary, we believe it is one of the most important things of life, that we should use carefully the gifts Providence has so bountifully bestowed. There is no greater sin than for a man wilfully to waste his substance, as what is unnecessary for his own existance might prove life to others. Bishop Beveridge made such a good rule for his own guidence in these matters, that we may safely term it one of the secrets we are seeking. He determined “ never to spend a penny where it could be better spared, nor to spare it when it could be better spent.” There is no parsimonious spirit shown here; it is simply a practical spending or saving as is really required, and should be well borne in mind by all. Another great secret of success is the choice of a good wife. Lord Burleigh, in his advice to his son, amongst other things, said : “ Use great circumspection in choosing thy wife, for from thence will spring all good or evil; and it is an action of life like unto a stratagem of war, wherein a man can err but once. Inquire diligently of her disposition, and how her parents have been inclined in their youth —neither make choice of a fool; for she will be thy continual disgrace; for then shalt thou find it to thy great grief that nothing is more fulsome than a she fool.” There is much truth in the observation that men are what women make then. Although a man need not be subject in any slavish sense to his wife, still he is not unlikely to be influenced by her in some way or other; and fortunate indeed is he who obtains the help meet for him—a loving, careful partner, full of sympathy and encouragement, smoothing cares and chasing clouds away. How great is the work of our wives !

After all these elements of sucoess, we are still doubtful if the real secret has yet been mentioned. Izaak Walton says:— “ Let me tell you, there be many that have forty times our estate, that would give the greatest part of it to be healthful and cheerful like us. I have a rich neighbour who is always so busy that he has no leisure to laugh. The whole business of his life is to get money and more money. He is still drudging on, and says that Solomon says, ‘ The diligent hand maketh rich;’ and it is true indeed; but he considers not that it is not necessarily in the power of riches to make a man happy; for it was wisely said by a man of great observation, that there be as many miseries beyond riches as on this side of them.” And in another place he tells us : “ My advice is, that you be honestly rich, or contentedly poor ; but be sure your riches be justly got, or you spoil all; for it it is well said: ‘He that loses his conscience has nothing left that is worth keeping.’ ” These beautifully expressed sentiments of the learnqd philosopher lead us to ask: “Is the true success of life to be gained or looked for in position 1 Can the man who has successfully traversed the distance between poverty and riches, who has risen from obscurity to fame, be counted successful ?” We think not, if he lack that greatest of all earthly blessings, Contentment, while it is the duty of everyone to endeavour to earn an honest independence, those who fail to achieve riches may still apply to themselves the saying oi Richard Lucas, that “ a man may be virtuous though not wealthy ; and that that fortune which prevents him from being rich cannot prevent him from being happy.”