Litchfield enquirer., 1868-03-19
OUR ADVICE TO YOUNG MEN.


 From our experience and observation, we are prepared to offer you some sugges- tions which, we believe, may prove benf- cial to many young mon, if properly heed ed.
 start out in life, to hew out name or a failure for yourself, do not, without suffi cient forethought, rush for some large city, as if there were no other place of sufficient importance to be worthy of your attention If you are D lawyer, a teacher, an artist, or have superior attainments which naturally would not receive sufficient inducement outside of a city, then it would be well, undoubtedly, to go to the city where skill IS adequately paid for. But if you are 8 farmer, have no trade nor profession, and only fair business education, then keep away from the crowded cities, and the pol lutlons and allurements which you will meet at every turn, urging you to pursue any course but one of rectitude and virtue You go to the city, of course, to find en- ployment, but you often, very often, fail ot your object, and very likely soon run out of cash. You write to parents and friends for pecuniary assistance, and are disappointed. The father, in many cases, may not have the money to spare, and, in some cases, will reason that he will let his son have an opportunity of knowing what it is to depend upon himself. The son runs i'll debt for board, tries to find work, and fails. He sees an advertisement in the paper of ''Agents wanted" Goes to the place, makes trial, and fails. In has ram- bles about town, he falls in with some -ap- parently agreeable man, who tries to con- sole him. Tells him that he is thoroughly acquainted with city life, and if he will but follow him and his friendly advice, he will never want money and friends He is told that the world owes him living, and if he does not make a good one, 1t is his own fault. The young man, being out of funds and amongst strangers must do something. What can he do? The landlord refuses to give him his trunk and clothing until his board is paid. He naturally enough fol- lows the direction of his new friend, and makes him his most intimate companion. The sequel is, that he is introduced to abandoned and guilty acuaintances, and is soon boldly requested to take an active part in some of their plans to plunder and rob honest men of their money Dissipation and vice are his constant companions, now, and he soon becomes utterly ruined and worthless. At times he may live in luxury and ease, but is soon doomed to go down to infamy and utter degradation. Such has been the fate of many young man, who, thoughtless in setting out in life, went first to the city without any certain means of obtaining an honest living, and was conse- quently unable to maintain good stand ing in respectable society.
 How much better off, and how much sur CT of success would all these young men be, would they but have in view the idea of becoming young, thrifty and indepen- dent tillers of the soil, where, by the sweat of their brows, they earn an honest Iiveli- hood, become the heads of families, an honor to humanity, and blessing to them selves and their dear ones about them! No regrets would haunt their visions for mis- pent time, or disgraceful acts; but there would be the sweet, refreshing sleep of the aware that hundreds of acres of the public lands are awaiting your coming Many of these lands are as rich and productive as the sun ever shone upon, and are only awaiting your coming, when you can so readily turn these barren fields to products of gold. The prices of these lands are within the reach of every young man who would bend his energies to the one purpose of becoming au independent farmer. Our young territories are rapidly growing up, and only need few more euterprising young men to become permanent settlers, before other stars will be added to the Un- | ion.
 Give up forever the idea of living in an over-crowded city, 50 full of vice, pauper- ism and degradation, and strive for mo- bier ambition, nobler purpose-wherein you will not have lived in vain. but will sooner or later have the consciousness of having done something worthy of man and of posterity. J. H. P. 1 St. Louis, March 5, 1868.
 No English churchman and scholar is better known than Dean Afford, and any l