DAILY THOUGHT FOR YOU AND ME

The Quebec Daily Telegraph - Apr 8, 1922

BOLDNESS

I would rather attempt and fail a thousand times at something in which I had put my heart, than to win with a single bound at something that held only some temporary thrill.

Somehow big, bold things grip my heart and being!

It was a big, bold thing to think out a way to cut a water road across the Isthmus of Panama. But it was done—by big, old men.

A few years ago, those who thought the time would come when we would be safely sailing through the air and sending messages round the world merely by way of space, were termed dreamers and fools. They had big, bold visions—the kind that always come true!

The big, bold things in the world's progress are planned by big, bold men.

Big, bold things! They are the only inspirers. In them may we delve and sweat and thrive. For though we may temporarily fail—we can never loose.—George Matthew Adams.

Ruth Draper, Interpreter

The Day - Jan 9, 1922

Ruth Draper, Interpreter

By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS

I like to write about and praise people who now live, while yet they are pouring out benefits for the betterment of the world. I like people to know that I appreciate them and their art of work.

Recently I went to hear Ruth Draper, whom I consider one of the greatest artists it has been my privilege to hear. They call her an Impersonator. But that is not what she is at all. She is an Interpreter—and even more than that.

She is the granddaughter, I believe, of Charles A. Dana, the great founder of the New York Sun. And surely the genius of that wonderful understander of human character has descended to this woman, for she actually flows into and becomes one with the characters she depicts.

She gives you a New England character in one of her sketches. You see the very porch where the farmer's wife sits. You seem to hear the creak of the old chair, the hen's cackle and the dog barking as the woman clatters on. Ruth Draper disappears and the characters, as they actually are, walk and talk before you.

Real tears come and roll down yours cheeks before you know it when she leads you into an old Western railway station to see them ring in the wounded from a wrecked train. And as you catch the humor and pathos of one character after another, you now that this artist has brought you a clearer understanding of human nature and of life—that she has brought a lot of sweetness into your life that had been all too dead before.

Ruth Draper etches characters on the stage as Whistler did on copper. And with as infinite skill. And one of the frist things you note about her is that she is so simple, so modest, so very honest. She has no tricks.

Though is has been weeks since I heard this extraordinary artist, her characters are following me everywhere. They rise before me as I go to work, and often I find them coming into my room at night, after te lights are out, and into my library when the lights are on. You see, they were very real—and somehow I like real folks.

I have heard no woman artist to compare with Ruth Draper since Bernhardt. And I am wondering whether the Divine Sarah, at miss Draper's age, could have been so great.

MARSHAL FOCH

The Milwaukee Sentinel - Nov 21, 1921

MARSHAL FOCH

By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS

Wars or no wars, the hero will continue to be worshipped.

The reason is plain—we depend upon the outward thrills of life to build the fires of inspiration within us.

The hero becomes a hero because he has put something into the world that we would like to have put there. He has had courage and vision. And he has used his determination to weld these two into a completed task.

I recently stood on the side lines and watched the illustrous hero, Marshal Foch, pass by. Great crowds went wild with enthusiasm. And the simple man acknowledged the plaudits in the most dignified and democratic manner. For it must be remembered that Foch has always been a man of action and of a few words.

There was a time when it looked as though no human leader could win the fight that centered about this man. But it was won. Foch saw the thing through. And America and the world has been honored by having the opportunity to pay homage to him.

But I have in mind a story. It came to me as I saw the thousands surge to get a glimpse of the car that held this standing soldier.

When the world was was at its height the newspapers published the account of a correspondent who went to interview Foch. He was directed to a little French village.

Millions of homes had been rent and tears flowed as freely as the blood of those who gave all that they had. Civilization, over, seemed to be cracking under the strain. The stoutest heart was wondering why it was that God didn't come around and put the contest and its slaughter to an end.

But God was already around. And now people are beginning to understand what their faith was unable to fathom—the reporter met Foch just as he was coming out of an obscure church where he had gone to pray!

