The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-02-20
Timothy Titoomb's Letters 20 Young
Men,
nIAbitlt nIfla,
From the Springfield iiewliiaap.

''H' ivy "'"'ff }"HNF Ni'Nt lAll lul man
years 20 rei hold Of the idea that they or
members Of society They seem 10 suppos
/, that tho social machinery Of thc world IL scll
operating They cast thcir Gist ballot will
an emud1H Of pride, perhaps, but arc sure Il
pay their first mN with Proau, They sel
political organizations iu active existence.
HE parish sEd the church, and other import
asst bodi's'lhai embrace In four form Of so
orly oil mou, aro successfully operated and
iet these young men have no part nor lot In
tbo mallor They do not think Of giving a
dnyh tine 90 society. They do H6t think Of
giving anything 10 society, They have an
idea that the business of socicty h 10 look af
Tor thomi that they are 10 be provided Tor,
That hcaia are 10 be lrniAhedNto them Ia the
churches gratis, Tat tho l.yccum Is bo kent
up ipr their amuscmcut-ihat all social move
mcuis whatsoever are 10 be organized and
operated without their ail and that they cs
lst 90 legitimate objects Of their criticism
Ihs is dpwndpht hoggishnc,s. Some Of
you haven't known the Gcl until now. and
are not very much 20 blame, Il (, one Of the
incidents Of shat Fanny KcmbIc once called
your "aRc OF dctrstbily"
one Of the tir,i thing, Young man should
do Is 10 src that hc II acting his part IN ,oel.
cty, The EARLIER ibis is begun the better.
think thar the opponents Of secret sociclic,
Ia colleges have failed 10 estimate the bcnc.
W which Il must bee 10 every member 10 bee
obliged to contribute to the support Of hi,
particular organizations and To assume per.
sonal care aud responsibility az "a member.
II these societies have tcudonc, Ia tcaeh
the lesson of which speak, they are a bless.
ed thing. Half thc iIls Of society originate
IN the fact that it, burdens are uucqually
borne, and that the dulra Of individual, 10
It are not discharged Therefore SOY TO
every young man, begin carly 20 do for the
social institutions in which sou have YOUR
life. II you have intellect and accomplish
meHts, give them Co tht elevation and dc.,.h,
Of the circle 10 which you move. Ifyuu have
none OF th,ec, show an accommodating di.9o-
'iton by attending the ,oUne circle and
holding yam for the gills. DO ,ou r.lt.
'ud hra uttu among men. Assume Nour
portion Of social responsibility, o,,d ste ;Aat
'ou discharge it well, lryol do not do this.
hen YOU ave mean, and society has the right
10 hic, YOU just as much rs 10 chooses. You
sfe e Ans.-, "ad ht'., ttot r. ciairs, uror ; our r
i,Ighhors i.r a single polite word.
always. They arc very upt tu 'iu'lr. -''''- -
ric,y ha, not discharged Il. du,i,, 70 them.
Now an social duties are reciprocal Soeir-
a.. n--i +, e,i'.d, ,i. l4s l4uEc- apt 10 pay its
dues 10 the individual, than the individual to
aal!ety lln,c Aou Young man. Who arc q !
home whining over the fact that You cannot
get :utn society done anything to give YOU %
claim to social recognition Arc you allrin-
mako any return for social recognition ana
social privileges DO You kno" anything ?
What Kind ol coin do you propose TO pay ~
the discharge Of the obligation which comes
uuon ,ou with social recognition? la other
words. a, return for wha, YOU wish 10 have
society do ror YOU, what can You do for soe'-
ety. This 10 very important question
more important to you than 80 society The
question is whether you will be member of
society by right, or 10y courtesy lfyou have
cfciary Of soeicty-to receive fAyors aud con-
fer none--you haze no business in the soeie-
to which you aspire. You are an eNacting'
concctcd dolt.
You ask me what society would have OF
YOU. ANYTHING that you possess which has
/ value in society. Society isno, particular on
this point. Can you act in charodc' Can
YOU duucc2 Can you tell q story well Have
YOU travelled and have you pleasant tpcul'
~ Of telling your adventures? Are you ed
ucated and able to impart valuable ideas ont
general information Have you vivacity II
conversation Can you sing Can yo'
play whist. and are YOU willing to assist thos'
to pleasant evening who are not able
, stand through party? DO you wear a goo'
coat, and car you bring good dress into tn
ornamental department of society," Are yo
, up to anything in the way of private theatr
, Gals? If you do not possess decent degre
l of sense. can YOU talk decent nonsense? Ar
. YOU good beau, and are you willing to max
=. Yourself useful in waiting on the ladies on a
occasions Have you good set OF teet'
a.. which YOU are willing to show whenever II
- wit of the company gets of good thing
Are YOU true, straightforward, manly fe
low. with whose heelthful and uncorrupte
nature it is good for society to come IN col
tact? In short, do you possess anything
any social value? If you do, and are willtr
to impart it, society will yield itself to yo'
touch. If you have nothing, then society,"
such, owes you nothing. Christian phiIa
thropy may put its arm round you, as q lon
ly young man, about to spoil Tor want oil sa
sugar or something, but it is very sad al
humila,ing for young man to be brous
ee to that. There are people who devote the'
TX selves to nursing young men, and don
m them good. If they invite you to tea go