Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-12-20
MIS- G. e Il L A N Y.
SOUND ADVICE TO YOUNG MEL
FROM THE NEW YORK EXPRESS.

The DIFFICULTY OF OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT
often stated, and often. no doubt, existing a
rises, we apprehend, not unrequently from causes
within ourselves and over which we have control
Man is too often unwilling to do what his hands
find to do. Pride interposes its objections against
the country to the town TO be a clerk he obtain
work only as porter. The farmers boy aspires
to be couner-j jumper !; he can only be stevedore
a lawyers feathers are Hedging he might make
with industry, toerable mechanic, whereas he
will make only an intolerable lawyer. The nomi-
nal doctor was cut out for a wood sawyer. The
great the first, almost the only lesson, to learn,
when seeking employment, is: "What am best
fitted for and if that employment cannot just then
be got, what can find TO do?" And do it, what
ever ii is, with the hope of advancing.
The demand for skill and capacity, in this coun-
try, is SUCH in all the varied departments of life,
that he who will stoop TO begin at the beginning,
and there bide his time, is quite sure, in the pro-
greSs of events, Of coming out in the end. But to
take the first place at the irstsiep-or to rise with
out showing the necessity wisdom of rising on
and by your industry and devotion-is almost
an impossbility. The main thing, then, for 4
| young man of talent to seek for is not SO much
wages at first position at first, but opportunify;
and when opportunity is given, it is altogether the
asplranps fault if he does not make himself indis-
| pensable to his employer, OF show him that he is
| than the place he is filling Opportunity indeed is
all tho man Of true talent seeks for in this world in
any sphere. Give him opportunity, and he will
dsdaadhae nS fr himself tia! no man man
rolls all tnen to prosperity or fame. The mechan
| cal genius that slumbers in the farmers chimney
corner often needs but the opportunity in some large
workshop to strike out i'll him the latent sparks tina
may inspire matter with new facilities OF motion
and SO crown himself with glory, well as with
gold. But if that genius comes from the chimney
corner and aspiTes TO be foreman in the workshop
where hundreds were employed before him, Their
will probably he no work for him. True genius
however, is always humble in its aspirations. ]
is so sure of the strong impulse within that it vii
descend TO the humblest position to obtain the op
portunlty TO show lis power. In the workshop,
will condescend to begin with duties that are ser
vile It will build the fires, or sweep tie rooms
if necessary, for it feels aud knows that there
tina, within itself which occupation can smother
and that waits only the opportunity to shine. Hu
miliiy is the characteristic Of rising greatness
What means to rise, and is willing to make Il,
sacrifices necessary for rising, prefers often TO hav
first firm fOothold on the ground, amid the dus
and dirt before i; expands its wings. No fall is
great, it knows, as that of him who begins with
atinO LARGE expectations, which he cannot fulfil
and lnhanes others with ideas Of his imporianc
f that experience soon shows is ridiculous. To Gre
ate rising impression, true genius feels that
must often undervalue itself OF him from whor
but little is expected, and much comes TO him gre;
praise is awarded. Such is likely TO be
ver-vaued whereas he is almost certain TO DC NJ
dervalued W no over rates himself, or who lets othe
ovcr-ratc him.
The young man in search of employment can a
most always find it, il he will submit to the nece
sary self sacrifice and then await for his opport'
nifty. Blu, self sacrifice is indiePcnsaby necessar.