Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-02-19
A Blunt Letter to Young Men.

Somebody gives the following advice to
young men through the columns of the
Springfield (Mass Republican: '~9e W.
II take it that the first great lesson a
young man. has to learn is that he is an ass.
The earlier that this is learned the better
will it be for his mind and his success in
life. Some learn it and descend into the
evening Of existence, their ears lengthen-
ing with the shadows as they go Some
learn early, get their ears cropped and say
nothing about it, while others, sensible, re-
tire into modest employment where they
will not be noticed. A young man bred at
home, and growing up in the light Of pa
rents admiration and fraternal pride, can
mot readily understand how any one else
can be as smart as he is. He goes into the
town, puts on airs, gets snubbed, wonders
what it means, goes into society and finds
himself tongue-tie undertakes to speak in
Ia debating club and breaks down or gets
laughed at, pays attention to nice young
lady, and finds very large mitten on his
hands, and in state of mind &C bordering
on distraction" sits down to reason about
it. This is critical period Of his history.
The result Of this reasoning decides bis
fate If he thoroughly comprehends the
fact that he doesn't know anything. and &C,
|cepts the conviction that all the world
around him knows a good deal more than
he does, and that he is but cypher, and
whatever he gets must be won by hard
work, there is hope of him. He will 90 to
work, and learn how to live. On the con-
trary if a huge self-conceit takes possession
OF him, if he gets cross and sour, if be
turns up his nose, he Will be cut. The
world has no use for him. A young man
who is not tractable and placable, and who
refuses to admit to himself that he does not
know anything to speak Of, and to do ii
good naturally, might as we'll retire to pri-
vate life first as last. Il FL t'lF5s ID
| After a young man has thoroughly COM
pretended the fact that he is an ass, the
next thing to learn is that the world dom,
care anything about him-that he is the
subject Of nobody admiration or overwhelm.
ing esteem-that he has got to look out fol-
himself. A letter of recommendation will
procure an invitation to tea. If he wears
a good hat, the sexton will show him to /;
pleasant seat in church and expect him te
contribute literally when the plate zoe:
around. # he is a stranger, nobody vii
look after him. Every man is busy witt
his own affairs. He will not be noticed un
til he does something to proveythat he is al
absolute aid to society No letter of re
commentator will give him position excep
among those who think more of blood thar
brains. Society demands that he should b
somebody, and has right to demand it
Society will not take this matter on trust
at least for long time Society is not 81
particular what a man does, but he must d
something to prove that he is a man.
used to know man who achieved
very handsome position by writing an arti
Gle for the North American Review. No
body read the article, but the fact that h,
wrote one, that twas published, that it wa
long, did the business for him. He hat
done something. But everybody canoo
write articles for the North American Re
view-at least I hope not, for receiv
that publication through bencyolen
friend. Everybody, however, can do some
thing. There is a wide range of effort be
tween holding skin of silk for prett,
girl and saving the same girl from drown
ing, and between collecting votes on cleo
ton day and teaching a sabbath-schoo
class. But man must enter into sooiet,
OF his own free will, as an active elemen
or favorable component, before he will re
ceive the recognition that every trne mo,
may long for. A man who is willing t
enter society as a beneficiary is mean, an
does not deserve recognition"
The RIGHT BIRD. Odd and good +
old Dr. Nichols, who formerly practice
medicine. As the calls and faas did NJ