Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1855-12-13
NiseeIIapy.
HOW TO BE A MAN.

| De "OIHdh III me true sense Vi Inc worn
Ii you are youth or child, do not disdai,
those productive, disciplinary years. Are
you poor or rich, humble or honored, citizen
or magistrate. be your position what j,
may. 1t you cannot improve it, show your.
y self d man Ia it.
70 the young We say, do not make haste
to becone uien presnatureIy y; but seek to
become the best possible specimens oil
youth. Mems garments do not become
boys; youth is the stepping stone to man.
hood, the apprenticeship OF life. Let thai
stepping Stone be high, and that apprentice.
ship long. Life is preliminary, probation.
AIRY, To a future world.
Some seek 10 show themselves men,
! whom God has destined to more refined
and influential sphere. There is limit
where the sea ends and The dry land begins.
There is an element where the birds sing,
another where the fishes swim, and HE
boundary separating these. no bird or fish
can safely pass. Angels have their sphere,
man his, woman hers. God has made the
differences, established relations, drawn
lines Of distinction which neither man nor
woman may confound.
Tie has adapted responsibilities TO vela-
tons, and these to natures and spheres
Seek ~ show yourselves true TO the nature
and sphere you are in; il is thus you will!
prove yourselves to be men in the best
sense. Out Of our place and sex We sink
ourselves. Let us be true to our nature aud
our tastes. Let US magnify the position We
are appropriately in, aud show ourselves to
be the modest specimen Of what God made
US TO be.
BE MAN by culiiraiing yourself. The
mental and moral are the noblest elements
Of nature. There is need of sound body,
insigora,ed by habits of virtue and health
| full enterprise but there is more need Of /;
noble mind, disciplined by culture, and
subject TO principle This is essential to
| the highest state If manhood. Uncutiva.
ted mind. like unsuhdued soil, or brute
strength. fails of its hi.hes, producliveness
| The whole mind and heart needs thus to br
developed and Disciplined. We cannot
| show ourselves men in any true sense all
| wa@Taise our standard Of think ing, eff act
| ing and purpose, TO the highest practicable
| point; and to gain this high ground we
must make covenant with labor, We must
resist temptation. and put the heel npon the
neck Of appetite and Indulgence. We must
store the mind and taste with what is use
iui and wholesome, we must be able to 90
from cause TO effect, and from effect back 10
| cause, upon the strong chain OF reasoning !;
and We ought to know how to form those
| chains by close links Of logic We measure
| men not by stature, nor station. nor by aye,
cor sex. nor circumstances but by cult
waited powers, and the success " i,h which
they are able to bring those powers to bear
| upon the nnblcst interests of earth.
Be MAN IN your pleasure When
pleasure is sought as an end. il is pcrnicious,
but when recreation is sought as means
to an end, it is useful. But why depend
on special eXcitemenis and occasions for
happiness, aud not rather seek enjoyments
from the ordinary scenes Of life = Do the
birds have jnhilces do the angels why
then should human life be as the waves OF
the sea! The reaction of excessive ex.
citrmen,s upon the mind and nerves, creates
depression of spirits. and sor, of lassitude
and woe. and calls for the oft-repeating of
the same thing. How much better 10 ply
the ordinary means of enjoyment! These
are always healil,ful, Open and perennial.
II is the part Of true manhood to have the
full command of the common and every
day sources Of enjoyment. And let recrea.
ti"n, " hen INDUCED, he rational and inno-
cent; let parents indulge in the pastimes
OF their children; i, is easier thus to restrain
| them To bs young is 40 crime, nor to be
old, except in wrong feelings and habits
hut mere rleasure-seeting is dcbiIiiation !;
trce joy comes unsoupat.
But m-n often show themselves to he
mere hTu,es or savages in their sports
Des2ise those that cost needless pain
Shun the joy that Is had al the expense Of
virtue. Show yourselves men in your
pleasures. Let them be rational aud con.
! tribute to moral dignity
BIS Mas ia hoaor and E5eraiity. Al
ways do your part. and more than your
part, il need be BE noble and generous
and i"rge-heaiied, do not say you vii! be
richer here nor hereafter; that will depend
upon the spirit and motive in the CASE
But II Is wise Ia be just, and uagnanimous,
aud benevolent, always. De not mean. bu,
always men! Never let others pay your
! bills, either in the house of God or else.
where. Always pay the value for service
Be liberal in your contributions on the Sab
bath and at other times. Don't nod the
/ uedCoH dttUg WHtu tue CtutItOuttou uoA
comes, nor cast thi,her three cent piece
and copper, one for conscience aud the
other for sound. This is small for the
Christian. for the man, for the child even.
BE A Man in your dealings. BE honor
able, be honest with all. Some are so
upright that when they injure others they
are careful to do it lawfully. They have
no higher standard Of conduct than human
statutes. They fear fines and prisons more
than God or his Judgment. Such are quick
TO take advantage OF aaoiher's ignorance,
and are ready to overreach them in trade
are hard upon their debtors, and still harder
upon their creditors; will sell you Injured
articles for those which are perfect, and
give you bad weight and measure in addi.
tion; who sell their neighbor that which
takes away the character and the senses
or wha, is worse, would sell their nsiglbors
themselves, body and soul, for filthy lncre
such forfei. the character of men, and carr
the character Of felons and demons. d.
open. be honest, be upright; never stocp L
what is treacherous or vile-it is infinitely
had policy. There is law that precede