The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-07-03
MY UNCLES HANDBOOK.
"After all, young man, there is nothing

"After all, young man, there is nothing
like experience"
"Experiencel Experienced would I
had never heard the wordi Trust to my
experience, is the eternal cry of age to
youth. But I maintain that youth is q
hundred times better off without it,
On hearing this astonishing verdict,
Eve guests assembled in drawing room
after bachelor dinner, looked up with
surprise at the mortal daring enough to
utter q heresy SO contrary to all received
i opinionss sssis 'ff51 s.A'' =
] Still yoa must admit, replied, after a
pause, the FIRST speaker, gray-haired Of
icer, that experience is'a precious tails
man, when rightly applied. 'ssa
! 'Ah. who knows?' replied the other
who was young man barely fve>and-
j twenty;, but if not too tedious, let me
relate you the history OF my own.'
All signifed their eagerness to listen
to the exposition of so strange q theory,
and he resumed; 4s5
! -Four years ago, gentlemen, at 9 O'Clock
4 in the morning, 1 left my native town for
the great metropolis. My Uncle Thomas,
an excellent man, who. from earliest rec
olleetien, had never lost sight of me, ac-
companied me on tie platform, and the
4 train was on The very point of starting,
when, grasping my hand, he exclaimed
over and over again, Good: bye, Alfred.
good bye; and, above all, do not forget
my handbook! Remember my handbook
! Toexplain this, must tell : on that the
day before leaving, my uncle called me
into his study, aad spoke to me as fol.
lows: 4 @
] Alfred. am getting in years; l have
a house, f2. 600 year, a nephew, and
Z the gout. l watch over my house with
order, my me ans with economy, my gout
). with pain, and yourself, my boy, with
pleasure o1 1t is my wish to leave you al
1 possess, except The gout;; but. before
+dofng this, 1 wish you TO complete your
i. education by some knowledge of London
life. Yon shall start tomorrow by the
first train. and remain in London until
call you home. Combine amusement with
Instruction, and see as much as you car
OF the world. Still, my dear boy, ai
t London is place where man ought al
ways to be on bis guard, l have resolved
, on providing you with arms. Take thi'
book! 1t contains the fruits OF my long
experience. 10 it you will fnd q protec
ton against the snares that will bese
, your youth in the great city; there hav'
e noted all the observations acquired b.
! a knowledge of men and things, and
}, have named it my Handbook. When yo'
have entered on the slippery path which
lies before you, take no step without iirs
b consulting it. Here it is. You wh
J, thank me on your retnrn.'
Thus it is, gentlemen, that l left b.
1.-THE train at nine O'Clock, and why M
' Uncle Thomas reiterated up to the las
: moment his pressing recommendations
q .Yon may fancy how my heart beat tn
first time l trod the pavement OF Picca
. dily, though could hardly refrain fror
: looking for the concealed traps that Nigh
lie upon its polished surface. However
| soon took courage. What had the pos
sessor of My Uncle's Handbook, to fear
ssl "a week had hardly glided by, wher
s.: thanks to the letters of fintroductionswit
d which was provided, 1 made my deb,
r at fashionable party. 70 nesiaaf 2aai-
sci up to the present see no great mil
as fortunes, interrupted the gray-haired of
a. Ger. sf1eS 1H1 - sGsu' +fltoi'ig 21
is H.Patience-t critical moment is
70 hand. Amongst those present had r.
NJ marked from the FIRST young man /
IL most prepossessing apprenticeship,
rs nv own age-polished in his manner
e. and talented, as his conversation plsin
ST showed. e On his part he seemed equal
s. pleased with myself, and, before the ever
& Z ing was over, we were the best friends
ae the world. and it was agreed we shou
"a dine together the next day. Howeve
~ before going further. / remembered n
u uncle,s advice, and, on my return HON
opened the famous Handbook at the ari
10 Gle Friends 5
ie' The paragraph ran thus: -
~ Friends. To distrust London frien
=, - ship. Not to be too easily led away
:. the advances of strangers. Particular
=. - to shun those who, with fascinating ma
-, uers, seem to take fancy to you at 20
- 49, FIRST interview. As a general rule. So
90 are more, ,adYenturers who want to borrt
bo m money Of your,; s.s ss.,s .,seo:4 ;se.
his .Forewarned is. forearmed. When,
,ir nexts day. my insiuuatins young frie
Ito presented himself at my door, he was te
ad that Lhad changed my lodgings, leavi
for no address, r. eyissiT q sss1sl la 80
rs: This was No I.lGs lsasi i9 aia4
= MY time beipg my own. I had vel
ured on q few attempts at liseratu
Verses naturally were among them, an I
7 lpublIshed volume, and play, as
thought, com ?le.ely unknown. But thin
ont somehow. do come to light, I har
for know how; and one evening, at party
inn gave in my own rooms, ! was asked to
ant peat a mere triAe-a sonnet. At frs
raG,ced Int wos CyerDerSuaded