The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-07

BIT TIAoTIIY TITcOMB.


4 Young Mans First Lesson.
BIT TIAoTIIY TITcOMB.
I take il that the first great lesson
young man has to learn is that he is an
sss. The earlier this lesson is learned,
the better will it be- for his peace Of mind,
and his success in life. Some never learn
Il. and descend into the evening Of exiS.
tence, their ears frightening with shad-
Ows as they 20. Some learn it carly, get
their ears cropped, and say nothing about
II: while others scnsibly retire into mod
est employments, where they will not be
noticed. A young man, bred at home,
and growing up in the light OF parental
admiration aud fratcrnal pride, cannot
readily understand how any one else can
be as smart as he is. lie goes into town,
puts on airs, gets snubbed, wonders what
Il means, goes into society and finds him
self tongue.Iied, undertakes to speak In
debating club and breaks down, or gets
laughed at, pays attention to nice young
woman, and finds very large mitten on
his hands, and, in state Of mind "bor
dering on distraction" sits down to reason
about it. This is critical period of his
history. The result Of his reasoning dc.
cides his fate. IL he thor ughly com
prehends the fact that he docs not know
anything; that he is but cypher and
whatever he gets must be won 10y hard
work, there is hope for him. lie will 60
to work and learn how TO live. On thu
contrary, il huge scli-cunceit holds pos
session Of him, II he gets cross and sour.
if he turns up his nose, or sneak%, he will
be cut. The world has no use for him.
A young man who is not tractable and
Iplacable, and who refuses t. admit 10 him,
self that he docs not know anything to
speak Of, and to do it good naturally,
might as well retire to private life first as
last.
After young man has thoroughly
comprehcnded the fact that he is an ass,
the next thing for him to learn is, that
the world does not care anything about
-him-tAAt- hU-iS-t the subject OF nobody S
admiration or overwhelming esteem, and
that he has gat TO look ont for himself
A letter Of recommendation will procure
an invitation TO tea; If he wears n good
hat, the sexton will show him pleasant
seat in church, and expect him to con
tribute literally when the plate goes
round. II he is stranger nobody will
look after him. Every man is busy with
his own affairs. lie will not be noticed
until he becomes noticeable, and he will
not become noticeable until he does some
thing 10 prove that he has absolute value
In society. No letter Of recommendation
will give him this, except among those
that think more Of blood than brains.-
Society demands that he shall be some
body ami has right to demand it. So
ciety will not take this matter on trust
at least not for long time. Society is
not SO particular what man does, but
he must do something to prove that he is
Q man. | used to know man who
achieved very high regard by writing
an article for the North .4merican Re
cleo. Nobody read tht article, but the
fact that he wrote one, that it was pub.
lishcd, that it was long, did the business
for him. lie had done something. But
everybody cannot write articles for the
North American-at least, hope not, for
receive that publication through be-
nevolent friend. Everybody, however,
can do something, or be something or
somebody. There is wide range Of cf-
fort between holding skein Of silk for a
pretty girl and saving the same girl from
drowning, between collecting voters on
election day and tcachinga Sunday school
class. But man must enter into society
of his own free will, as an active element
or valuable component. before he will
receive the recognition that every true
man longs for. take it that this is right.
A man who is willing to enter society as
u beneficiary, is mean and does not de-
serve recognition.
When, therefore, young man has as.
certained and fully admitted the fact that
he Is an ass, that the world does not care
anything about him, and that, while he
holds the means in his hands Of gaining
an Independent livelihood, he cannot re-
csive assistance without compromising
bis self.respect and selling his freedom, he
h In = fair position for beginning life
When . young man becomes aware hat
only by his Owh efforts can he rise into
companionship and competition with the
sharp, strong and well.drilcd minds
around him, he is ready to work, and not
before. The next lesson ia that Of pa
thence and contentment with the regular
channels Of business effort and enterprise.
Angelina Matilda must understand, in the
first place, that She has got to wait and
il Angelina Matilda is sensible girl and
fit for q wife, she will be good, and tell
you to take your time. There is no good
building done in this world without good
foundation, and for you to enter upon n
business that you have not thoroughly
learned, and before you have won charac-
ter or "aired, v is ultimately to bring your
house down about the ears Of Angelina
Matilda, and such pretty children as An
gelina Matilda may give you. Don't
think Of winning success in one year or
two years, If Heaven shonld so prosper
you that, at the age of thirty, you have
really established business that pays
you, with certainty, living income, you
are to remember that you are iaring better
than the majority of men. lfyou gain a
competency at fOrty.hve or fifty, that will
be soon enough and if you have had to
earn by the hardest labor, you will know
how to take care Of it, and your children
will be SO bred that they will not squander
it.
You have heard Of some one who has
made fifty thousand dollars specializing in
western lands. Pity him. lie will be
almost certain to lose it. You will hear
Of various fortunate speculations, and the
chances are that you will hear Of the fail
ure of the spectators within two years.
Don't be in hurry, but with genuine
"TeutOnic pluck, wait aud work. Stick
to your business. Do in the best manner
whatever YOU undertake, and be content
" 90 "step by step.
There are great many young men who
indulge in dreams that in order to secure
success in life, they must have help, and
that help will, perhaps, turn up at con-