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"BURNING MY BOATS" (W. E. D.) Of course I don't own any boats. And if I did possess an ocean liner, the last thing I would ever think of would be to burn it. Better fit it ut for an ocean voyage, call a con- clave of your friends, and "sail be- yond the sunset, and the baths of all western stars." But what a richness there is about our figurative language What strange things we say in alle- gory. I am not a Roman conqueror, 'and yet I insist that I have a right to burn the bridges behind me. I am not fortunate to share in the estate of a great ship company, and yet I talk about "burning my boats." Many years ago a great adventurer, named Cortez, set out on an expedi- tion to Mexico with about 500 Span- iards and 300 Indians, a dozen horses and a dozen cannon. He had only reached half way when he received a message that another commander had been appointed in his place. ©Cortez paid no attention to the mes- sage and sailed right on. Landing at Vera Cruz on the shores of Mexico he received a message from the king | of Mexico warning him to go no fur- ther. Then his men theatened to mutiny because they knew that Cor- tez was not the rightful commander. Then Cortez did the desperate thing, for which he is remembered by all the world today. His ships were ly- ing at anchor in the bay. He went down and burned them to _ ashes. With one stroke of strategy he had settled two troublesome questions. His men had no means of deserting him and their only hope of safety was to go forward boldly and togeth- er. Mexico was conquered and they covered themselves with glory. So when we talk of burning our boats, hats off to Cortez! All hon- or to his heroic venture. He had sufficient confidence in his enter- prise and courage in himself that he dared to burn his boats. Nearly every person who has ever pioneerd his way into the adventures of ambition or genius to make a new conquest or a new discovery has been | forced to burn his boats. Great boons seldom fall like manna from the sky. | They follow desperate efforts that | have strained the last fibres of in- | genuity and courage. Think of Bernard Palissy trying to master the art of making enamelled | ware. He came to the stage of des- | peration. He came steadily nearer | the goal, but just on the verge of suc- cess all his resources gave out. He | had no more fuel to fire the potter's | kiln. At his wit's end, he broke up | the household furniture and burned | it all. When that was not enough, he tore up the floor of his house and burned the boards. His family thought he was mad, but one day he took from the oven beautiful samples of that enameled ware which made him both prosperous and famous. There are times in every life when all future success depends on our be ing so desperately determined that we are not afraid to "burn our boats." Life's achievements in any direction are not likely to count for much un- less we are willing to venture great risks. The virility of faith is deter- mined by the hazards it is willing to take. And the gold of character no more than the gold of the hills will be discovered without the full risk of the prospector's adventure. You may stay forever on the seashort in the sheltered harbors, but achieve- ment comes from "burning your boats." Leon Veira Teacher of Violin Beginners and advanced pupils Phone 1959w DRINK CHINA HALL English | Breakfast Tea 65c lb. J. L. BRADSHAW CHINA HALL CANPUOEROUUSOUGAEDAUECUEEVEUERESUUEEOEEOUAGOEDE A Monthly Income Assured at Age 60 a. LECKIE BRANCH MANAGER Continental Life Insurance Co. 191 Ontario St. Phone 1499J We can meet your needs in Insurance PUAUETUE RUQHUOUERORODDDRNQEUTEE CUONEEOOOSORORSEROOUDE CUOLLLUGEEUSUETEDORTTEUGEE . tn, Dr.C.R.Quinian. VETERINARY SURGEON ' General Practice ) Specialist in Diseases of Dogs & Cats Phone 1924w 82 Cobourg | If You Have Foot Troubles, Read This Announcement N SA You can give your feet the relief t need, rest your tired, strained mus- cles, by wearing Dr. Scholl's Foot-Eazer. For Easy Comfortable Feet - Make up your mind now vo avail yourself of the Foot Comfort Service as rendered in this store. Come and learn how thousands of people suffer- ing from corns, callouses, bunions, enlarged toe joints and weak feet have been benefited through the use of Dr. Scholl's Foot Comfort Appliances and Remedies. x "Uisit Our Foot Comfort Department --and ask for our Foot Comfort Demonstrator who will demonstrate the merits of these remarkable Foot Comfort Appliances and assist you in