The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-04-30
B Y B. G. HOBBS, PRESIDENT OF EARL
HAM COLLEGE.

Life is before you, with all its bright
anticipatiOns and disappolntments. 1t
viii not be Just as you now imagine It.
You may look around you, and think
of this a and that who have risen 10
business life, by industry, energy, and
perseverance, aud who now have az
envious place in the estimation Of our
best people.
You may think you will make their
trades over again, and seek a pattern
in what they have done. IF SO, dis
appointment awaits you, for life Is
constantly changing You cannot
Judge the future by the past. The
art you need is to know how to do the
work of your day with promptness,
correct judgment, and dispatch, meet
ing events as they come with manli-
ness and courage.
To do this well requires prepara-
ton. Many elements must blend to
make up that character which will
make lite a success, which will not
only secure you neat and happy homes,
but kind aud loving friends, and to
these blessings a competence for the
support Of declining years, and an in
heritance for the dependent ones who
come after you, and gifts for charity
and benevolence, for the school and
the church.
Life has many objects for which we
should live. We must learn early
how to do our work well. Every
stage of life has its special duties.
Childhood prepares for youth-youth
for manhood and manhood for age.
GOOD HABITS.
Good training is of great import
auce. We walk, eat sleep, work,
and think by habit. It requires care
in early training that every muscle
shall do it's proper work. Repetition
must be made in imitation of proper
aud ideal models, that ease and facili-
ty may blend with grace and elegance.
In habits Of standing, sitting and
walking, we should consult the laws
of health, and our physical relations
to the mind. Disease is invited or
repealed by ~carelessness or inattention
to these matters. A proper attention
to diet, sleep aud rest can not long
be neglected. The business mar has
need Of a " sound mind In a sound
body"
Graceful movements, easy manners,
a Lm au4 GGAAG0 EACUf A4NQ &AEaL
influence on the mind and character.
The mind and body are Intimately
connected, act and react on each
other, and both are controlled by our
will.
SOCIAL EDUCATION.
Good conversational powers are
very desirable, and to reach this we
must visit our friends, and learn the
art of receiving and entertaining
them In return. To do this requires
judgment in determining when, where,
and how, and with whom It should
be done. Tell me the company you
keep and | will tell you who you are
Business must not be required to
make too many sacrifices. Prudence
and economy can rarely satisfy the
demands of pleasure.
The tongue is hard to govern. The
successful business man must learn
to control it. Honor, self-respect,
and ultimate interest admonish him
that he must live above mean or low
~subterfuges to damage the character
of a successful rival by insinuations
or inuendoes.
Ever live above jealousy, suspicion,
or dlstrust, and scOrn to rise by pull
ing others down, or to grow rich by
making others poor. An excellent
antidote to this common weakness
of men, is to cultivate a habitual ap-
probation of the merits of others.
Our minds will thus live in a higher
and purer element, and we viii feel
at home among the noble and the
good.
MORAL OBLIGATION.
Business cannot well be conducted
without faith In men. This faith can
not be secured without truthfulness.
+" Let your yea be yea, and your nay
pdy." You may make a good trade
to day by evading the truth-by mis-
representation, but it will probably
react against you tomorrow. The
safest way to success is to be constantly
right nor. Work your way up thus,
safely aud surely, remembering that it
takes time to establish a good eharac-
ter. but it may be ruined in an hour.
BE not hasty in seeking the highest
wages. Many damage themselves by
aiming too high before their qualities
are known. If they cost more than
they are worth, criticisms are severe
~ pronounced upon them, and they
taIl because they are too well paid.
First learn to work to other PEOPLES /
interest, aud then they will work to
yours. Let your first investment be
IN character. You are then on the
safe road to comfort and respectable
ty, if you should not be able to reach
the hOnors of wealth