Undoing

The Rock Hill Herald - Apr 25, 1920

Undoing

By GEORGE MATTHEW ADAMS

FORMATION is always better than reformation. The mended article is never as valuable as the original article. The field neglected and given over to weeds is never so fertile again. In like manner, the cells of a man's Brain, given over to foolish and unprofitable Thought are never so plastic for useful Thought tracks again.

Everything is Easier and Better if always done right—in the first place.

The process of Undoing works havoc, not only upon the Character of the one who Works or Thinks wrongly in the first place, but in many instances upon countless multitudes, while the time spent in Undoing represents an irreparable loss. Every time you start a new duty or piece of work, bring to the front of your Mind this eternal Truth—

Everything is Easier and Better if always done right—in the first place.

If we all could but view our acts in the light of Eternity—not forgetting that a single effort is never lost from Influence, we would set on a guard our most trustworthy Sentinel to warn us against doing things Wrongly in the first place—which always means Undoing for us or somebody afterward. Why not write this down as one of your daily Mottoes—

Everything is Easier and Better if always done right—in the first place.

Organization

The Polk County News - Mar 12, 1920

Organization

By George Matthew Adams

Probably the greatest Law of Success is Organization. Nothing so marvelously emphasizes the infinite Mind of the Creator of this World, as His wondrous Solar System. Organization means Results—real Triumphs. Before any Man of Business is able to get Results, there must be Organization.

The greater your Organization is, the greater will your Success be.

Every healthy human being is fitted out in the first place with every Factor and Faculty for a powerful Organization. There is your Brain with scores of Elements ready to act in the Organization. There is every member and organ of your Body ready—Waiting and Willing. To win—get all these things into a sound, workable Organization. For—

The greater your Organization is, the greater will your Success be.

If you feel yourself in the position of many a Failure—take heart. Organize yourself! Write down upon a piece of paper every useful Quality you believe yourself gifted with. Plan out how your different Abilities may help each other. Then write down the names of every possible avenue of Endeavor where your Abilities seem most adapted. Give every one of them Something TO DO. Set them to Work. Realize what Organization can do. Realize that—

The greater YOUR Organization is, the greater will YOUR Success be.

The Touch Through Silence

Reading Eagle - Feb 5, 1920

The Touch Through Silence

By George Matthew Adams

The greatest influences in life are the silent ones—those that keep creeping upon and into us.

It is the touch through the silence that opens our eyes and unlocks our best selves to the world.

It was Lincoln who gave new meaning to this thought when he said at Gettysburg that it wouldn't be long before all that was said on that battlefield about its heroes would be forgotten, but that what they did, who fought there, could never be forgotten.

The touch through the silence always ennobles!

Permeating the silent years of all the time that is to be, will the lifegiving of the boys who sleep because of war keep rising from the earth to render warmth and comfort to those who bore them, and undying inspiration to those who are yet to learn of what they gave.

The touth of true art is that which puts gold on the lining of one's heart whether it be the art of word, of pen, or brush, or chisel.

As time goes on, only the good in us lives. But it is the touch throgu the silence that keeps radiating, that makes everything we do have an eternal cast.

Keep Smiling Straight!

The Milwaukee Sentinel - Jan 3, 1919

Keep Smiling Straight!

By George Matthew Adams

If there is anything that should be steady, it's a smile.

For a Smile that just balances its toes, or that olds by its hands, or that has to "hang to" with both hands and feet— well, that simply isn't a regular Smile!

So, when you Smile, keep it on straight.

The Smile that is most liable and sure to stay on straight is the kind that reaches ear to ear. We call that "oar Smile!" Besides, that kind has double advantage—it has an ear at both ends to hang to—thus adding to its permanence and power.

Keep your Smile on straight.

I never see a lop-sided Smile but what I feel like running, I would almost rather see no Smile at all. But the honest, happy, deep, wide, sparkling Smiles—they are not made with hands, but are sort of eternal inspired from blue heavens, lined with Stars.

And such Smiles always stay on straight.

Even though the heart, away deep down, may be bearing a load of loneliness or—something still the true blue Smile kept steady in its place, is able to lead a whole town or state or country—or world!