Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-07-28
DOUGLAS AT TWENTY-AN EXAMPLE FOR
VOTING MEN

4, YOUNG MEN.
In 1888 there came to this city young man
scarcely past his twentieth spring. somewhat below
the medium height in stature of delicate but come
ly frame, pale but marked features. and in whose
eyes the brilliant light Of intellectual fire burned
brightly, and whose general bearing and manners,
while they betokened selfreliance and frmness indi
Gated too clearly that he was one Of the numerous
young soldiers of fortune who were then seeking in
this great Western region to lay the foundation of
future fame and glory, or wealth and distinction.
Furnished with letters of recommendation, our
young hero experienced little or no difficulty in
curing the confidence and encouragement OF one of
our then, as now, most distinguished lawyers and
valued citizens, who rendered him the of his
Office and library 10 pursue his studies and mani
Tested great interest in his success. This generos
ty, on the Threshold of his career IN then to him
unknown and UNEMPLOYED country, filed his young
heart with hope and gratitude and without hesita-
ton he accepted the kind offer and was duly INSTALL
ed in his new position.
But as many other young law students have ex-
perienced, while Blackstone and Coke may furnish
the BRAIN they fail TO supply the sinner man" or
cover the "outer ANIMAL and as in theirs so in the
case of our hero; but fortunately for him he had
"a trade" and not ashamed to work, and
straightway he resolved to seek employment for his
hands in those hours which his studies permitted
him to be free-thus pursuing the avocation of a
mechanic while preparing himself for the law.
As in after life at that period, to deliberate
to act, and forthwith he proceeded to the work
shops of the principal Cabinet Makers then in the
city, and made known his object His delicate looks
and feeble appearance for he was then already fast
falling victim to the prevalent fever of the West
together with his statement that he n law stu
dent and desired to follow his trade temporarily to
provide him with necessary means to continue his
studies, failed to inspire confidence and his appca-
ton for "work was accordingly declined.
18th, fnl hou,a hos ,ol
to try elsewhere; for food, raiment and books must
be had, and the wherewithal to purchase them.
But ere this resolve could be carried out he was
suddenly Frustrated by severe attack of bilious
fever, and confined to his bed four months
When strength and health again came to his aid,
he resolved to push his fortunes further westward,
and with grateful heart to those who had befrend-
ed him on his first entrance into the West he de-
parted on a canal boat for the Queen city-contin-
ued after a brief SOjOurn there to Louisville
thence to St Louis and finally settled i'm the Prairie
State of Illinois, where since, from earning six dol
lars for the first three days of labor accomplished
on entering the State, he has continued to work,
early and late, long and faithfully and has succeeded
now in rearing fame and acquiring name which
will be remembered till time shall be no more.
That young boy-lawyer was Stephen A. Douglas !;
the first kind friend in the West Sherlock j. An
drews, and the cabinet making firm to whom he ap-
piled for work was the old business house of Duty
& Vincent now Gardner & Vincent.
We give this episode in the life of the great ILL
nois Statesman, for the purpose of showing how
calamity and bravely from his very Soyhood, he
has struggled in the race for fortune. Never too
proud to work, always ready to labor, believing it
alone dignity and ennoble man. he has always
been "hard worker" always true to duty, al
ways upright and firm in the performance of every
trust confded to him, and therefore it is his coun-
trymen fear not to entrust him with the highest Of
fee in their gift CIereLand (OhiO) Pldindedler.