The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1845-05-29
A COMMON INQUIRY.

what does that young man do for a liv-
ing! IS the common inquiry, as some fop-
pish, well-dressed individual passes by
"Nothing-nothing at ALL" is the frequent
reply. "But what supports him in his ex-
traVagance? ?" None can tell-but we being
a Yankee, have the privilege Of guessing
That young manwho dresses in fine broad
cloth, carries a cane, and is so extremely po-
lite to allhis acquainianees-especially the
iadIes-is the son of a man in moderate cir
cumstances, who finds it difficult 10 sustain
himself with a moderate income. His son
wishes TO be a gentleman, and to live with
out labor. The father in his folly, refuses TO
put him to a trade or send him to work on a
farm, hoping that something may turn up,
10y and by, when business will be better, for
his son to obtain a good living without work.
He is now obliged TO dispense with the lux
uries of l~ife--perhaps with some of its com.
forts--for his son to keep up appearances,
and go into good society, as that kind ofcom-
pany is termed, where young men have no
thing to do but dress according 10 the latest
fashion. He is gate Independents, and uses
Language to his seniors that might be consid-
cred uncourteoas from a king. He faces all
Glasses and conditions without a blush, and
dares to look With contempt upon the honest
apprentice, whose generous soul would out
weigh a thousand as high as his own. The
companions he chooses are like himself,
pulled up with vanity, swelling with impor-
lance, and who make a pgetence of doing
something, Ivy occasionally visiting alawyer's
office, to read a page or two of Blackstone.
The end of such a youth it needs no pro-
pheiic vision TO. see. sit is as plain as the
way TO Market" as Doctor franklin would
say, that heawill turn out a low, despised and
miserable tool. Perhaps the penitentiary
will bring him ~up--perhaps the gaIlows.--
But if he escapes these, it will be TO hang
like an incubus on those of his friends who
for PHYS sake have not the heartto send him
where he deserves.
The above is a true picture Of manyof The
young men who may be seen daily in our
streets. You meet them at every corner, in
all public resorts, at all parties of pleasure
riding, sailing, talking, laughing, joking e.
ternally; apparently with money enough,
more %impudence, and less brains. But how
they all %contrive toskeep body aud soul to-
ge!aer, without work, always spending and
never earning, we confess is sometimes
mystery to US. When a project of pleasure
IS talked of, the oxpensesaare last thought o
and the least considered. OF one thing we
are certain, that we are Fast verging to a ma
ton of paupers. 1t is impossible for a PEG
pie 10 live long in idleness, enjoying the lux
uries and the blessings of life, without grad
ualy diminishing the resources of comfor
and wealth. To be prosperous as a people
each must do his part-at least do s%ufficien
labor to gain his own support.
Parents are very guilty in this matter
J They should not permit their great lubberly
boys TO hang OF them for support, when the.
are well able TO labor, and when to worl
would promote their health and make then
cheerful and happy. You do them a mighty
} wrong, while you dandle them in folly anc
nurture them in extravaganza, and tell then
how manly they appear, when you know
you must know-the deleterious consequen
ces. If your great boys will not work, yot
should not support them.