The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1869-01-23
TO YOUNG MEN.

his IoufHai, its laf as IL Is devoted to
the.ntcrests of any class, is intended for
Young men. The topics which arc dis
cuSscd; the views that are advanced
the force and habit of thought which are
cultivated; all are suitcd to the advance
ment, and, we hope the tastes of the
young men of the day. II these tastes
are not i'll harmony with the character Of
our journal, we cannot but tlcrlorc the
fact. and will only work the hauter-not
t0change the course and spirit of TIE
COURIER; but to encourage the cultiv;,-
ton of those objects to the support of
which it is devoted.
The young man in America is in n diff
fercnt position from the Young man ir
Europe, or one who lives in any other
government on the face of the globe. The
advantages are all on the side of the for
mer. If he does not employ them we'll.
it is more his fault than if he were des
tined to fight against traditionary preju-
dces and plod along under the most dis
heartcniug circumstances. The influence
of caste under Il monarchical form of gov-
ernmcnt Is the barrier which opposes the
progress of MyOuth. The most that IL Young
man can do is to follow in the footsteps
of his father and that fathers fathcr. If
he belongs to family of peasants, whose
members, both male and female, have
lived i'll ignorance and mental dcgr;,.la-
ton all the days of their lives, his pros
pcct is one of work in the field us a ten
ant, without further hope than tie keep.
in. of body and soul together, and with
no ambition other than THAI of rest. @
In Europe, the Doctors son may he
Il I,o Il,
yer; the preachers son Il preacher. The
son of the tinker or the tailor will almost
surely succeed his father. The vocation
Of d pcdler, ali omnibus driver, Il saloon
keeper or even a bcgggar is a certain fam
iy legacy, and there is not one, case il a
hundred where there is not legitimate
succession. The same is true OF the mill
tary, the nobility and the civil service.
Routine is tile order A these nations. The
spontancity of youthful natures is crush
ed out and the faculties are cramped ac-
cording to the positions of the parents.
How different is the state OF affairs i'll
this country! Freedom here is NEARLY as
universal AZ restriction else where! Free
dom ia the government OF the nation, of
communities and of families; abundance
of scope for every talent and inclination;
III encouragement for all trades and pro-
fcssions; eurly opportunities for the de-
yelopment of whatever taste the youth
may manifest, and future places for every
capable imam TO till-every kindred intlu-
cnce under this governments works tor
the benefit Of him who is actuatcd by IL
laudable desire to succeed.
1et, in spite of all these advantages,
the greatest drawback to the PROGRESS of
the young meu of America il u want Nf
the proper ambition. You may answer
that there is greater ambition among the
young men of this" country than among
those OF any other country. BHs the ur-
gnncut has no force. Youthful ambition
elsewhere is niprct in the bud it has no
chance to blossom. But in our own coun-
try the ambition of the young man il not
equal to his opportunities, only In excrp
tional cases 1t is not wholly his fault.
The blame is partly upon those who arc
Interested in his education, which il
shaped for no particular business nor
modelled for usefulness. Net tile fault is
SO much his, that his future life might he
cast in mouldings OF his own, if lie c.uld
lie imb,ied with the spirit aud energy to
desire and work for this.
The misfortune with this class is that
they want to be statesmen in stores, clerks
athotcls, school te:tcllcrs, lawyers clerks,
or may run about with u patent right for
Il washing -machine, or the subscription
list of o new book. The curse OF tile ri
sing generation is thirst for it's ideal Of
genteel occupations The ideal is a false
and unworthy one. It il one which iu-
eludcs u slothful desire for indulgence
and constitutional objection to serious
application. There is no young man who
should not look to greater emolument t and
higher position in the future thnn that of
20 mere, unimportant subordinate, whose
loss would scarcely bc noticed lii the
economy of society. A cle,kship,may be
~ great distinction for q hod- carrier, and
the latter accon.plishes q good work in
attaining it. But for young man who
is able to start out with u clcrkxhip, it is
either disgr,ceful or highly unfortunate
that he should remain 80 all the days of
his life.
After steady habits aud good MORALS,
the most essential quality fi9 the adv VANCE
ulent Of q young man is u business cdu-
cation, It ia something That is always of
practical use, whether the man work for
himself or work for others. 1t prt,,notes
habits that lead to ecouomy in the adj
ministrati0n Of business and the affairs of
afanlily. Itis an efficient me:lns of open
ing to young men the advantages that
may be affirmed by steady application
and ILL ambition for advancement. With
a business education, there is no necessity
and scarcely an cxcnse for remaining in
the subordinate places that may he equal
ly we'll filed by those who have been de-
prived of similar advantages
This subject is one that deserves earn
est consideration from young men them
selves and from, parents and guardians ut
youth. Where the .atter have failed in
their Judgment OF to do their dutrIin this
respect, it is almost always possible for
the young man himself to supply the va
capcy - Where there is IL will. there il
i u way" aud there is not ~ young man il,
hn oou,,f..- ,,,I,<x an u,,nS n<.o,,.rs,