Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 June 1917 — "JUST AN ENTHUSIAST” [ARTICLE]

"JUST AN ENTHUSIAST”

of’en hears the expression, L-.-. referring to another who has V. axed eloquent on some subject 'ear to his heart: “Oh, he is just r a'iii.-ia-r; you must not tiiu too",-'seriously.”’ ’■■■, . Yes, just an enthusiast, but what -s-on'derful thing is enthusiasm! Dead men have it not. It is /the exclusive possession of LIVE .men —of unen of power, of dynamis force. It is hard to imagine what this life would be without enthusiasm. Perhaps the warden Of Sing Sing prison, would have a clearer periceptioh than most people of a world devoid of enthusiasm. I. The quality we call .enthusiasm hs done much for the world. Columbus>had it, and he discovered a I confluent. Fulton had it,'and we have the steam engine. The Wright brothers had it. and as a result the currents, of the r upper ether are almost as well known as | those of the deep. Marconi had pt, and the wireless has eliminated

the element of distance on this earth. And what shall we say 01 Edison, the greatest enthusiast of them all? What would be our condition today even without his ’ You call it genius. But who ever knew a /genius who -was not an enthusiast on his hobby? What is a genius, anyway, without enthusiasm? A: pere visionaryl Be an enthusiast in your <laily business, in municipal, state and national affairs. Be an enthusiast in everything you" undertake, in everything you . advocate. And above all, be ah enthusiast in upholding the . government in ’its prosecution, of this war, and in the end wo will reap the reward of the successful enthusiast. .

Enthusiasm is not a gift. It can be acquired by any normal person. It. does not take the place of will power, but is the legitimate child of the will. Given.'the desire to succeed, enthusiasm can be cultivated, and when once acquired itspower is liniHless. Enthusiasm is hot the exclusive dower of youth. Some, of the brightest minds the world has 'ever known has carried it down to the valley of the shadows. Neither is it the peculiar heritage of genius,pfor many of the world’s greatest benefactors have been people of mediocre gifts, but obscessed with a burning enthusiasm for accomplishment. ‘Therein lies its greatest lesson. All may possess it, and with its magic power no life need be a failure. The strenuous days through which we are passing call for unbridled enthusiasm. Be an enthusiast! Only the derelicts and failures will sneer.