Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-01-25
THE GAZETTE.
TUESDAY MORNING, JANUARY -, 1859.
lCoNMrS!cATED.
A BLUNT LETTER TO YOUNG MEN.

COMMEMORATE.
A BLUNT LETTER To YOUNG MEN.
e Somebody give, the following advice to
Young men through the columns ofthc Spring
field Mass Republican:
IL take it that the first great lesson a
Young man has 10 learn is that he is an ASS
The earlier that this is learned the better will
it be for his peace of mind and his success IN
life. Some learn it and descend into the
evening of existence, their ears lengtheninS
with the shadows as they go. Some learn
early. get their ears cropped, and say nothing
about it: while others, sensible, retire into
modest employment where they will not be
noticed A young man bred at home. and
growing up in the light Of parents admlra-
ton and fraternal pride cannot readily un-
derstand how any one else can be as smart a.
he is lie goes into the town, puts ON airs,
gets snubbed, wonders what it means, goes
into society and finds himselftongue-tied, I'M
dertakeS to speak in debating club and
breaks down, or gets laughed at. pays atten-
ton to nice young lady, and finds IL very
large mitten on his hands, and i'll state OF
mind bordering on Distraction sits down I"
reason about it, This is critical period OF
his history. The result of this reasoning
decides his fate. If he thoroughly compre-
hcnds the fact that he docsnt know anything
and accepts the conviction that all the world
around hlm knows a good deal more than he
does. and that he is but II cypher. and what
ever he gets must be won by hard work. there
is hope Of him. lie will 90 10 work, aud
learn how to lice. On the contrary, If u
huge sclfconceit still takes possession OF
him, ifhc gets cross and sour, it ne turns up
his nose, he will be cut. The world
has no use for him. 4 young man who is
not tractable and placablc and who refuses
10 admit to himself that he does not know
ANYTHING to speak of, and to do it good natur-
cdlv. might as well retire To- private life first
aS last.
After Il young man has thoroughly COM
pretended the fact that he Is an ass, the
next thing to learn is that the world don't
care ANYTHING about hin,-that he is the sub
icct Of nobody's admiration or overwheim-
ing esteem, that he has got to look out for
himself 4 letter Of recommendation Will
procure an invitation 10 tea. If ne wears
n good hat the sexton will show him to Il
pleasant seat in church and expect him To
contribute literally when the plate goes
around. If he is a stranger nobody will
look after him. Every man is busy with his
own affairs. lie will not BIZ noticed until he
becomes noticeable and until he does some
thing to prove that he is an absolute aid to
society No letter Of recommendation will
give him position except among those who
think more of blood than brains. Society
demands that he should he somebody and has
a right to demand it. Society will not take
this matter on trust, at least for Il long time.
Society is not So particular what man does,
but he must do something to prove that he Is
Il man. / used to know a man who achiev-
ed very handsome position by writing
an article for the North american Rerie~.
Nobody read the article, but the fact that he
wrote one, that it was published, that it WAS
long. did the business for him. He had
done something. But everybody cannot
write articles for the North-4mericdn Reciem
at least should hope not. for receive
that publication through benevolent friend.
Everybod however, can do something
There tx wide range of effort between
holding a skem of silk for ii pretty girl aud
saving the same girl from drowning. and be-
tween collecting votes on election day and
teaching a sabbath-school class But man
must enter into society ofhis own free WILL as
an active element or valuable component.
before he will receive the recognition that
every true man may long for. man who
is willing to enter society as beneficiary
is mean and does not deserve recognition.