6 THE MIRROR The Handicap Race W.E.D. "Every handicap in life is only a spur whose effect we have not yet discovered." I read it in a book. Rac- | ing through the paragraphs, I was brought to a sudden stop. How can a handicap be a spur? I thought a handicap was a deterrent. Can diffi- culties point the way to achievement? Do obstacles help us to develop high- er possibilities? I closed my eyes a moment and saw through inner ease- ments a picture of the long list of seers and benefactors and creators of the world, and I put an X beside the mames of those who had _ climbed through handicaps to triumph. The X's were very conspicuous, The lit- tle mental picture was convincing. Through the torture of sorrow many souls have caught new glimpses of _ reality and aspiring toward them have stood out like stars with a note of distinction, Passing through the throes of anguish, they have made their troubles a threshold of triumpa by which they have reached the keen- er, fuller life. They have corverted handicaps into. wings and soared to higher levels. They have turned the unfortunate circumstances of life into winged scandals, shod with which they have raced toward noble virtues and high victories, The extra weight, the grievous im- pediment that is placed upon certain people in the handicap race is no de- fiance to stout hearts. It is recorded that in his Samoan days, Robert Louis Stevenson was once thrown out of a canoe and almost drowned. He saved himself by clinging like grim death to the paddle. He used to say, half in jest and half in earnest, that when he died he would like his epi- taph to be--"Here lies a man who once was saved because he clung to what was left." But it wasn't only an isolated experience with Steven- gon. The great author, while walking through continuous sickness on the edge of the grave all his life, releas- ed from his brilliant mind such a suc cession of literary treasures that he saved his life for humanity by cling- ing to what was left. When Ole Bull was playing one night at Munich before a very select audience, including the German roy- alty, the A-string of his violin snap ped. With remarkable ingenuity and - perfect self-control, he completed the production on three strings. Wonderful are the stories of those who have brought music out of life's remainders, who have kept on pro- ducing melody after the break came, who have won the high prizes of life in the handicap race. Poverty has placed a serious handi- cap upon the shoulders of many peo- ple in life's race. And yet they have frequently outstripped their compet- tors of high privilege. Benjamin Franklin, trudging through the streets of Philadelphia at 18, with ali of his _ possessions on his back and in his bare and empty pockets, ultimately stood before the King of France, Am- erica's accredited naan bassador; An- & be | drew Carnegie, a poor Scottish immi- | grant boy, lived to see his name en- joke among the world's greatest captains of industry, Our first intro- duction to Auguste Rodin was to a ragged boy picking up a living on the curbstones of Faris, trying to forget his hunger amidst the motion and gaiety of the Paris streets. He ran errands for artists for a pittance, and ; out of sheer pity, | studio. | young Rodin made models out of clay. | His genius was discovered. | his name is renowned throughout' the { world, for few men one day Was engaged by a sculptor to clean out his While his master was away, Today ; who have ever lived have struck rock with | chisel and brought out such great ideas as he. Under the handicap of poverty he ran. With many favored competitors and won first laurels. a There is the handicap of sickness. What a burden ill-health places on a person's shoulders! And yet among the really distinguished souls who have achieved glory for themselves and rendered high service to man- kind, you find De Quincey, with his shrunken, anaemic body; Robert Hall with his grievous spinal malady; Sir Arthur Pearson with his blindnass, refusing to look upon the gloomy side of life; and Pasteur, tortured with paralysis, carrying on his scientific experiments, making himself a bene- factor of the race. These and count- less others loaded with grim burdens have lived above their troubles, have refused to flinch or flounder in the race, and have reached the goal of a victorious life leagues ahead of their fellows. There is the handicap of opposition. Since Epictetus reached the goal of happiness and triumph in spite of his slave's hut and his master's cruel lash, many others have won the handi- cap race and gloried in the handi- cap of fate. In the dungeon Socrates perfected his great argument for im- mortality, In the dungeon Galileo and Kepler made their great discoveries in science. In the dungeon John Bun- yan created in his soul's imagination the Palace Beautiful, and Cervantes discovered his boon companions Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. Defying the shackles of persecution, these un- fettered souls took noble flight beyond their fellows and won previous stakes in the handicap race. There is no more certain fact of history than this, that the person of noble heritage and rich endowment is often completely outstripped by the man who has carried a burdensome handicap. Nero had his Golden House, his mighty army, his millions of conquered subjects. Paul had his dungeon and his prison fare, with one coat and a book. Today only Nero's portrait hangs in the gallery of the Roman capital. His name is on the pillory of scorn. His empire has gone to ashes. Paul's empire endures and lives in life and book and cathedral. The man with the handicap finished his course, the other never arrived. Acknowledgment To My ei riends and Supporters election. I take