ar- tiving at the proper shoe requirements for your own feet. Come in Any Time Foot Comfort Service Free ROBERTSON'S SHOE STORE 32 Wellington St. Stratford, Ont. Opposite City Hall A Sure, Safe Investment No gamble, no chance. Buy lots on the property near the new Peace Bridge, connecting Buffalo with Fort Erie. Getinonthis now. You'll positively double your money soon. A small deposit down will hold a lot for you. Call and get particulars and full information. Don't delay. The way they are selling is nothing short of sensational. PETER SMITH, Real Estate Windsor Block, over Harwood's Drug Store: Phone 2292 TRY THE Sally Ann Bread and Home-made Cakes EZO Will positively relieve the worst case of ECZEMA STANDARD DRUG STORE "The easiest digested bread" W. Halstead Phone 2128w HERE AND THERE By "Doc." In these early days of spring, some say the bird is on the wing while others claim the wing is on the bird. * * * Soon the song of the carpet beater will be heard on every side and "dad" will be taking his usual spring exer- cise. * * * At the age of 20 the youths' ambi- tion is to conquer the world; at 40 it is some way to get the car paid for. : * * * One Toronto youth seems to have the right idea. He has two girls. One is in a flower shop and the other in 4 candy store. He gets candy at whole- sale and gives it to his girl in' the flower shop and gets flowers at whole sale and gives them to the girl in the candy store. * * * To refute the reports that Sir Harry Lauder was never known to give tips, some of the daily papers recently published a picture of the Scotch com- edian handing a tip to the porter of his train at Nashville Tenn. The pa- pers did not state the amount, but by the size of Sir Harry's finger we would surmise that it was a small coin. * * * He had a lantern jaw, his whole face lit up his eyes blazed, his cheeks flamed, he gave a burning look, and boiling with rage, he administered a 'gcorching rebuke, and we would say he was hot headed. * Ld * We attended an amateur perfor- manence recently and a friend of ours drew our attention to the simil- arity of the words applause and ap- ple-sauce. * * * The direction of the wind on the 21st. of March is supposed to be the prevailing wind for the next three months. This seldom fails, Last year we had real spring weather the week of the 17th but on the 21st the wind was around to the north and we had cold winds more or less until well into May. This year conditions were the same except that there is not by any means the amount of snow and ice, in the country or on the lakes that there was last year, and this fact may make a difference. Here's Hop- ing. . * ok Pat was entrapped on the third story of a burning building, and when asked later by a friend how he escap- ed, Pat replied. "Be jabbers I run and got a pail of water and a cake of soap and made a "lather" and climbed down. *& * * And that's that. S. RUSSELL Registered Architect R. White & Co. have added this handsome limousine hearse to thei est achievement in coaches of this kind. r funeral service equipment. It is the lat- It was built by the Henney Hearse and Ambulance Co. of Windsor, Ont. and Freeport, Ill. Phone 1533F Gordon Block HEINTZMAN HALL may be had for the asking. 131 Ontario St. B. H. BRITTON, Manager It Is Only Nine Weeks to the End of Our Financial Year This means much to you as well as to us. We naturally want Heintzman Hall to have the biggest showing ever. To do this we have made unheard of reductions. We haven't quoted prices, but assure you we are offering values extraordinary. Come and see for yourself. A visit to our store is never other than profitable. See the Bargains in Pianos, Phonographs and Radios. Give us the pleasure of playing your favorite selection on the New Victor Orthophonic and the Marvelous McLagan Phonothetic. A new Phonograph Record Catalogne is waiting for you and HEINTZMAN & CO., LTD. Phone 769 Sunnysides Electric Washers Fastest and safest washer on the market. See us for terms and prices. L. COOK 110 Downie St. Phone 175 Peter & Sylvester Will do your Repairs in Pete. Heating lectric Phone 210 12 Ontario TITTLE LLL --- 4 | Phone 1580 Residence 2198 FRANK P. GIBBS Chartered Accountant 102 Ontario St. Stratford, Ont. (Beacon Building) Subscribe for The Mirror COAL ANTHRACITE COAL POCAHONTAS, Egg Size Red Jacket, Egg Size Solvay Coke Lennox Coal Co. Phone 44 | 65O }\ Library Discards | At 35¢ Each Clearing Sale of Reprints Slightly shop soiled Lightfoot' BOOK STORE aepret -- Ne ENCANA EO IE: NC RENE NEN GE Ta EN - ee