Why Some Women Succeed.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue XVI, 17 October 1903, Page 64

Why Some Women Succeed.

One reason for the success of some women is found in the faet that they are willing to work. Many young women lead idle lives. Instead of going to college and fitting themselves for some noble or exalted place, they saunter on the streets, spend hours and even days in shopping, talk about clothes, waste time at parties, and are not of much use in the world.

Little was ever attained without labour. Jenny Lind, a child of poor Swedish parents, who sang to her cat so wonderfully that the people on the street stopped to listen, who was educated at public expense by the State, who, at seventeen had appeared on the stage 111 times for her board and clothes, and who refused to enter society. preferring to devote her time to study, said: “The greater part of what I can do in my art I have myself acquired by incredible labour, in spite of astonishing difficulties. God has so

plainly written within me what 1 had to study; my ideal was. and is. so high, that I could find no mortal who could in the least degree satisfy my demands. Therefore I sing after no one’s method: only, as far as I am able, after that of the birds; for their Master was the only one who came up to my demands for truth, clearness, and expression." Harriet Martineau, one of the greatest women of England, was deaf at thirteen. In speaking of a "vow of patience.” which she made at that age. she said: “I determined that I would smile in every moment of anguish from my misfortune—and that I would never lose temper at any consequence from it.” She thought deafness the best thing that ever happened to her, "in a selfish view, as the grandest impulse to self-mastery; and the best in a higher view, as my most peculiar opportunity of helping others.” Left poor by the death of her father, and lonely by the death of the young minister to whom she was engaged, and unable to teach by reason of deafness. Harriet sewed all day to make things to sell, and wrote in the night and till two or three o’clock in the morning, to earn

money. Finally, she decided to write some stories teaching people about poverty. taxes, etc.; and. when two were completed, she went to London to find a publisher. They all said. ‘‘Xo.” into her ear-trumpet, but she plodded for three weeks through the mud and fog, though often going to sleep sorrowful at night. At length success came, with thirty-two volumes written in two and a-half years. When told by a doctor that she must drink wine to keep up her failing strength, she refused, saying. “Fresh air and cold water are my stimulants.”

She did great good with the little books, gained the friendship of wellknown people, and made ten thousand dollars. Later, she received thousands for a single volume. She travelled in America, and was a noted opponent of slavery. For fourteen years she wrote leading editorials—l 642 in all—in the London “Daily Xews,” on “America,” “French Free Trade.” “Drainage in Agriculture.” and the like. All through America’s Civil War she wrote for four leading English papers in favour of the I nion. She conquered difficulties and did a grand work. "Whatever a woman proves herself able to do, society will be thankful to see her do —just as if she were a man,” she once said.

Catherine Booth, the wonderful lead er of the Salvation Army, so timid that she dared not speak, at first, in publie. but by whose words I have seen thousands thrilled in England, all her life had to combat illness. “I can scarcely remember a day in my life.” she said, "which has been free from some kind of pain or other.” With eight children between the ages of five and sixteen to eare for. in the midst of poverty, she led a life that puts most of us to shame. At the last she said, “I am going ino the dark valley believing. I am ashamed of the little I have achieved. . . . Don’t be concerned about your dying: only go on’ living well, and the dying will be all right. Redeem the time, for we can do but little at our best.” Still another reason why some women succeed is because they have a definite aim. Many of us drift from day to day. We are very busy with a social call, or visit friends for weeks, and let life slip by: although, lias! it is ours but onee. and we will have accomplished very little when the end shall eome.—Sarah K. Bolton, in “Success.”