The Chemawa American, April 28, 1920, Image 1

P r i n t e d a t C h e m a w a , O r e g o n , a n d D e v o t e d to t h e I n t e r e s t s o f I n d i a n E d u c a t io n
W ednesday, April 28, 1920
Vol. X X II
BIG SUCCESSES W ON B Y LITTLE M A R G IN S
Selected
When James A. Garfield was elected President of
the United States, an intimate friend asked him,
“ What is the secret of your success?” The President
remained silent a moment, then replied: “ I learned
a lesson early in life that has proved a great help to
me. It may, in part at least, answer your question.
When I was at school, I determined to win the highest
honor in a certain class. Try as hard as I would,
there was one boy who always had his lesson better
than I. I almost had persuaded myself that is was use­
less for me to attempt to surpass any one so talented.
“ One night when I was ready to retire, I put out
my light, threw up the window and looked out into
the darkness. Down the street I noticed a light, the
only one in that part of the village. Getting it’s
location I soon realized it was in the room of the
student who was keeping ahead of me in class. I
stood there and watched the light with a great fasci­
nation. In fifteen minutes it went out.
“ Then I said to myself, Jim, that fellow hasn’t
any more brains than you have, only he’s working
harder than you are. He is winning success by a fif­
teen-minute margin.
“ There isn’t much more to tell, but I got out my
light and, for the next half-hour, I put the hardest
study on that lesson I had ever given to any problem
in my school life. I followed this custom each night
thereafter. Yes, I received the coveted honor, but
what is more important, I learned a lesson that has
helped me in many a hard-fought contest since. I
found the principle held good on the battlefield and
in politics as well as in school. Many a victory is
won because one man keeps on a few minutes after
his opponent has given up. He wins by a fifteen
minute margin.” Mr. Garfield closed his story by say­
ing, “ If the power to do hard work is not genius, it
is the best possible substitute for it.”
The late Frank Woolworth, the merchant, learned
this lesson in another way. In an elevator, one day,
he told a friend that he had just received the plans for
his New York building and was ready to let the con­
tract. “ It will be a fine one,” he said. “ It will only
No. 29
lack a little of being the tallest office-building in the
world. ”
His friend answered: “ Fine; but why don’t you
make it the tallest while you are about it?”
Mr. Woolworth’s keen mind caught the point. He
went back to the architect, and had the plans changed
and the Woolworth Building became famous by a mar­
gin.
I remember, when a boy, watching a close horse
race at the county fair. Two of the horses came under
the wire so nearly together that the spectators could
not tell which one was ahead. The Judges decided
that the sorrel “ won by a neck.” He received the
blue ribbon and his owner the great prize of the
week. To my boyish mind it seemed too bad, for the
other horse was so near the goal. I learned that no
matter how close he came to success, he failed. In
the race only one could be first.
It is often said Napoleon almost conquered the
world. The difference between “ almost” and “ suc­
cess” could be seen in the lonely exile of St. Helena.
A famous sculptor rejected a fine block of marble
because he detected a tiny red line in it. He said,
“ It is good, but not good enough for the best.” In
these strenuous times no one can afford to stop short
of his best. It may be the margin that spells success.
OUR BA SE B A L L SCHEDULE
April 10—Oregon Aggies
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- at
April 1Z—Oregon State Penitentiary ”
April 22—Willamette University - ”
April 24—North Pacific College - ”
April 28—Willamette University - ”
May 1—Oregon Aggies
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”
May 8—Pacific University
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- ”
May 15—McMinnvillle Col. (tentative)
May 22—North Pacific College -
”
May 28—Pacific University
- - ”
June 5—McMinnville
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-
- ”
- Chemawa
Penitentiary
- Willamette
- Portland
- Chemawa
- Corvallis
- Chemawa
McMinnville
- Chemawa
Forest Grove
- Chemawa
TRACK SCHEDULE
April 10—Annual Indoor Meet
- at - Portland
April 24—Oregon Aggies
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-
” - Chemawa
May 7—Willamette University
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” -
Salem
May 22—Non-Conference Meet
- ” -
Salem
June 5—McMinnville College (tentative) Chemawa