The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-05-02
THE YOUNG MEN OF THE SOUTH.

IHE YUM MEN OF The SOUTH
ADJUSTMENTS, or vices if you will, of those
young men of leisure and fortune, of patri-
monies, present or prospective, are neither
honorable nor profitable to those sons of the
South whose fame and fortune are vet to be
made! They cannot all be rich or distin-
guished, but each one has it in his power to
be estimable, honest, and indu, triOus; and
the surest way to overcome the ravages and
desolation of war is for all to work hard and
well. Thousands of men whose position in
life was assured, who had been able to edu-
cate and support their children in comfort
and aff1uence, have seen all their earnings
swept away in moment They have been
compelled to begin again at the lowest round
OF the ladder; and surely their children, who
have shared their prosperity and participant
ed in their comfort, will not now allow them
to labor unencOuraged and alone
A few years can and will restore the South
to prosperous condition, but its prosperity
cannot and will not continue unless the pla-
ces of those who must soon pass away are
filled by men young in years, but old in rec
titude, perseverance, and determination. In
the country districts these truths have been
realized and practiced. Young men who,
in 1861, were looking forward to high hon
ors in the dina Mata of Virginia; Others
who had commenced, under favorable auspi-
ces, the study of law or physic; many who
were maturing their plans for trip to the
American Mecca-the Metropolis of France
found themselves at the close of the war
with nothing left but honor and the modest
pride of Virginians. Repining and regrets
were useless, and they knew it 1t was vain
to weep and sigh over the irrevocable past
Work was the only panacea for a wounded
heart and an empty purse, and to work they
vigorously addressed themselves The hand
which had held the scalpel in its firm grasp
soon guided the plough the eye which had
drawn knowledge and refinement from the
rich mine of ancient and modern learning,
soon watched the rising corn 4; and the math-
ematical mind then delighted in the sight of
straight and evenly turned furrow They
could not have all that they wished but
they would not be idle, and so addressed
themselves vigorously to the practical duties
of life. This is the true Virginia spirit-the
spirit which has made this old Common
wealth honorable in the past, and will make
her prosperous in the future We cannot all
be lawyers, doctors, engineers, and men of
leisure; and if we cannot have what we
wish, we must do what we can
In the cities and towns Of Virginia the
spirit of the young men has been too often
entirely different from that shown by their
country friends Loafing, drinking, and
general Incidence have been too much the
order ofthe day and many who continually
cry out against the supineness of the igno-
rant negro, forget that they themselves, the
representatives of civilized and enlighten-
ed people, are only consistent in doing moth
ing. There are thousand things left which
may be done with honor and profit, and the
absence OF comfortable employment should
be no excuse for idleness, when the constitu-
ton is sound and the yigor of the muscles
unimpaired. No man will be disgraced by
any honest occupation which has been fore
ed upon him bv the vicissitudes of war. The
battle-worn soldier-he who has gathered to
himself, by unobtrusive courage and devo-
ton, a rich harvest of honor and gratitude
can never be sighted because he yields the
hoe, drives hack, chops wood, or breaks
stones in the streets The true, noble man
is still there, and, as rule, he acho aoas q true
and brace soldier IN acar, aoiU be industrious
and hard aoorking in peace
Our depression and disaster will not last
for a lifetime Prosperity and fortune will
gradually return to us, and then those who
are now disciplining their minds by self-de-
NAL and patience will receive the reward of
their labors. Far from being disqualified
they will be the better worthy of returning
to the ease and luxury of their early years,
bearing in their hearts the consciousness also
that no reverse of fortune can find them un-
armed or unprepared. Those who are idle
and careless now will continue to be SO =
The habit will cling to them until it cannot
be shaken off or cast aside, and at last they
will be but drones in the hive, gaining moth
ing for themselves, and living upon the la
Dor of Others The future Of this country
depends upon the young men, who are now
enjoying the strength and happiness of early
manhood. If they will work hard, there is
no need Of fear; but if an era Of apathy and
intemperance is allowed, the South must fall
away considerably from its high estate, and
have little left save the saddening memories
Of her early and glorious histoy.- Richmond
Dispctch.