The Excellence of Misfortune 



Compare this with the familiar, "Oh, I've 

 tried and given it up. ' ' 



I doubt if ever a fish-hawk hungered long be- 

 cause robbed by a bald eagle. It has faith in its 

 resources, although they fail it at times. The 

 eagle's back may be turned, next time, and 

 chance has a value which is worth reckoning 

 with; its own wings may be a match for the 

 eagle in the next contest. At least, the bird is 

 so far encouraged as to try again, and a fair 

 measure of success is shown by the fact that 

 fish-hawks hold their own against the race of 

 eagles. 



Nature, wherever we turn, tells the same 

 story. Nowhere is permitted unobstructed 

 progress, uniform success. This would mean 

 stagnation. Think of the ocean without its 

 waves. To stand long on its shores, gazing at 

 monotony, would drive us mad. The haps are 

 delights, but the world's mishaps, as we call 

 them, test our strength. How else should we 

 know that we are strong! Our good fortune 

 bears a distinct relationship to our misfortune. 

 Success that rests on the ruins of our failures 

 stands upon a firm foundation. 



215 



