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THE
REVIEW
fflJJIC TIRADE
V O L . L V I I . N o . 11. Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman BUI at 373 Fourth Ave., New York, Sept. 13,1913
SING
*f.oo°p P ER S YEAR ENTS
Hammering
S
EVERE trials of various kinds ofttimes bring out the best that is in one, for under certain
] forms of adversity men develop surprising strength along various lines. New characteris-
tics begin to creep out, they become self-reliant, courageous, and their ideas sprout and
grow under the stress of adversity.
Like the rough diamond, which under Ihe blows of the lapidary acquires sparkle, beauly and
value, so under the blows of adversity some men gradually reach thai higher state of perfection
which attracts the admiration and wins the plaudits of the world.
It is not necessary in all cases that men should undergo severe reverses in order to advance,
but if we study the history of the really great men of the world we will learn that they have under-
gone, like the diamond, a tremendous hammering and polishing process.
Men who succeed too easily do not as a rule achieve permanent success. They invariably
obtain an exaggerated view of their own ability, and then they are apt to overlook certain essen-
tials which contribute to permanent success.
They frequently underestimate the competing forces which are actively engaged in striving to
win the victories from them. They are apt to view competitors with indifference and scorn, and
competition never sleeps!
When a man thinks that he has won a position of absolute impregnability, from that hour he
begins to deteriorate, and it is only a question of time before his competitors have learned of his
weakness and profit thereby. They learn of his sensitiveness and they apply the lance effectively.
Sometimes a severe setback is necessary to make us think, work and do better, but just as
soon as men figure that their position is secure they are in a dangerous place, because the old world
never stops—competition grows keener all the while, and the men who do not realize that tlKTi; is
no halting ground in the march of progress will sooner or later be consigned to the scrap heap of
business failures.
Life is one ceaseless struggle, and the business man who relaxes in his endeavors to achieve
success has already written across his trade tombstone the word DE-
FEAT, and that is an unpleasant word to see prominently displayed
anywhere. The hammering process may be hard, but it is unavoid-
ble if we are to advance.