Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-05-11
Atliistellaneoas.
From the LaGrange Reporter.
ssDOn't Depend ON Father,
Y THE EDITOR.

BY THE EDITOR.
Such was the caption of an article pub
iished In our paper last week, which should
be read by every father to his son. There
is great disposition on the part of many
parents these days to raise their sons up in
luxurious, unwholesome idleness and ex-
travagance. The whole efforts of such in
dulgent fathers seem to be to make gentlemen
Of their sons at the risk of their future hap
piness and prosperity. In these days Of
Injuries and fast living. money and fortune
are curses to many of the rising generation.
In the efforts of parents to present the world
with fashionable gentlemen in the persons of
their hopeful children, they are but paving
their way with gold and silver to ruin, DESC
lation and poverty
A great many young men are taught
nothing save dress and extravaganza, and
are greatly impressed with the infatuating
idea that they are par ercclsence the cream
cf all that is pure and good in social life
In word, they conclude that the old man
is rich, and they have nothing to do but to
sport fine jewelry and clothes and ride and
drive the old mans -blooded horses -
WHAT are the ends of all such young men :?
When arrived at the state of manhood they
are uhprepared for aaght that will promote
the happiness of society. Their lives are
but blank pages with glittering, gilded ed
ges. The days Of their youth have been
with flowers, and their cups have overflow
ed with Joy and happiness; but now that the
stern realities of life have presented Ihem-
selves they are unable, if misfortune has be-
reft them of wealth, to cope with adverse
circumstances and carve out a destiny homo
rable to themselves and their parents.
| Wealth is great blessing when it is
properly appreciated and appropriated. We
do not believe that God intends that it
should be perverted to the base purpose Of
pride, sel6shness. and riotous living, nor to
elevate one man above another in the social
scale. Such applications of His blessings
are only prostituting His muni6cence to base
and ignoble ends. The great lcpelc, of the
human race-the Christian religion-teac
es this doctrine, and therefore, if parents
would train up their sons in accordance with
such principles they would plant fewer
thorns to pierce them in the future.
Who are the wealthy and influential men
of the country? They are not those who in
their youth depended on their fathers. They
are those who have met the Adversities Of
life aud have risen, step by step, from hum
BILE position and humble means; those who
have been thrown upon their own resources
and their own efforts for a living. These
are the inch who give life and vitality to
commerce, agriculture, mechanics, and the
various elements of our social system. Pa
rents should teach their children these facts
and impress them indellibly upon their
minds.
What if father, who has acquired wealth
by his own hard struggles and industry, and
then lavishes it upon bis sons in order to
give them all the advantages that can be
derived from education and society, and those
sons are taught nothing of the principles u1
selfsreliance? Has lie not lavished bis
money in vain Is it now like strewiuq
pearls before swine. Our sons should be
taught practicability i'll all departments Of
life. They should be taught that there is
an overruling and inscrutable Providence
that may deprive them of all the wealth they
possess, and they may be thrown penniless
upon the sea of life to "paddle their own ca.
noe," and therefore it is but proper that their
arms should be taught to use the oars Of life
manfully and rcsolutely.
Every young man should be taught that
he is, in great measure, the master of his
own destiny-that the star of hope shines al
brilliantly for him as anybody else-tha,
the sky above is as bright for him as any
one else-and that
"Ambition is the germ,
/ From which all growth of nobleness proceeds"
With such principles instilled into the
minds of young men, combined with homes
ty and integrity of character, parents may
feel assured that there is destiny aWaitipl
their sons that will cause their hearts to leaf
with joy and the evening suns of their live
to set with glorious halo and splender tba
will light up the darkness Of the valley o
death.
re- If Spring puts forth 20, blossoms, il
Summer there will be no beauty, and il
Autumn no fruit So, if youth be trifet
away without improvement, ripper years vii
be contemplate and old age miserable.
Il nx> n. 2oro hc+oyo IN a ohuxohvord II