Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-08-27
From the Portsmouth Gazette.
SELF CULTURE.

Much has been written to stimulate
the youth of our land to constant exer-
tions and unremitting toll in, and self
sacrificing devotion to their great grand
aim of being Congressmen, Governors
and Presidents. Much good has result
ed from it. But the field is broader, the
laborers more numerous, the prospect
for a more abundant and richer harvest
is greater, aud the needs for incentives
more PIE sing, when we write directly
to the young mechanic, farmer AID day
laborer, and advise th,m to become.
through Self Culture, we'll educated,
not in the binonial taeorem and
ouadratics, not in Latin and Greek, but
to be well educated in their respective
vocations, and in consequence he able
to become great, successful men. Not
to the fastidious, the drone, the coward
do we write, but to him whn is not
ashamed of his trade or calling, to him
who is>willing to work and lug and lug,
to him who fears no obstacles, is intimi-
dated by no seeming dangers or super
cilious sheer, do we write, and, begging,
ask him to '..ahake off the soft dreams
thot cucumber his might And burst
the FOOLS fetters that bind him. We
have no objection to the blacks mith's
being au aspiiant for congressional
honors, or the farmers fond desire of
filing the guberpatorial chair, or the
hod carriers delusive dream Of occupy
ing the White House, but as so few, so
very few cut of the many, do realize the
contamination of their bright imagin-
ings, we say seek first distinction, young
man, in your own trade or calling,
through Sell Culture, by improving the
many opportunities within your reach,
by pursuing steadily with an unflinch-
ing determination your one, aim Of be-
ing at the head and front Of your VOC a.
ton Invent, improve and invent
again. Be unsatisfied, but constantly
progressive. Devote your days to ply
steal work your nights tl' mental, Tor
headwork must be the pioneer. the
foundation. the contriver and the dlrec-
tor. Then pursue those studies, al
though under many difficulties, which
assist you in your trade, and throw
light On your business. Be an orna-
ment to your profession. Elevate it.
And then, ifyou desire, seek political
fame, or better still let it seek you.
We are satisfied that the political
arena is crowded. We are equally salts
fed that the same amount of effort and
mental culture, bestowed upon the far
mer, the mechanic, and the day laborer,
would make more successful men, would
dignity labor, aid would result in nn-
told blessings to the age and race. Read
the lives of successful men-no matter
in what field of labor-and be COM
forted and encouraged by their trials,
be moved by their success, foll)w their
example. and be determined to succeed.
q We invite your attention to Wash |
ipgton, who was a surveyor and farmer;
30 Franklin, who was printer; to Ro-
ger Sherman, who was maker; to |
Murat, who was the son of an inn |
keeper; to Ney, who WIS notary's |
clerk, to Sir VIM. Hershel, who was
drummer boy in the English army; to A.
T.. Stuart, the prince merchant, who
Wdo an itIntl VII Sidlit Wltu pbiy "a Nit
tal off cents; to James Gordon BEN
nett, who was penni!ess boy, and who
commenced the great New York Herald
ON a borrowed capital of five hundred
dollars; to Horace Greeley, who walked
into New York barefooted and almost
bareheaded; to George Law, one Of the
wealthiest sons of New York, and who
was one-cutter and mason and who
worked on the Dismal Swamp Canal
locks; to John Jacob Astor, who accum-
ulated millions from units; to Christie
pher Columbus; to Elihu Burritt, the
l. armed blacksmith; to Stephens Of Geor-
gi /; to Sir Humphrey Davy; TO Abra-
ham Lincoln and Gilbert G. Walker;
and to host of other successful men
through self-culture.