Some succeed while others fail. This is a recognized fact; yet history
tells us that seven-tenths of our most successful men began life poor.
As our title indicates, we shall endeavor to show "why some succeed
while others fail." Knowing that everybody desires success, and
recognizing the old adage, "Example is the best of teachers," we have
selected representative characters from the multitude of successful men
who have climbed the ladder of success, beginning at the bottom round.
These we have followed from childhood to manhood, dwelling at length on
the traits of character that have made them so rich and successful,
believing that a careful study will convince all that the proverbial
"luck" had little to do with it. On the contrary, one is taught those
lessons of self-helpfulness and self-reliance which are so essential to
success in life's struggles. It is fearful to think how many of our
young people are drifting without an aim in life, and do not comprehend
that they owe mankind their best efforts. We are all familiar with the
parable of the slothful servant who buried his talent--all may profit by
his example. To those who would succeed, we respectfully present this
volume.
_Every young man is now a sower of seed on the field of life. The bright
days of youth are the seed-time. Every thought of your intellect, every
emotion of your heart, every word of your tongue, every principle you
adopt, every act you perform, is a seed, whose good or evil fruit will
prove bliss or bane of your after life._--WISE.