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THE
SINGLE COPIES,
S 10 CENTS.
V O L . X L V I I . N o . 22. Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 1 Madison Avc., New York, November 28,1908. SINGL
$ i.oS°PER YEAR.
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O
NCE upon a time, a piano man, when in a reminiscent mood, discussed the various vicissi-
| tudes of his somewhat checkered career. He was a man of ability, but perhaps lacked the
power of concentration. He said that just at certain critical periods little things had
obtruded themselves so as to completely destroy his prospects and that when victory
seemed almost within his grasp, these little, occurrences would develop to annihilate his plans.
According to his version, he had no control over these little things, and it seemed to him as if
fate had entered into a conspiracy against him, in order to thwart his plans for advance, in almost
every way.
No doubt, these or similar thoughts come to many of us who suffer disappointments in life—
and who does not? These so-called "little things" united form great essentials in life. It is interest-
ing to know how they obtrude themselves—sometimes rudely—upon us, and seem to effectually block
our progress along the pathway leading to fame and fortune.
These "little things" are not confined exclusively to the lives of ordinary mortals, for they have
a way of figuring unpleasantly at times in the lives of great men. They frequently form a destructive
element in great reputations, even after they have been firmly established. We should therefore
always be on our guard ever watchful for them.
Sometimes great men of heroic mould, like Dewey, who planted the American banner in the
Orient, make these little mistakes, for when he gave away that house in Washington which was pre-
sented to him by the people, he was apparently finished as a hero in the eyes of the nation.
There was Hobson, who risked his life in a brave and novel manner to bottle up the Spanish
fleet at Santiago. In a weak moment he permitted a young woman to kiss him. That settled
Hobson. The lady survived.
Then again, there are always contributory elements. The acts of others have a powerful effect
in shaping the destiny of great men. If Charlotte Corday had not finished Marat, Napoleon would
have never gotten his chance to make over Europe. He would not have been passing out kingdoms
among his relatives. Why? Simply because if Marat had lived, he would have chopped off
Napoleon's head as soon as he came back from Italy with his great reputation.
If we had not had the little brush with Spain, perhaps Theodore Roosevelt would have never
reached the Presidential chair, but the war came and with it the opportunity to climb San Juan Hill
and he has been climbing ever since.
All of these events, some great and some little, seem but stepping stones to higher things if we
only avail ourselves of the opportunity. "Little things," it is true, many of them in our common
work-a-day life, but it is these "little things," which make opportunity for a larger life and larger
effort.
It is these "little things," which, after all, go to make up the life of an individual and the history
of a nation.. We should not overlook them. In fact, it is a vital necessity that we study them—
analyze them in all their bearings.
We frequently complain of these "little things" which swerve us from the beaten path and
seem to harass and annoy us, but after all there's another side—"little things" as well help to build
reputations, help to make fortunes, and it is the man who is ever watchful of little things who usually
:
succeeds in this busy modern world of ours,
,
E D W A R D LYMAN BILL.