Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-12-08
The Value Of Preparation for the
Business of Life.

The Value Of Preparation for the
Business of Life.
There is much in the temper of the
times and the country in which we dwell
to admonish of the value of early and ade-
quate preparation for the business OF lie.
The present is what may be called, In
homely but expressive phrase, fast age !;
and in this eountry particularly, the I'M
exampled rapidity of our progress in all
the elements of greatness, has communi-
Gated to the people fervor and restless
ness of spirit that will not be content with
but the shortest and most summary modes
of arriving at results. The magical per-
formances of steam and other power have
infected them; they cannot abide the slow
processes of former days however sure;
their plans and enterprises must spring
to maturity like the prophets gourd in
single night. They have so often seen
the wild imagination of yesterday become
the reality of to day, that they have come
to regard nothing as extravagant, and to
put implicit faith in adventurous daring.
The desire to accomplish is equalled only
by the anxiety to begin. So vast is the
area of our country, so boundlees its re-
sources and opportunities, and so accessi-
BILE to all, by the means of its free popular
institutions, are the avenues which lead
to the general objects of desire, wealth,
power, social and political position, that
our young men step forward upon
the stage of action with an alacri-
ty and confidence that are prone to
make them under value those habits of
patient discipline, of earnest, faithful and
continuing industry which lie at the bot
tom of all great and well merited distino-
ton. Enterprise and self reliance are
excellent qualities in the young; they
are elements of great force, whether con-
sidered in their influence upon the forma-
ton of personal character or upon the in
terests of society at large. But the young
man who nourishes the hope of attaining |
something beyond mere transient popu-
larity or temporary success, who is ami
mated with the desire of building sup a
reputation which shall live after him
and be to his family and the race at once
o heritage, and, an example, must set out
with the conviction and persevere in it to
the end, that whatever may be the natur-
al quicknes of his powers, self cultiva-
ton, the full and systematic Development
of his mind and resources is not the short
labor Of day or year, but the progress
sive work of lifetime, and that without
this discipline and preparation faithfully
performed, no solid or enduring excellence
can ever be achieved. Even genius with
its rare and superior qualities, cannot sub
sist altogether on its own resources with
out the material which study supplies.
Its fires pale away and often die out from
sheer exhaustion. Much less can talent,
the more common and mechanical, but in
the main not less useful endowment, ex-
pect to achieve anything of consequences,
without the aid of persevering labor.
The Standardization to which we refer
does not consist altogether in what is
commonly called learning. There are
other teachers than books, and other
schools than those in which masters and
professors are to be found. Life has its
unwritten lessons, of deeper import than
human lore; and what nobler school can
there be to him who uses it Alright than
this many-colored world, with its living
manners and its rich and diversified ex-
periences. That which is daily and hour
ly enacted before our eyes is but gen.
eral epitome of the general history of nen
and things. The same motives aotuate,
the same hopes inspire, the same passions
agitate and the same deeds are done here
az elsewhere now and in all time. Though
always one in essence, human nature has
yet an endless variety of manifestations
from the varying circumstances to which
il is subjected in life. To understand this
nature in the race as well as the indi-
vidual, and to comprehend the causes and
principles which prevail in the regulation
of human affairs, searching self-study
and large accurate and generalizing OBJ
servation are equally necessary. There
is world within that answers to the
world without and the short. aphorism of
of the Greek Philosopher, knoao MyseT,
embraces in its spirit knowledge far
deeper, broader and more universal than
its terms would seem to imply. Young
men give consideration to an adequate
preparation for the activities of life by al
thorough Standardization, and then be
true to the immortal principle of progress
that lies folded up within you. Cultivate
heart, intellect and sonl, then will you be
prepared to meet the responsibilities. and
fight the battle of life manfully.