Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-02-12
KY UNCLE's HANDBOOK.

/
"After all, young man, here
nothing like experience"
"E1perience! experienced would
had never heatd the word! Trust T.
my experience is the. eternal cry o
age to youth. But I MAINTAIN tha
youth Is hundred times better Of
without it,"
On hearing this astonishing verdic
five guests, assembled in driving
room after batchelor dinner, looked ~
with surprise at the mortal daiing t
utter a heresy so contrary to all received
opinions.
"Still you must admit" replied {
grey headed officer, "that experience
is a precious talisman, when properly
employed"
"Ah, who knows?" rejoined he 9th.
er. young man barely twenty-five
"But if not too tedious, let ne relate
you the history Of my own.'
All signifed their eagerness to listen
TO the exposition of so strange theory,
and at length he resumed:
"Four years ago. gentlemen, l left
my native town for the great metropo'
lis. My Uncle Thomas an excellent
man, who, from my earliest recollection,
had never lost sight of me, accompa-
MED me on the PLATFORM and the train
was on the point of sarting, when,
grasping my hand, he exclaimed over
and over again. "Gott bye, Alfred,
good bye; and above al. do not forget
my handbook. Remember my hand
book.
"To explain this, l mist tell you that
the day before starting, ny uncle called
me into his study and poke to me as
follows:
"Alfred, I am gettin, old in years;
l have house, fs.OOCa year, aneph-
ew and the gout. l watch over my
house with order, my mans with econ
omy, my gout with pain and yourself
my boy with pleasure. ! is my wish
to leave you all / posses except the
gout; but before doing tbs 1 wish to
complete your education by some
knowledge of London life. You shall
start tomorrow by the frs train, and
remain in London until l cal you home.
Combine amusement with instruction,
and see as much as you can Of the
world. Still, my dear boy as London
is place where man ougt always to
be on the guard, I have rsolved on
providing you with arms. Take this
book. 1t contains the fruit,f my long
experience. In it you find ;protection
against the snares that bese your path
in the great city; there haveI noted all
the observations acquired b knowl-
edge of men and things, nd ] have
named it my handbook. When you
have entered on the slippery path
which lies before you take o step with
out consulting it. Here is. You
will thank me on your return raaal
"Thus it is, gentlemen that ] left
home, and why my uncle rtterated up
to the last moment, his pressing recon-
mendations. NJ
"You may fancy how myheart beat
the first time l trod the pvements of
Piccadilly; though l could hardly re-
frain from looking for tn concealed
traps that might lie upon ils polished
surface. However, / soon took cUur-
age. What had the Jossessor OF my
Uncle's handbook to fear from these.
ga week had hardly gided by when,
thanks to the letters of introduction
with which / had been provided, l
made my debut at a fashionable par
ty."
"Up to the present see no great
misfortunes," interrupted the grey
haired officer.
"Patience, the critical moment is at
hand. Amongst those resent L had
remarked from the first young man
of prepossessing appea1nce--about
my own age-polished in bis manners,
and talented as his conversation plainly
showed. On his part he seemed equal
ly pleased with myself, and, before the
evening was over, we we're the best
friends in the world, and / was agreed
we should dine. together he next day.
However, before going further, l re-
membered my uncle's advice, and on
my return home, opened the famous
book at the article Friends
"Friends. To distrust London friend
ship. Not to be too easily led away by
the advances Of strangers. Particular
y shun those of fascinating manners,
who seem to take a fancy to you at
first interview. As general rule such
are mere adventures, who want TO
borrow money Of YOU