Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-05-14
A Word to Young Men.

Wishing and signing and imagining and
dreaming of greatness, said William Writ.
will never make you great. But cannot a
young man command his energiese Read
Foster on Decision of Character that hook
will tell you what is in your power to accom-
pllsh. You must grid up your loins, and go
to work with all the indomitable energy of
Hannibal scaling the Alps. 1t is your duty
to make the most of talents, time and oppor.
~tunities.
Alfred King of England, though he per-
formed more business than any ofhis subjects.
foundt time to study. Franklin. in the midst
OF all his labors, found time to dive to the
depths OF philosophy, and explored and un.
trodden path of scince. Frederick the Great.
with an empire at his direction, in the midst
OF war, and on the eve of battle, found time
to revel in all the charms of philosophy, and
to feast himself on the luxuries of learning.
Bonaparte, with Europe at his disposal, with
kings IN his ante-chamber begging for vacant
thrones, and at the head of thousands of men
whose destinies were suspended on his arbi-
trary pleasure, had time to converse with
books.
And young men who are confined to labor
or ouslness,over twelve hours a day NAV taka
two hours of what is left to study. which will
amount to two months in a year. rs that moth
ing? Ask Elihu Burritt. Ask Simpson. the
great mathematician. Ask Herschel, the first
OF astronomers. Simpson worked at the weav-
or's loom, and Herschel was a poor ffer bow
in the army. Let your own experiment of
what can be done in one year settle the cues
tlon, whether to acquire useful information
assiKrsaiB5if.sn and hard study Le P.-~-~-~
South CarOI1na college
Judge j. Z. O'Neal, in a letter to the .ed;.
tor OF the Southern Enterprise, on the 18th
March, says, IN referring to the South CARO-.
llna College: | graduated in the College for
tty-three years ago last December. / have
been a Trustee for thirty-seven wears.
fnoso that | have watched over its interests
with all the care of a deep and abiding love.
and yet, knoW that of all these students
graduating from 1906 to 1855. forty nine
years, one-fourth of the whole number have
died drunkards, or are now drunkards-a
shame to themselves, and a burden to heir
families.
The melancholy truth enunciated in this
brief statement, says the Georgia Crusader.
should press with weight upon every reflect
ing mind. How f~earfully does it proclaim
that Rum is a destroyer! Here were hun
dreds OF men of talent, education, and re-
hnement, who became the victim of it's DOW
ers, their influence was paralyzed, their fair
name Dletbed out, and their hopes for life and
eternity forever wrecked. Their knowledge.
heweyer great it may have been, gave them
70 assistance in the ~fruitless struggle with a
mastering appetite. Especially should the
rising generation seriously consider these
facts. These men doubtless began their ca
reer of dissipation while students, in the
halls Of their Alma Mater. Young men fire..
quently drink deeply of the Intoxicating Gun.
IN what they think a spirit of innocent hill
arity, or becausethey deem it very becoming
to be wild. All young man, what reckless.
mad, insane folly! You are warming in YOUR
bosom a viper which will prey upon your
very existence. You are producing and fos-
tering an appetite which will soon acquire
resistless strength, and drag youtAf-you to
~drunkard's degradati~net the histories of
a drHAen, rising up in all their mechanically
terriers, plead like angels, trumpet-tongued,
With you, to touch not, taste not. handle
not, the ~unclean thing