The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-19
THE CHANCES FOR YOUNG MEN.

country and time Is the wonderful opportunity
Tor young men to make for themselves position
and influence. 1t surely is not so of any other
nation, nor has it ever been so prominent at any
other period of our history. Young men have
generally been at disadvantage because of
their youth. But among other changes that
have been severing the present from the past,
it has become popular to advance young men TO
stations OF great influence and responsibility.
The lareest churches seek ministers under
thirty, and the old-line physicians and lawyers
are pushed aside for young and brilliant
talent of the modern schools. Young
men are managing many OF the ablest
journals in the land; young men take the highest
position as merchants, bankers, and manu-
iacturers, snd there is really no position at the
present day to which young man may not
aspire and obtain. The change Is, indeed, won
derlui, and one which young men do not seem
fully to appreciate As matters are at the pre-
sent ume, if tney cannot achieve something
worthy OF themselves, 1t is quite likely that
they never Will. For there never have been in
any age or in any land such truly magnificent
chances for the triumphs of young men as our
country reveals to-day.
When we speak of young men, we mean those
who are between twenty and tbirty-dve These
are the years which in the olden time we're
looked upon a. comparatively untrmttul and
Valueless. III man under thirty carved his
name nigh up among the illustrous, he was
no very uncommon thing tor men of this age to
retire from business with sufficient means for
support through llle. There are ministers and
lawyers, too, almost without number, who are
fairly and fully established before thirty. And,
what is best of all, they are not looked upon
with enyi0us or jealous eyes by those who are
older. In fact, there Is most wholesome re-
spect Tor young men as well as for old, wherever
and whenever real merit makes itself apparent.
The idea seems to be that man, young or ola,
is to be Judged by what he actually accom-
nlighnG Of canfu vut1o onA
glorious field for all who willing to enter the
lists 1t is surely greater honor to acquire
positions OF influence at thirty than II is at forty,
or later in lie. We know that a great deal is
said about young men wearing themselves out
in this way prPmatuTely. In part it Is correct
for young men do in multltudnous cases make
themselves utterly worthless by the time they
are thirty. But they do not often wreck them
selves with too much work. 1t is dissipation
that blights and KILLS. Wholesome work is good
for all and IL would be well If every young man
in the land had enough OF it to do to take his
thoughts once and forever from Incidence and
debauchery. But even if hard work did tend to
break man down early, with the opportunities
as they now are almost any man OF spirit would
prefer to accept the hazard and try for the
laures.
If young men would know how and in what
way the opportunity is presented for their ad-
vancement, we will tell them. In the first
place, there is field for orators-a field almost
deserted. The great speakers have passed away,
ana new supply is called tor Young or old,
truly eloquent speaker could win for himself
golden crown. In the second place, the still
undeveloped profession of journalism calls
for young men of character and power.
A hundred men of ability could take
leading positions at once in this too
neglected field of influence. All the profes-
sIons, too are dividing up into specialtes,
afording unparalleled opportunities for tai
ented men to make their lives useful and homo
rable The vast mining regions of the West
call tor engineers, but there are very few to
70 A
institutions are springing up over the land,
requiring the best of executive talent to ad-
minister their affairs. The literature of the
country is waning because of the lack of bright
and fresh writer's. In fact, there Is no end TO
the chances open to young men of character
and determination. The great want OF the day
Is for men to fill important positions. IL As
sometimes said that there are more applicants
for position than can possibly be employed. We
do not believe this to be correct: but ii it Is,
brave man will make position for himself.
There are so many new fields to be opened In
every department of thought and enterprise,
that somewhere young man can, ana II per-
sistent will make for himself a worthy place.
The greatest obstacle in the way OF the ad-
Vancement of young men is cowardlce. They
are afraid lest they may be called ''dashing, ,
or lest they may walk In the light OF some OLD
prejudice or word wisdom. Some men, too, are
so extremely cautious that they are discouraged
by the warnings of those who have been unfor-
tunate, ana they never dare 10 attempt any
thing. This is not the spirit for to-day. All
the interests of the times call for boldness and
courage. There are more undeveloped sue
cesses and more un written heroHms than have
ever been recorded. There are enough great
and Good things to be accomplished to
carve the name Of every young man in the
LAND high up among the lists These things
appear to be forgotten. An idea seems to pre-
vail that nearly every great opportunity has
been seized, and that those who come after have
only to follow tamely on in old ruts and paths.
This is great mistake, and one which works
very disastrously to those who indulge in it,
There are new ideas innumerable TO be deve'
loped, and it is the duty OF young men to do al
in their power to discover them There are
great and grand fields, greater and grander thar
the world has ever seen and here are the places
for young men to Test their strength. Not tina
every man must be a hero in the eyes OF TIT
world but il is incumbent upon ell 10 seek Il
advance the progressive spirit OF the age and o
the country.
But boldness is not the only requisite of th
times. Honesty and character are certainly il
greater demand than mere brllliancy. The ten
dencIes OF the age seem to be to make men les
reeardful Of the means used to achieve success
A truly good man. one who has lofty aspirations
and one who loves the right tor the rights sake
is the man who is surest to make a real success
There are too many men who cannot be trusted
There are too few men of whom all the Norl
knows that they are planted upon right as upo
adamant. If a man Is bold sincere, liberal, an
persistent, our country is indeed a magnihceI
arena for a struggle. Only let the ideas reac
farther and higher than those which have pre-
ceded and the victory is certain. If young me
knew one-half their power they would accom-
plish far greater and grander things.
An Interesting Scrap of Confederate History
vsnufaNn nTiNapr in hfu uNNnn