The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-10-23
SELF.MADE MEN.

Thde is evidence in all history that near
ly eveky man who has made his mark in the
worldIh as been self-mAde; and it is q COM
mon 4 TOR to suppose that greatness Is al
ways ne to the highest education. Exam
pies Abound in all countries, Of inventors,
artist3 generals, and other noted men, who
have achieved greatness, and yet never saw
the i13ide of college, nor learned any other
than the primary elements of an education.
Morekparticularly is this the case in this age,
wherf the benefits of the common school are
afforded at so cheap cost, and with so
great advantages. 10 truth the common
scho4 is now the key most in use for I'M
lOcka g the door to knoWledge, which has
thus become accessible TO all classes and ap-
precAted by those who cannot afford to be-
stowh scientific and classical education upon
their children.
"a the most important discoveries in art
and ban ufactures are due less to education
thAnto practical experience and observation,
whilA on the other hand, it IS too often the
case hat the highly finished" young gen.
tlem4 n, who won the hOnOrs of bis class at
collek e, degenerates into literary hack, or
"eedy" member OF some Of the over
stoc1 Jed profession.
WI care not if a man is innocent Of "se-
niusG as it is called. if be possesses the two
imp Ftant ingredients Of true genius, energy
and TACT. Talent is all very well in its way,
but Without practical turn of mind it 10 no
bettSr than q clod. The mechanic who works
his tgnt hours day, week in and week out,
NAL Is better man, and has better chance
OF blooming useful to society, than be who,
wit4a "liberal education" no tact and little
eneTfy, makes a more graceful figure in po-
lite fircles. The training OF genius must be
self culture, for it is impossible to frame
ruek that shall lead to success. We have
seer lboys subjected to all the different edu-
cati nal courses, high and low, who, when
theI became men thrown upon their own re-
sou ces, made sad failure of life and bare
ly dcaped starvation. Brilliant, quick-wit-
ted, versed in courtly arts, and familiar with
the contents of libraries, they literally "could
not work to beg they were ashamed"
II was not because they were educated
hoJever, but because they knew nothing Of
thes practical duties of life or labor. Tact
and observation and skill they might have
pos essed when young, but they way in
wht they had been taught much that was
usek less and impractcable at school and col
leg4 had destroyed whatever Of true genius
wA4 born 10 them. 1t is not intended to
conf ey the idea that education in itself is in
jur4 bus to any individual Combined Win
the light sort Of mental calibre and practical,
useful labor, it has been instrumental in
bridging out the genius Of many self-made
MAJ. But we need 60 DO farther than our
owt city to point out men high in the esti-
mAfon Of their fellow citizens, filling public
offices in an excellent manner and rolling in
we4lth, who were once poor meo, laboring
wild common mechanical tools until their
int ,rn talent found opportunity, with the
aidkof energy and tact, to elevate them to a
hid her but really not more honorable posi-
tick.
is not necessary that man should al
va be obliged to perform day labor for
ott srs. Careful thought, practical obserYa-
III y and integrity Of purpose, 10 this coun-
ri are likely TO lead the skillful and ener-
geEc, in any honest business, to competen-
cyl success and honor and re little under
Stands his own interests who will consent to
rel balm journeyman when he can rise to
soliciting better.