The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-11-02
hole Number 1914
q The following is just as applicable to this
meridian as to New England and we commend it
to the young people" all about:
Our Young PeoDles

~ 'hiO JOUnS POoPO oli uooul.
Our Young Peoples
There are subjects which, to touch upon with
point and candor would give pain and offence, and
wkich need touching upon in the exact porpor-
ton that such pain and o1fense would be given =
Our only wish, IN speaking of :'our young people,
is to excite profitable course ofthought, and to
do good. So far observation extends, the
young men of our acquaintance do not at all ap-
preciate the spirit of the age iu which thew live.
or the duties which are to devolve upon them.
We meet them in the streets, we see them at
church, we talk with them across the counter. we
come IN contact with them in occasional couyersa
aon' and the principal impression left upon us is
nicely fitting coat, clean pair of boots easy man.
ners and a contented frame of mind. We 90 into
their rooms, and find a novel which they declare
to be very good or very stupid. The Bible is out
OF sight ard the history and the book of travels are
not upon their tables. If we speak of politics thev
don't care anything about politics, and are not
posted up; if of religion, they think sit is pretty
much as man thinks;,' if ofany great question
agitating the world abroad, they sdont pretend to
keep truck of foreign affairs As for thoroughly
digested and well informed views of the literature
OF their own language, they have none. Notions
they have in plenty-opinions with them are
scarce. .....
This condition of things grow out of a mistaken
idea of life and its true ends. Business is the one
subject and pursuit that lses above everything
else. On this, they are well informed. Here,
they are perfectly at home and it is this establish
ment in their minds of what was intended to be
secondary and subsidiary, the grand end of life,
which prostitutes their energies, and dwarfs their
whole being. God never made mankind with the
intention that selling dry goods, and counting
money. and digging potatoes, should be the great
ends of its pursuits. These are all simply the
means of sustaining animal life, and securing per-
sonal and social necessities and comforts. A true
manhood is the grand object of life,-that develop
ment of the intellect and the heart, that symmet-
rical and sturdy growth of character, which makes
a man n,dn-which lifts him above the accidents
of fortune, and gives him power, influence, self
reliance, intelligence, energy, and above a feel
ing of equality and self-respect, worth more than
all the wealth of the Indies.
Tried by the standard suggested by this view,
how many of our young men men or are grow
ing to be men? We leave it for them to answer.
And we leave it also for them to answer how, in
the time to come, when they take the places Of
their employers, they fitted to meet the res
possibilities ofsociety. What kind of tone do they
propose to impart to their own circle? What be.
nefcent movements are they to lead in, and be
the supporters of? These are serious questions
and questions which they are now deciding in thei
every day life and pursuits. Society is to be in
the future what you, young men and young wo-
men, make it. Shall it be frivolous shallow-man
nered and shalow-hearted, or shall it be tegent,
hIgh-toned, pure and eDnobling as becomes true
manhood and true womanhood!
We are aware that there are disbursements
in the way. We are met with the statement tha,
there is no use in trying to get into good society
unless you have money. We answer that society
that measures its members by money is not good
society," and is not worth getting into, and would
be curse to you if you were to get into it. Make
your own society good and then you will have good
society. What to you are those poor specimens
| of humanity who estimate your importance by the
corpulency of your purse! They do not call for 6
thought--and ifyou have true self respect you will
not give them one. Tom Carlyle maintains the
opinion that every man, by law of nature will fnt
his own level, and he is right. You cannot miss it
| We can select young in Springfield wht
| imagine that thinks of them, and who, i,
pursuing their schemes for rselfimprovement, thinl
they are unobserved. Public ooinion knows auG
measures them all, and their good name is abroad
| When they come to make ar independent move
ment for themselves, they will meet it. The
world is coming more and more, every day, to es
innate men for what they are, and what they d.
and can do.
We are led to these remarks by the advent o
that time of year when self imp evement is more
easily pursued than any other, and when scheme
for this object usually devised and consum
mated. What are you going to do the conln
Fall and Winter? Are you going to form read
ing and debating clubs ? Are you going to form
circles for cultivation in composition? Are yo
going to lay out for yourselves, or under the ad
vice of friends, of private reading! o
are you only calculating private whis
parties, few public cotilIon parties? Thes
are questions in which we feel greater interes
than we can express. for we know, and can bu
profoundly feel, that upon theit decision depent
the future usefulness respects ability and happi
ness of many young man and woman.-Spring
field Republican.