Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-07-01
Stay In the Country.

THE frequent letters we receive from
young men in the country about coming
to the city, and asking relative to the
chances of employment, advancement,
etc, constrain us TO say with emphasis,
Stay IN the Country! And this admoni-
tory advice is founded upon some actual
knowledge OF both country and city life
and avocations-the health and compe-
tence which the one assures, and the un-
certainties, disappointments and failures
attending the other.
Our large cities are over. and
the present is a most unfavorable period
to change from country to town life and
occupations, even if such is ever advisa-
BILE. In New York city alone tens of
thousands of intelligent and skillful peo
pie are out of employment or only living
from hand to mouth; and the times are
such that the prospects of those who de-
pend upon occupation in stores, offices
and manufactures are becoming more
and more discouraging. Many who have
families dependent upon their labor for
support are wisely removing to the coun-
try-and not a few capitalists and busi
ness men are manifesting shrewdness and
foresight by securing small farms or
landed estates for their sons, with view
Vi bhClu UCyOuO Lut
and chances oftown life and speculation.
And we believe there are day at least a
quarter million of people in this city who
would materially better their condition
by going into the country-on farms, or
to new and growing towns in the West,
South, &c, where land is cheap and
fertile, and labor in demand and well re-
warded.
Young men, and especially farmers
sons, who are looking city-ward should
carefully consider the chances of success,
which, at the best, are poor indeed, as sta
stistics amply demonstrate-and ponder
well the life long consequences of change
from country to city life and occupations.
Those looking for employment in news
paper offices, (either as clerks or brain
workers,) as are many who write US, are
particularly cautioned to look before they
leap into the tempting but uncertain and
laborious whirlpool of Journalism. For
in this, as in most city professions and
trades, there is little or no room-except
for such geniuses as are rare indeed For
one brilliant success, like that of Greeley
or Raymond, there are a thousand signal
failures-failures which not unfrequcntly
render the aspirants and their families
both destitute and miserable. An adver-
tisement for competent newspaper man
or editorial writer, would at once be an
swered by city residents, qualified by long
practice to occupy the position hence
how poor the chance of an inexperienced
countryman, unless he possesses superior
capacity, or is backed by influential friends
and the latter can only aid him in starting,
for persistent labor and decided brain
power are requisite to achieve even aver
N a cn wit pti Ua
competitors.
Let us cite case in point. On remov-
ing the principal ofticeSof the RurdJ to
New York, we advertised in morning
paper for an experienced book keeper =
one thoroughly conversant with the
newspaper business, etc. Before five
o'clock of the same day, zoe receioed SEQ
entyJ0ur Written applications for the posi-
ton! And many of these were from
men who had been in business and
failed !-men formerly well-to-do, if not
rich, but now poor, with educated and re-
fined families to support, and that, too,
in city where to live decently requires
hard, well-remunerated work, or surplus
of means
And what is true in regard to journal.
ism is TO great extent true concerning
other professions and branches of bust.
ness-for nearly all the so-called respecta.
BILE city avenues TO competence, fortune or
fame are filled with industrious, ambi-
tiOus and persistent aspirants and com.
petitors Hence the chances to become
Stewarts and Vanderbilts, or Harpers and
Appletons, are indeed few and far be-
tween. Better far try agriculture, which
is truly the most honorable and useful, as
it is the most natural and healthy pursuit
of man. Yes, Stay in the Country,
and avoid the lottery.like change to city
life and habits, and from out door to
sedentary employment Remember that
though few-alas, how very few-business
and professional men succeed in acquiring
and retaining wealth and position, the
many fail of securing even q competency
while thousands who began life with
high hopes and brilliant prospects, an
nually die in poverty and obscurity. Bear
in mind, lalso, that the Farm is ..the
natural nursery of Health, Virtue and
Contentment, and that it guarantees COM
petence if not wealth-while the city
with is avOcatiOns, associations and
temptations) Injuries and often destroys
the health, corrupts the morals, and not
unfrequently leads to bankruptcy in cash,
conscience and respectability. Avoid the
turmoil of the poisonous town by staying
in the tranquil, pure, invigorating, life
giving and sustaining country. We verify
believe that, as general rule. every young
man who leaves the farm for the counter,
desk, physic or law, forsakes a certainty
for an uncertainty-and as to the extent
of that uncertainty, let the idle, starving
thousands of our large cities answer.
For the above and other cogent reasons
we earnestly reiterate, Stay in the Coun.