Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-02-07
Daily Tirsiaiaa.
A Blunt Letter to Young Men.

Somebody gives the following nd vice to young
mon through the columns Of the Springfield Mass
Republican
II take it that the first great lesson young man
has to learn that ho is mn nss. The earlier that
this is learned the better will it bo for his mind
and his success in life Some learn it and descend
into tho evening Of existence. their cars lcngthen-
ing with the shadows m they 20. Some learn
early, get thcir cropped and say nothing about
il; whc others. sensible, retire into modest en-
ploymcnt where they will not be noticed. A
young man bred at home. and growing up in the
light of parents admiration and irntcrnal pride
cannot read ly understand how any one else can DO
ns smart as he is llo goes into the town, puts on
airs gets snubbed. wonders what it means goes
into society aud finds himself tonguc.tcd. under
takes to speak in q debating club and break down
or gets laughed Mt, pays attention 70 nice young
lady, aud finds avery large mittcn on his hands.
and in a staie of mind bordering on distraction
sits down to reason about it. This is critical
period of his history. The result of this reason.
ing decides his fate. If ho thoroughly oompre-
hcnd tho mct TINT he doesn't know anything and
accepts the conviction that all the world around
him knows good deal more than he docs aud
that he is but ncyphor and whatever he gets must
be won by hard work. there is hope of him. lie
will 20 to work. aud learn how to 1.-Two. On tho
contrary, ia huge selfconccit still takes Josscs
sion IL hn:. If hc gets cross and sour. il he turns
UP hi. nose ho will be cut. Tho wol Id has no use
for him. young man who is not tractablo md
plaenblc and who refuses To admit 10 himself that
be does not know ANYTHING to speak; and to do it
good naturedly, mightns well retire to private life
first ~ last
After young man has thoroughly comprchonded
the fact that he is nss, the next thing To learn
is that the world don't anything about him
that he is the sui sect Of nobody's admiration or
ncrw hclming esteem. that he has got to look out
or himself A letter oT recommendation will pro
ure m invitation to tea. If he wears good hat
hc sexton will show HIM to pleasant scat in
hurch aud expect him to contribute lbornlly when
he plate goes around. II he is II stranger nobody
viii look utter him. Every man is busy with his
wn affairs. lle will not b. noticed until no does
pmching to prove that he il an absolute MD to
pccty No letter of recommendation will give
nm position except among those who think moro
blood than brains Society demands that he
hould be somebody aud has II right to demand it,
society will not take this matter ON trust Mt least
ar loag time. Society isnot 80 particular what
+, man does, hut hc must do something to provo
Int he is n man.
used To know n man who achieved n very
handsome position by writing an article for the
Noytb- Im,,ican Rer,er. Nobody read the article,
hut the inct that he wrote ono, Tint it was pub-
ii4hed that it was long did tho business for him.
lIe had done something. But everybody cannot
write articles for tho No,th- imcrcdn Reriep--at
ca~t | hope not, for | receive that publication
hron,h "A benevolent friend. Everybody. howev-
or, can do something. There is II wido range Of
effort between holding n skein of silk for pretty
girl and saving the same girl from drowning and
between collecting votes on election day and teach
ing n sabbnih-school class. But II man must en-
Ter into society Of his own free will, m m active
element or valuable component, before he will
receive the recognition that every true man mny
long for man who is willing to enter society
~ n beneficiary is mean aud does not deserve roo
ognitlon,