Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 87, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 February 1912 — Great Prize of Life Comes by Accident [ARTICLE]

Great Prize of Life Comes by Accident

By GEORGE B. BRUCE, Chica

The great prize of life may come by accident. Shakespeare says: “Fortune brings in somb boats that are not steered.” We must all admit that happenings and unforeseen events -over which a man has no control often change the whole course of his career. Good positions do not always come by merit, as the result of one’s own direct es--1 forts. Many a poor laboring man is raised to wealth by the death of some rich relative or some poor washerwoman is raised to high position by marrying a man of fortune. ■"

Some are moved forward to eminence by chance, sickness, accident, death or having kinship with the men they work for, while a more worthy worker is left behind. ' * Yow know what it means to be in the right place at 'the right time, although your being there was not of your own calculation. I oo many people in this world take great credit upon themselves for what they are, when if'it were not for the fact that they were lucky they would be no better off than their less fortunate neighbors. For that matter, they are lucky to be well, strong and of good, sound mind. It is of none of their doings they are such, because if a man is born of good health and strength it is chance. If he does not dissipate and drink he is lucky^—lucky not to have the disposition to do so. * 7