THE RICHER MINES No man is so poor but that he is a stockholder. Yet many a man has no real riches; his stocks draw dividends in dollars and cents only. BRAVE LIFE To be absolutely without physical fear may not be the highest courage; to shrink and quake, and yet stand at one's post, may be braver still. So of success. It lies less in the attainment of some external end than in holding yourself to your purposes and ideals; for out of high loyalty and effort comes that intangible thing called character, which is no mere symbol of success, but success itself. Do not know what I shall find on out beyond the final fight; I do not know what I shall meet beyond the last barrage of night; Nor do I care—but this I know—if I but serve within the fold And play the game-I'll be prepared for all the endless years may hold. Life is a training camp at best for what may wait beyond the years; A training camp of toiling days and nights that lean to dreams and tears; But each may come upon the goal, and build his soul above all Fate By holding an unbroken faith and taking Courage for a mate. Is not the fight itself enough that man must look to some behest? Wherein does Failure miss Success if all engaged but do their best? Where does the Victor's cry come in for wreath of fame or laureled brow If one he vanquished fought as well as weaker muscle would allow? If my opponent in the fray should prove to be a stronger foe Not of his making-but because the Destinies ordained i so; If he should win—and I should iose-although I did my utmost part, Is my reward the less than his if he should strive with equal heart? Brave Life, I hold, is something more than driving upward to the peak; Than smashing madly through the strong, and crashing onward through the weak; I hold the man who makes his fight against the raw game's crushing odds Is braver than his brothers are who hold the favor of the gods. On by the sky line, faint and vague, in that Far Country all must know, No laurel crown of fame may wait beyond the sunset's glow; But life has given me the chance to train and serve within the fold, To meet the test-and be prepared for all the endless years may hold. Permission of the Author. From "The Sportlight." Grantland Rice. A SONG OF TO-MORROW A night's sleep and a new day-these are excellent things te look forward to when one is weary or in trouble. I'L bit er trouble, L' Honey, fer terday; Yander come Termorrer- Rainy Sky is sayin', "Dis'll never do! Fetch dem rainbow ribbons, Printed in and permission from "The Atlanta Constitution." Frank L. Stanton THE GLAD SONG Gladness begins with the first person, with you. But it may spread far, like the ripples when you toss a stone in the water. Laugh a Bit and Sing a Song, Joseph Morris. PAINTING THE LILY Many people are not content to let well enough alone, but spoil what they have by striving for an unnecessary and foolish improvement. If they have a rich title, they try to ornament it still further; if they have refined gold, they try to gild it; if they have a lily, they try to paint it into still purer color. 'HEREFORE, to be possessed with double pomp, To gild refinéd gold, to paint the lily, To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish, William Shakespeare. A PRETTY GOOD WORLD The world has its faults, but few of us would give it up till we have to. PRETT RETTY good world if you take it all round- Better be on than under the ground Pretty good world, good people! Better be here where the skies are as blue As the eyes of your sweetheart a-smilin' at you- Pretty good world, good people! Pretty good world with its hopes and its fears- Sun twinkles bright through the rain of its tears Pretty good world, good people! Better be here, in the pathway you know Where the thorn's in the garden where sweet roses grow, Than to rest where you feel not the fall o' the snowPretty good world, good people! Pretty good world! Let us sing it that way- Make up your mind that you're in it to stay- Pretty good world, with its dark and its bright- Printed in and permission from "The Atlanta Constitution." Frank L. Stanton. |