Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1876 — “The Golden Mean.” [ARTICLE]

“ The Golden Mean.”

Webster’s famous saying: “There is always room enough at the top,” is no encouragement to the majority in any calling. What has the young man of fair average ability to hope for? He is no genius. What does it signify to him that the few brilliant were always in demand, and had no trouble in getting a living? Most lawyers, ministers ana physicians can reach no such eminence, have no such gigantic powers. Appeals to ambition are too common in education. If urged excessively, they bring essential discouragement to those who fail to reach some definite end. If by stimulating the few we dishearten the many we may do more harm than good. All offers of prizes, the marking systems of schools and colleges, are subject to the same danger. Those who do not win any* prizes or attain eminent rank should not feel that their failure is essential. In tire great battle of life they may win higher prizes, may have greater usefulness. Satisfaction with moderate success is better than the attainment of eminence. “ Room at the top,” to be sure; but that is of no use to you, if you cannot reach the top, though you rise up early, sit up late, and labor with all your might, with an energy and perseverance that never tire. Very likely this is true. Then he assured there is room enough for comfort, happiness and usefulness half way up. There may even be true peace and contentment at the base more than the man at the top ever knows, if Providenee does not give facilities and ability to rise. The great danger of our country is the unscrupulous pushing for position, office, wealth and fame. Men act as if it were essential to reach some particular place or the game of life was lost. Hence comes the restlessness, discontent/and sometimes complete wretchedness of those who fail. The ambitious! use unscrupulous means, put forth the most desperate efforts, disregarding the claims of health, of conscience, and of God. The youth who entered college with the resolution, “ I will have the valedictory or die,” died in his Junior year. He is the type of man}' in ail the walks of life. Moreover, that “room at the top” is not always reached by merit, but often by mere accident It is sometimes gained by trickery, intrigue and downright dishonesty, Of ail “ mentioned ” for Governor, the successful candidate may not be superior in integrity, intellect, or any qualification. He may be inferior in everything except caucus management. Excessive ambition for eminence, even twhen most successful, always begets discontent, for there is* always a higher eminence not yet attained. Of the forty men who think the Presidency is possibly within their reach, thirty-nine will quite certainly be disappointed, veiy likely all. Some other man, who has no expectation himself, who is not now mentioned by his friends, may supplant every one. No public men ever went to their graves more thoroughly disappointed than Daniel Webster and Henrv Clay. Their “room at the top,” their hosts of admiring friends, all the honors they had gained, could not .fill “the aching void,” could not console them for the failure to reach the Presidency. They saw men fill

the position far inferior in every qualiflcation. Strange they coOld not have afien that the office was far below them, pot above them. “Aut, Caesar, ant nullus,” Casnrfr nobody, is a dangerous motto. A minister need not be a Phillips Brooks, a lawyer need not be a Choate, a physician need not be a Dr. Parker, in order to be very successful. The minister who dpes the work of a country parish, whfise name is hardly known in the great city J too faq; cures a high place in the esteem and love of his own people, who is regarded as an angel of mercy by the sick and afflicted, may be more happy and more usethl than the eminent city clergyman. The lawyer who honestly serves the interests of his clients, who is a peacemaker by dissuading from litigation, although be does not Sto Congress, or even to the State Eegis;ure, need not be dissatisfied because he has not the wide-spread reputation of his rivals. If we so strongly urge young men to strive for the highest eminencte as to lead, them to think they have mistaken their calling if they do not reach it, we may do immense harm. We need men in every profession, in every honorable employment, of moderate qualifications, we should do all in our power to welcome such and make them satisfied. Young man, aspire after real excellence in your chosen field, whether you are eminent or not. If you cannot be contented without eminence, you will probably never be contented. If you imagine you are a genius it is likely you are mistaken. Be satisfied with what God has given you the power to do, whether you reach the topmost or the lowest round in the ladder of fame. On that ladder there may be no room for you at all. The world’s special prizes may not be yours, however earnestly you may strive for them, however justly you may deserve them. But by faithful perseverance, by honest service, by untiring industry, you may probably have success in your chosen sphere, you may certainly have true success in life. — “ A . T.” in Christian Union.