“Climb”

"Climb." BY A. G. GUDMUNDSEN. Did you ever sit at a meal of good and wholesome edibles and enjoy to the full extent the repast, until, by unlucky chance, you were served with the dessert that, because of either poor pastry, cooking, or the substance contained, bordered upon the fetid? If you have, undoubtedly your meal was spoiled. You condemned the cook. You forgot the good that went before, for in the things of life we are apt and inclined to be forgetful of the good, if the evil but casts its shadow. Yet, if you had but stopped to think and consider, and had acted promptly, you need not have devoured the dessert — so called — after the first taste, but could have passed it by, and remembered the cook as a good one. At the same time, you might have exercised a subtle acumen by nudging your companion, warning him of the dessert, thereby checking a possible discom- fort or wrong impression. It is because of this latter desire in counteracting a wrong impression that I wish to "nudge" my reader and warn him of the "dessert," if he has already partaken of the meal; and if not, to invite him to dine with me by meal reading the article in the May Cosmopolitan, entitled "Felicity." In case of the latter, the "nudge" must of necessity be pre- vious,but in good form. That of which I wish to speak I will quote: "There is always room on top,'' exclaims the flippant philosopher of today, seeking to spur us on. It is a false incentive. 'Twas never intended that we should all be climbers. Stop! Ponder on such a statement that we, the children of God, were not intended to be climbers; that we should be destined to be satisfied with what we are, be that ever so low, when the very things of nature, of which we are a part, urge us on and on to the higher and better plain.

1012 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Height has but one dimension — that leading toward perfec- tion; but height is not confined to any one specific profession, occupation, position or job; it is a property of all. 'Tis true we are not all intended, or rather adapted, for the same thing. It is good; but, look you, has not progression been the noticeable factor in the building of civilization? Has not improvement been made by us upon the work of our progenitors in every walk of life? And, by the same rule, can we deny the possible or probable advance- ment by our progeny? As surely as the sun will rise upon the morrow, just so certain can we presage the advancement of man- kind, if what was intended shall be. Every onward and upward step that we take, and those to follow, as did the stepping-stones of our forefathers, places us upon a higher round on the ladder of perfection. The rules of life demand that a man shall either advance or retrograde; for in the stream of existence no man can stand still. But the current is never so swift as to make it impossible for us to row our barge up-stream, if we but will. The extent of our progress depends upon our muscles and our brain, and if we choose to cast our oars aside and drift down the stream, past the sturdy men and women who are ever pulling onward, with might born of knowledge, heedless of their cries, "Danger below! ' we are sure to be consumed in the vortex of sin, to be whirled and dashed about, then swallowed in its never- ceasing greed for idle men, realizing too late that we were expected to "climb," and we had not taken advantage of this knowledge, or complied with this expectation. To remark that a philosopher is "flippant,"' who encourages all classes of men to strive for the top of their profession, is to have that remark branded as recreant. All creeds and denominations teach that there is room on top. One has but to gaze into the heavens to be convinced of the limitlessness of space and progress. As God is, so can man become, and because of one failure, or two or three, we should not throw our oars overboard and say, ' 'Tis useless," but we should climb, climb, climb. Confucius said, "Man's glory [alone] is not in never falling, but in rising every time he falls." So let us climb and be climbers. Let us try it

"CLIMB." 1013 again and be "stickers," always remembering that fame is not per- fection, nor has perfection in our various walks of life a visible limit. Felicity is for the ignorant alone, if it stops progression. True happiness and bliss can only be attained when we have a thorough knowledge that we are "climbing." Hbber. Utah. Success. BY FRANKLIN H. ROLAPP. Success is the result of applied energy, the main theme of ambition, and the joy of the soul — an oak developed from an acorn of courage. Success is the gossip of the idler and the reward of the worker. It is loved and desired by all, though, however, feared and shunned by most; a beautiful rose on a stem of thorns and thistles, acquired by careful arts and the overcoming of those obstacles which lie in its path. Success is no respecter of person, though, however, only attainable when welcomed, you will find it very delicate. Be sure you understand it. Remember its motto, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." It demands a square deal. Did you ever hear of one's idleness being rewarded with suc- cess? No. Idleness and misery; work and success. "Where there is a will there is away." Assuming that you have the will, are you acquainted with the way, which is crowded with opposition and obstructed with difficulties? An essential; for without the battle there can be no victory, therefore be tactful and always apply your best. In every undertaking, no matter h »w small or how large, be master of the situation. Be patient. Rimember Rome wasn't built in a day. It's the small and daily acts of life which count, not the grand-stand plays. Do what you d) not merely to please, and never to displease, but because you know it to be right. This is a means to an end, for if you love your work you will have success, and if you wish success you will have to work. Leipzig, Germany.