has distinguished all the great men of history. The pertinacity of Grant was exprest in the phrase, "I intend to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer." Many men give up just as victory is within sight. A little more patience and staying power and all would have been won. If a man's mind is weak and vacillating, he can strengthen it by saying, "I will!" If he has lost faith in himself, he may begin again by saying, "I will!" Let him read the lives of resolute men, and mingle with people who do things. Soon there will spring up in his mind and life this wonderful power to will and do.

It is a useful habit to take little disappointments as a matter of course, and to crowd them out as fast as they enter the mind by fixing the attention upon big values and fundamentals. If things do not go just right, take a little trip into the country. When you return you will probably find they have untangled themselves, or are not quite as bad as you thought.

At the first approach of discouragement, a man should rouse himself out of his lethargy, and go forth into the open air with some inspiring lines upon his lips like these by "Susan Coolidge":

Every day is a fresh beginning;

Every morn is the world made new;
You who are weary of sorrow and sinning,
Here is a beautiful hope for you-
A hope for me, and a hope for you.

Every day is a fresh beginning:

Listen, my soul, to the glad refrain, And, spite of old sorrow and older sinning, And puzzles forecasted and possible pain, Take heart with the day, and begin again!

All things are possible to a courageous man. The great leaders of the world have been of intrepid character, doing their duty as they saw it. There is an insistent cry to-day for capable men-real men who can do real things. One is told that every business and profession is overcrowded, that the chances for advancement are things of the past. This is not so. Never

in all the history of the world have there been so many golden opportunities for worthy men. The greatest prizes yet await the men who make the proper effort to win them.

XII

DAILY STEPS IN SELF-CULTURE

A

PLAN is here offered to the student whereby he may systematically develop a high type of manly self-confidence. He may begin on any day of the month, with the lesson assigned for that day, and continue to repeat the entire series through as many months as may be necessary for his requirements.

To get conscious possession of his powers, he is recommended first to cultivate poise. Then he will subject himself to a rigid examination, in order to determine what qualities should be developed in his character and what represt. It is important for a good beginning that he be optimistic, looking for the best both in himself and in others. The

difference between seeing the bright and the dark side of life is almost the difference between success and failure. The student should remember that wisdom is not a mere accumulation of cold and dry facts, but that "In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found." There can be no real self-culture without real earnestness. Half-hearted efforts produce nothing worth while. As the student's powers unfold, he will more and more realize what unlimited possessions he has for development. His enthusiasm, however, must not run away with his judgment, since patience and deliberateness will be a necessary part of his work.

The lamp of faith should be kept constantly burning in order that no shadows of discouragement hinder his progress. His unselfishness will manifest itself in systematic thinking of other people's interests. He will gladly share with them the results of his new-found knowledge. He will aim to do things promptly, and to