Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-06-11
Letters to Our Young Readers.
pHILopoEMES.

was Grccian, of the city of Megalo-
polls, of tho province of Arcadia. lie
was very distinguished among his
countrymon. Ho was called "thc
last of the Greeks" meaning that af.
ter him, Greece produced no great
man worthy of her ancient glory.
For the samo reason Brutus was styl-
cd "thc last of Romans"
Philopocmcn was highly educated,
and very wise in state affairs. He
was also brave and skillful soldier
and officer.
But that feature in his character
that stuck us in reading his history,
and which we think deserving of your
imitation, my young friends, is his
simplicity Of manners and habits of in
dustry. Though, scholar, soldier and
man of wealth, ho did not think that
he was, therefore above his fellows
around him, or that he would be de-
grading himself TO engage in useful
labor
II is said that "during the intervals
in which thcac were no troops in the
field, he used to spend his time in
throwing up and cultivating tho
ground, on his fine estate, thrco miles
from the city"
At night he would throw himself
on a bed Of straw, like one of his scr
wants and sleep till the next day.
The next morning by day break, he
used to 60 with his vine drcsscrs, and
work in his vineyard, or follow the
plow with his peasants" What q no.
bic example was this on the part of
this great mani 1t is too much the
prevailing opinions in our days, that
to cultivate the soil, or engage in any
manual labor, is degrading: and fit on
ly for tho ignorant and servants.
Hence, young men think they must
be merchants or professional men in
order to be respected; and as a con-
sequence doctors, and lawyers, and
clerks, arc more numerous than the
for them.
Now while we would say not word
to disparagc in your minds, my young
friends, any of these calIings, yet we
would havo you to feel that there is as
much true honor connected
with mechanics and agriculture, as
with the learned professions. or mer
camille pursuits.
We should remember that respect
and honor viii, in the end, be bestow-
ed on those only who deserve them.
1t is not tho calling that honors the
man, but the man, the calling. Wash
inSton as truly great when tilling his
soil at Mt. Vernon, as when COM
manding the army or governing his
his country. True greatness is some
thing that cannot be put On and off at
pleasure, but is inherent with tho
man. The young men of the South
should feel that in no way con they
serve their country better, or moro
command the respect of the wise and
good of our stricken land, than like
Philopoemen, to improve and cult
Sate~the lands, which owing to the
revolution in labor amongst us, now
lie waste. Imbedded in our kindly
soil, lies the future greatness and pros
perity of oor Southern land, and he is
the greatest patriot, and noblest bene-
factor, who, through the aid of intelli-
gent labor, and pcrsevoring toll con-
tributes to its development.
Could I command tho attention of
every youth of our "Sunny South,"' L
would sesk to persuade them to cling
to his home and his country, to aban-
don tho idea of going abroad to seek
employment and accumulate wealth,
but, amid the very wastes, which wars
desolations have mado, go to work
with a will, that recognizes no failure,
and success is sure to follow. 20" -
Depend npon it, there are mines Of
wealth in our midst, which only need
"the hand Of the diligent" to bring
out their value, and make our land one
of unexampled prosperity. ''5a.i -
How many of my young rraders,
will detefminelto devote the combined
powers Of their minds and bodies to
such q desirable conservation? 2 What
'nobler work that Of helping toredeem,
from desolation,, our peeled and wasted
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