The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-18
George Peabody's Advice to the Youn,

ADDRESS TO THE SCHOOL CHILDREN OF HIS
NATIVE TOWN.
Mr.. George Peabody, on the occasion of his
visit to his native town, South Danvers Mass,
on Monday, addressed the school childfen, who
assembled to meet him at the Peabody Institute
as iollows:-
my dear young friends:-Nearly two genera
lions have passed away since left this, my
native town. with probably less education than
even the youngest among those now address,
and with no prospect of future success in life
beyond that of any boy now before me who pos
sesses good health, industry, and perseverance,
with heart and mind determined to make pure
principles his guide. My course Is well known,
and fear too much appreciated by our whole
country; but praise even but partially deserved,
tends to stimulate to extra eXertion, both physi-
cally and particularly the young; and
j hope and pray that every one who is now
within the sound Of my voice may experience,
as ! have, the truth of these remarks, and de-
serve that pride and satisfaction which are sure
TO attend all those who conscientlously strive to
do right and to benefit their tellow-men.
'All OF you, my young friends, should aim at
8 high mark in this respect and undoubtedly
many of your number, of both sexes will arrive
at distinction in society; but neither my regard
for truth or past experience will justify me in
promising any one OF you that great success
which has ever attended me. Scarcely one in
an age attains to it, and feel most sensibly
that it is only by the guidance and blessings of
my heavenly Father from early life to my
to accomplish SO much for the purpose of laying
the foundations for the physical comforts of the
needy, and the promotion OF knowledge and
morality for the present and future generations.
AS you advance in lite you will find that years
will appear short in comparison TO those occu-
pied by your studies at the present time This
is my second visit to my native land for
thirty years, and the period appears brief to
me. Time and generations pass most rapidly:
'TeA years ago last week, on beautiful
autumnal day, addressed from the front OF this
20 tIa ahnIo nf ha nia
numbering, think, over seventeen hundred,
and then said to them:-T would bid you re.
member that but a few years will elapse before
You will occupy the same position towards your
own children which your parents now hold
toward you. The training you are now receiving
therefore, is a precious talent, for the use OF
abuse of which each one will, on future dav
be called upon to give an account This Ian
guage my young friends, wish equally to appl,
to you now, as then applied 1t to them: Wher'
is now that assemblage OF nearly two Thousand
whether fifty of them occupy the place o
scholars here to-day. Many of them have be
come husbands and wives, and nearly all hav
entered upon the duties, the cares, and tn
the place which they occupied in 1856, and b!
the great centennial celebration of the birth o
our glorious Union, in 1876, they. your fathers
mothers, brothers, and sisters, will have takeI
another step forward on the stage of lite, anC
you will take the places they now fill. Be pre-
pared for that important change while you
present high privileges OF learning remain opel
ION the 9th of October, 1856, did not anti
cipate the pleasure of being here at this time
but God has graciously permitted me, living be
yond the allotted limit OF threescore wears an(
ten, to return and enter upon the realization O
hopes and plans which l have entertained fol
many years, and to endeavor to show nv graft
tude for His goodness and watchful care, b,
taking further and wider action in extending n
the inhabitants of my native town, of NV nafiy
State, and my native country, not only for tn,
present generation, but to those who will appea
and act upon the stage of existence in tutur
ages, the means of mental culture and mora
Improvement.
DAT my advanced age cannot expect to NEE
you again collectively, and II is to me sadden
ing thought, for though since addressed YOU
predecessors at the time l have mentioned
have met many assemblies OF children, and I
some have spoken-founded on long exp
rience--words of simple advice and caution, "
IN none, ON either side of the Atlantic, can
teel SO deep an interest as in the children Of IL
SCHOOLS OF South Danvers. They seem intimate
associated with thoughts of my childhood an
early youth; they take the same lessons, the
occupy my Fairgrounds, and their feet tres
me same paths over which / once trudged
school. with such feelings, therefore, earnest
eXh0rt you, my dear young friends To strive
your present advantages to prepare vourselv
for life OF usefulness in the responsible MOI
mons which you are 10 I'll; TO honor, and