| The Secrets of a Beautiful Life |
Chapter 15 |
Page 3 |
When a great building is to be erected, deep excavations are made and piles of stones are laid down in the darkness, only to be covered up and hidden out of sight by the imposing superstructure which rises high into the air. This foundation work receives no praise. It is not even seen by any human eye. It appears in a sense to be wasted work. Yet we know that without it here could be no massive building towering in majestic proportions in the air. So many men’s lives seem to be failures, while in reality they have been build into the foundations of great temples. Their work is covered up and hidden out of sight, and makes no show before the world; but without it those who came after them could never have achieved the success which makes their names bright.
For a whole generation men are experimenting along some line — for example, in electricity. Some of them almost succeed. They seem to
be on the very edge of achieving what they are seeking. But success persistently and narrowly eludes them and they die at last, broken-hearted over their failure. Then a new man arises, and taking the results of their experiments as a starting-point, he is successful, and all the world rings with his praises. Yet he could never have brought the invention to a successful issue but for the long, patient experimenting of those who went before him, toiling, sacrificing — failing. Nearly every great discovery or invention that has proved a boon to the world had a long history of such effort and failure behind its final success. Who will say that the men who wrought thus so unselfishly in obscurity, and without result or reward, really failed? They did their part in preparing the way. Their work was essential in its place. Should they not share the songs of victory which the world sings for the man who at last brings the invention to triumphant completion?
Page 3