He had written
and was writing some of his best stories, but could not get
ahead, apparently. Nevertheless, he kept on trying, and
developed himself. When other young men were busy talking about
themselves or deploring their lot Davis was writing and grinding
away out of working hours at the effort to get out and realize
what was in him. He succeeded. ----
A few cases have been mentioned for young men to think over.
They are selected at random. No young man need worry about
himself so long as he can honestly say that he is doing his best.
Being in the same place at the same salary for seven years can do
you no harm, if you are developing during that time what is in
you. But you may well worry if you are drifting aimlessly,
pitying yourself, making no effort. If your mind stays in the
same spot for years, that is dangerous. But don't worry about
anything else.
WHEN THE BABY CHANGED INTO A FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD
Nothing is more common than to hear men--especially great and
moral men--deplore the results of civilization, of mechanical,
industrial and scientific progress. We quote a typical lament by
a noble and sincere man, the Reverend Charles Wagner, author of
an admirable book called "The Simple Life." The author says:
"If it had been prophesied to the ancients that one day humanity
would have all of the machinery now in use to sustain and protect
natural existence, they would have concluded therefrom, first, an
increase of independence, and in the second place, a great
decrease in the competition for worldly possessions, They would
have thought that the simplification of life would have been the
result of such perfected means of action, that there would follow
the realization of a higher standard of morality.
Pages:
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304