Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 257, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 October 1912 — “NERVE," BUT NOT "NERVES" [ARTICLE]

“NERVE," BUT NOT "NERVES"

Possession of the One Is Desirable, While the Other Can Mean Nothfng but Misery. It is one thing to have nerve and quite another matter to have nerves. When you possess a nerve— a good, big nerve, of course—you will ride or walk rough shod over everybody and every object in your path, likewise in any path that isn’t yours, but happens to catch your fancy; but afflicted with the plural, nerves, you are fit only to be trod upon. With a nerve you can take Wall street by the throat and bleed it; with nerves you are subject to torture from the poorest or meanest of creatures. With a nerve you can drive racing cars and fly aeroplanes; with nerve 3 you are unable to pass within hearing distance of either monster without imagining it will turn from its course to run you down. Possessed of nerves you ar9 given spells of misery and weeping; possessed of a nerve yon laugh triumphantly and make others do the weeping. Nerves get out of order and lead to all sorts of physical and mental distress; but a big nerve grows by daily use, its happy owner waxing ever more and more sleek and prosperous. If you have too many nerves you are prone to prostration; if you have lots of nerve you may reach the loftiest elevation among your fellows. Many a man, and woman, too, of mediocre talent, has been carried to the pinnacle of success and fame on the strength of a single superb nerve; many another, gifted and brilliant, has been held back by better to be nervy than nervous. Therefore if you find nerves sprouting, cut them back as the florists do with the American Beauty rose.