this opportunity of extending to my friends and supporters my heartiest thanks for their assistance in the recent I am indeed grateful to you for the expression of confidence, which I will endeavor to retain. Cordially yours, WELLINGTON HAY. en) 0 Gee i ee RO et et et th ' EP A () ED () ED () GD () <) eae Dante, who had courage to oppose the aggressive policy and external inter- ference of the ruler of Italy, with his beloved Florentine Republic, was cast forth from the bosom of Florence and became a wondered, carrying his "wound of fortune' as an exile far from home. When he died he was buried beneath the pavement where | 600 years afterward Byron knelt im the street and wept for his memory. , But today the beloved Florence to- ward which the gaunt, lean, broken- hearted exile fixed his longing eyes, holds him in lasting veneration, and the world has crowned him among the supreme poets. That "voice of ten silent centuries" has outlived the life of dust and breath, his brow has been lifted from its sadness and fiery pain and crowned with the golden laurels of victory in the handicap race, while the autocrat who drove him from his home igs only a far-off figure in the mists of time. The real winner doesn't bewail his handicap, but glories in it. He wel- i comes "each rebuff." "Each sting that bids nor sit nor stand but go!" never worrying about "the strain," accounting not "the pang," never grudging "the throe." Ha assigns all ghostly worries to oblivion, and bravely bears the handicap to the goal. cae --_ a saci get Ie 1 RETR RES ee POTN THE MIRROR HERE AND THERE By "Doc." Now that the Toronto Exhibition is over have you got your coal in' 3 ca 2 . Doesn't it make you swear when you grab the wrong tube in 4 hurry and get your mouth full of shaving cream instead of tooth paste? * a ¥ Summer resorts continue to "take in' boarders and summer _ boarders continue to be "taken in" but some have not yet discovered this fact. * a ~ We remarked to our wife the otner day that it was a very strange tasting pudding, and she admitted that it was. It was, however, as tar as she got with the recipe when the rad'to broke off. s s s An old Scotchman made his ap- pearance at a fashionable golf course and presented his guest card ana carefully selected a caddy, then in- quired of the lad: "Boy, are®ye guid at finding balls?" "Yes, sir," replied the youth. "Weel, then," said the Scot, "s'pose ye find one and we'll tart." * * * Signs for motorists should be erect- ed at the junction on Huron street near the new service station. »5evV- eral streets come ttogether at this point and many motorists take tne wrong one. Aiter going some dis- tance enquiries are made but only to find they have made the wrong turn. There were M. O. L. signs at this corner but the old pole was taken down when the new gas station was erected and the signs, evidently went with the pole. They should be re- placed as this is an important high- way for tourists. ; a we * A good deal has been published about the Right Rev. A. F. Winning- ton-Ingram, D.D., who has been mak- ing a world tour, and reference has been made to some of his remarks, some papers even referring to him as an over-excited globe trotter. We quite agree with the most of the Bishop's views, especially as to the foreign element in our country. A large percentage of the crime com- mitted in this country is by foreign- ers. They have a way of escaping punishment, or with light sentences. Very few people are aware that next to King George the Bishop is per- haps the greatest dignatary in Eng- jand. In fact if the present King were to die and leave no heirs the Bishop would be next in line for the throne of England. The Bishop, per- haps, made remarks which seemed a little broad, but he is anything bat an over-excited Bie trotter. 2 And that's that! PELUOUEDESUESELEEEEESEGAGCEEE PEDEEEEEEEEETPEOEE IN THE BASEMENT OF CHINA HALL Full range o Preserving Kettles Aluminum and Granite All Sizes J. L. BRADSHAW CHINA HALL avSnNRONNOOENEONOSCOEONUNTOOEOOUOED EN EDEEUE SEEN You Cannot Afford To Neglect Your Eyes And vou are neglecting them if they need the assistance of glasses and you aren't wearingthem. Be careless about anything else, but be wise about your eyes. The glasses we supply arescientifically correct, and give the best vision combined with comfort. Today is the best time to have your eyes attended to. } J Welsh & Son Jewellers and Optometrists 83 Ontario St. Stratford Bathroom Accessories We have a complete line of Brass Nickle-Plated Tumbler, Soap and Toothbrush Holders also Towel Bars. Phone 179 L. COOK 110 Downie St. Back From Holidays ! You want milk, of course! Now is the time to start Stillman's Milk Service. You have always wanted to; you knew the super- ity of the milk -- clean, wholesome. SAFE. Just phone 770 and this effi- cient service will begin at once. PHONE 770 StillmansCreameries LIMITED 'Where Cleanliness is Paramount"' ------_-- taste and pocketbook. 91 Erie St.. OFFERING OF 'GOOD USEDCARS Come in and look over the remarkable values in our exten- sive showing of fine Used Cars. Cars of all types and prices are included -- there is a model here to suit your Chevrolet Sedan ; Willys-Knight Touring ; Maxwell Touring ; Hudson Touring ; Fords, $50 and up. Holliday- Abra, Ltd. Phone 2080 DOWN & FLEMING Funeral Directors and Embalmers R. DOWN Tei. 308 Phone 314 Nk rLemine Yel. 311 Phone 1580 Residence 2198 FRANK P. GIBBS Chartered Accountant 102 Ontario St. Stratfosd, Ont. (Beacon Building) PLUMBING, HEATING _EAVETROUGHING Estimating on all classes of work CHAS. STIMORE a | 43 Brunswick Phone 529 ANTHRACITE COAL POCAHONTAS, Egg Size Red Jacket, Egg Size Solvay Coke Lennox Coal Co. 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