If only he had this or that gift, or place, or position, he would do great things, he says; but with his means, his poor chances, his meagre privileges, his uncongenial circumstances, his limitations, he can do nothing worthy of himself.

Then another man comes up close beside him, with like means, chances, circumstances, privileges, and he achieves noble results, does heroic things, wins for himself honor and renown.

The secret is in the man, not in his environment.

Mr.Sill puts this well in his lines:-- "This I beheld, or dreamed it in a dream: There spread a cloud of dust along a plain; And underneath the cloud, or in it, raged A furious battle, and men yelled, and swords Shocked upon swords and shields.

A prince's banner Wavered, then staggered backward, hemmed by foes.
A craven hung along the battle's edge, And thought, 'Had I a sword of keener steel-- That blue blade that the king's son bears--but this Blunt thing.'-- He snapt and flung it from his hand, And lowering crept away and left the field.
Then came the king's son wounded, sore bestead, And weaponless, and saw the broken sword, Hilt buried in the dry and trodden sand, And ran and snatched it, and with battle shout Lifted afresh he hewed his enemy down, And saved a great cause that heroic day." With the blunt sword, broken now, which the craven had flung away as unfit for use, the princely hand won its great victory.