Escape the common human lot; St. Clair Adams TO THOSE WHO FAIL We too often praise the man who wins just because he wins; the plaudits and laurels of victory are the unthinking crowd's means of estimating success. But the vanquished may have fought more nobly than the victor; he may have done his best against hopeless odds. As Addison makes Cato say, ""Tis not in mortals to command success, But we'll do more, Sempronius,-we'll deserve it." 'A LL honer to him who shall win the prize," Give glory and honor and pitiful tears Oh, great is the hero who wins a name, And great is the man with a sword undrawn, Joaquin Miller. From "Joaquin Miller's Complete Poems," Harr Wagner Pub. Co. HELPIN' OUT "I always look out for Number One,” was the favorite remark of a man who thought he had found the great rule to success, but he had only stated his own doctrine of selfishness, and his life was never very successful. A man must be big to succeed, and selfishness is always cramping and narrow. DA's always way, A'S a lot of folks what preach all day An' always pointin' out de Dey say dat prayin' all de time An' keepin' yo' heart all full of rhyme I believes in 'ligin, it's mighty sweet, But de kind dat gits in yo' hands and feet If it rains or shines, dey's des de same Say, bless you, honey, Sunshine's dey name; And smilin' is der biggest prize. 'Cause dey's busy all de time in helpin' out. We had an old mule on Massa's place, Dat bray of his was strong as wool— We's all des human, des common clay, Des needs a little help to make work play. I'se seen de simple spirit come from below; An' you gits on best yo'self, an' of this dey ain't When yo' practise de art of always helpin' out." Permission of the Author. William Judson Kibby. OPENING PARADISE We appreciate even the common things of life if we are de nied them. EE the wretch, that long has tost SEE On the thorny bed of Pain, At length repair his vigor lost, And breathe and walk again: The meanest flow'r'et of the vale, The simplest note that swells the gale, Thomas Gray. TO THE MEN WHO LOSE When Captain Scott's ill-fated band, after reaching the South Pole, was struggling through the cold and storms back towards safety, the strength of Evans, one of the men, became exhausted. He had done his best-vainly. Now he did not wish to imperil his companions, already sorely tried. At a halting-place, therefore, he left them and, staggering out into a blizzard, perished alone. It was a failure, yes; but was it not also magnificent success? H ERE'S to the men who lose! What though their work be e'er so nobly planned, And watched with zealous care, No glorious halo crowns their efforts grand, Contempt is failure's share. Here's to the men who lose! If triumph's easy smile our struggles greet, The king is he who, after fierce defeat, Here's to the men who lose! The ready plaudits of a fawning world Ring sweet in victor's ears; The vanquished's banners never are unfurled→ Here's to the men who lose! The touchstone of true worth is not success; There is a higher test— Though fate may darkly frown, onward to press, Here's to the men who lose! It is the vanquished's praises that I sing, "A hard-fought failure is a noble thing; Anonymous. IT MAY BE Many, many are the human struggles in which we can lend no aid. But if we cannot help, at least we need not hinder. Τ IT may be that you cannot stay To lend a friendly hand to him It may be that he has not won The course that he has found so hard; Fermission of Not kick him down. S. E. Kiser S. Kiser. LIFE In life is necessarily much monotony, sameness. But our triumph may lie in putting richness and meaning into routine that apparently lacks them. F ORENOON and afternoon and night,-Forenoon, And afternoon, and night,-Forenoon, and-what! The empty song repeats itself. No more? Yea, that is Life: make this forenoon sublime, This afternoon a psalm, this night a prayer, And Time is conquered, and thy crown is won. From "Poems," Edward Rowland Sill, |