Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1870-11-17
For the Herald and Tribunel
Professional Mania.
BY SILEX.

evils arising from the want OF a system OF
education. l know there are corrupt men
in power. can hear of crime and viliainy
triumphing over the right. can see that
political chicanery takes the place of
straightforward manhood. These facts
stand out prominently, and good men fear
the result. Behind all these there is yet a
train of evils whose weight and power are
still in the distance. tt
1t will not be denied that much of the
best talent Of the country was born in the
lower classes of society-that from the
humblest walks of life real talent has as
serted it's power, magnetized opposing
forces, and done much good for mankind
But, not without means of develope-
ment. This State, every State boasts of
men who rose from obscurity to eminence.
In every case the State was, in some sense
bcncfactor. This is the prime relation
of States to citizens-to the youth-that
of securing q system Of education, the first
duty and well defined right.
If that series of Legislative enactments
which took away from us Common School
System, cursed any man with a bitter
curse, it was surely that young man who
had no other means of education-that
man who longing for the developement of
those Unborn powers which assured him of
success in life, must know that he can only
hope against alfhope. The case is not
an isolated one. There are hundreds of
young men just upon the threshold ofreal
life, whose hopes are crushed, whose life
plans lay in ruins before them, all for the
want of means of education. Nor does
it stop here Others are coming on and
the State refuses-did [ say State? Its
dgnifed ( p officials refuse to act wisely
in the matter. From the lonely school
houses whose ghostly shadows remind one
of desolation itself, there comes the assur-
ance that ignorance ''shall reign for a sea-
SON." Nor hcrc-for there have been
liberal means to the fcaC. From the
few thus favored we are beset with host
of aspirants for every kind of honor
These are the young men who nave such
splendid out-look-sO many uneducated
men inspiring them with the idea of lead
ership. Very often in the fierce upheav
ais of social organizations. the lighter ele
ments are thrown to the surface. It is
largely true here. Admit that in any
contest for distinction, qualification ought
to stand 6rst-but if that qualification { ?
has been abridged by Legislative enact
ments which bear rsdiShonesty upon the very
face of them, who is to blame if the noble
professions are crowded with iliiterate
men? If the means of developing talent
have been taken away from those who
have talent, who will not expect others,
whether they have it or not. to. step in the
places they could have so honorably filled -?
Who does not know that :'when diamond
cuts dimond'' genius and talent most fOrci-
bly, assert their superiority? Who does not
know that men lOre distinction, fame !;
that they will barter the best means of
happiness for either? Who does not know
that when field is open for rivalry, the
higher the standard the fewer the contes-
tants? Lower the standard and the medi-
ocre has reasonable hope of success
Take it down and the bully may carry off
the prize by brute force. Words of coun-
Gil may come from the lips of wisdom,
warning such characters against the folly
of such course. against the chances of
succcss-but they are not responsible, since
it is no longer a field of honorable rivalry,
talk to the man who took down the stan
dard.
1t may be wholesome to say to those
young men who spurn the idea of toiling
with their hands, and sigh for the fame
and gliding they think is attendant upon
a professional career. that not one-third of
the lawyers who hang out their signs as
sAttornevs and Counsellors at Law"
make as much per year as good mechanics.
The few that succeed are those of which
they read, of which they hear. Those that
fail utterly, are too numerous to be made
known. If all who are smitten with a love
of fame could become acquainted with
really famous men, their eyes would be
opened. They would find that the laurel
crowned goddess who seemed so charming,
so enchanting to them, was actually ignored
by those who had secured the favor of her
smiles. They would find them working
hard and painfully for the developement of
some great idea, or the accomplishment of
some grand task. without the slightest ref
erence to the admiration their labOrs might
excite in the minds of men. True there
are men who live for fame, who are famous
without the greatness ON which true fame
depends. A glance at the inner life OF
such men will reveal the hollowness of such
life. Young men, do not be misled by
the glitter of popular applause. The ap-
proval of judicious, thoughtful men-of
conscience, is worth more than the sense
less shouts of the whole world. There is
only one way of becoming truly famous
do your scork wei.
If the country suffers from the rush Of
talent to the professions, judicious legisla.