ing experiences of life. They assert themselves and their achievements in such a way that they become bores, and unless people have to do business with them they avoid them. The force that helps them to succeed in material lines, when misused deprives them of the social and spiritual enjoyments of life. They are not welcomed at the tables of the cultured and refined and doors once opened to them, through their lack of tact, courtesy, and consideration they find shut upon them. But even as objectionable as this intrusive form of self-assertion is, it is better than the envious humility of the mournfully modest. Self-contempt, self depreciation are the worst forms of pride. Self-abasement is the negative expression of the same pride of which offensive self-assertion is the positive. If the positive expression is cheerful, of course it wins. But, as you no doubt have noticed, if the braggart has no other claim to recognition than his push and persistence he is finally measured for his just value and is not able to hold places which for a time he usurped by sheer force. But why should any of us either manifest the ignoble self-assertion of the braggart or the negative self-approval of the self-depreciator when we have the sweet privilege of showing forth the highest kind of self-assertion? It is not only our privilege but our manly and womanly duty. What is the highest kind of self-assertion? It is spiritual self-assertion. Spiritual self-assertion is not self-conscious conceit. It is the unconscious emanation of a self-sufficing, selfrelying, self-controlled man or woman, who has self-knowledge and self-reverence. It is the quickening radiation of a serene, sunny, self-poised soul. Self-poised because conscious that if it assume the right attitude toward its work and the world it is backed by Omnipotence Itself. It is the assertion of the Soul. "Who has more soul than I masters me though he should not raise a finger." Give your soul room. If you doubt that you have a soul to express in the highest form of self-assertion, you can prove for yourself how potent in success is self-assertion in itslowest form, so of the two forms of — ignoble pride chose self-approval instead of self-depreciation, and cease to wail. CHAPTER XIV. T THE WISEST SYMPATHY. O succeed you must not dissi pate your precious force in unwise sympathy. "Do not spill thy soul" in running hither and yon grieving over the misfortunes the mistakes and the vices of others. The one person whom it is most necessary in this world to reform is yourself. "A sympathetic person is placed in the dilemma of a swimmer among drowning men who will catch at him, and if he gives so much as a leg or a finger, they will drown him. They wished to be saved from |