Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1870-12-22
For the Herald and Tribune
The Reason Why.

How strange that that young man should
such debasing habits Stranger than al
he is a talented young man, and could
have made himself useful in many ways
VIII you only think, there is his neighbol
who has not had half the privileges, and
perhaps few of the encouragements he has
had, yet he seems to be his superior every
way! Not so strange after all. Privileges
encouragement, talents. are not properly
the elements of zeal manhood. They are
only means to an end. A very poor means
too, when poorly used. Mans influence
does not depend on what he might do; nol
does his usefulness consist in what others
happen to think of him. rather on what
they mast think from conduct and charac-
ter. A man must be judged from what
he is, rather than from possibilities. He
is always what lie makes himself.
Take the case of really great man.
In youth he is honest, industrious, psrse-
vering-is taught the value of thoughtful
ness and knowledge and comes up to man.
hood with his powers so developed that in
life's sterner conflicts he instinctively takes
the side of temperance, justice, and reli-
gion. In Gfe's decline serene, ripe old
age seems to resi- upon the veteran like
the Indian Summer on the departing year.
Through the whole there runs the stream
of contentment, deepening and widening
into that other broader, deeper current
which seems to bear away all the cares and
discouragements which a noble life sis
| heir to- He stands where two worlds
meet, but is not afraid. That same honest
purpose which led him up through life has
sublinated nearing now. 1t is faith
and it reaches forth to take hold on an
eternal Inheritance. With it he stands
strong in decline even--for the intellectu-
al man has not been dcbased-thc judg-
iaent is clear, mental vigor unabated. He
! is the hero cf the last battle, for these ele-
ments of manhood have prepared him fcI
a higher, nobler, sphere of action.
But how different with that man who
has always acaited for something to do
In youth, without restraint, the compan
ion of idlers, while those endowment:
which God designed for noblcst purposes
are exercised only to swell the catalogue OF
crime. In manhood reckless-the bosom
| friend of the debauchee-in constant dreaC
of the law that was only designed to pro
tect, yet boldly defying that higher Law
whose avenging finger must write his doom
in characters of fire. In old age, if per
chance there is such to him, he stands like
the giant tree that was once the pride o
the forest, whose top and spreading branch
es are stripped Of their glories, the tree
standing a mere wreck of what it once
was in its glory. The vigor of his intel
| lect is gone. and childish feebleness lay'
hold of his Judgment. If he stands Longer
he is a light house without a lamp, ye
tremblingly awaiting the summons tha
must call him where no hope can eve
come. 1t is too much Already the wal
of abused privileges and the shrek of dis
appointed hopes pierce his soul, and haun
his vision like disembodied spirits, while
prayer, that best expression OF distress
asks relief. All too late. Happiness, ik'
real merit, cannot be bought with sordiC
pelf, nor alone with heart yearnings anC
regrets, no matter how sincere. Characte
does not come of idle day-dreams, or child
ish fancies. The one is the counterpart O
the other, and they are both attainAble
Work. is the God-appointed agent. 1t il
persevering toll more than anything else
that brings contentment-tha silences tn,
fiery forces of the soul Work prepares u
for the enjoyment of the higher life, anC
gives us love for this. 1t is said Of tht
great Beethoven, that once by reason of in
creasing deafness, he was in despair anC
almost tempted tc commit suicide. Worl
enough, a higher idea, and in momen
of triumph he said: cart Size alone
she held me back. Oh! it seemed impos
sible to me to quit this world before ha'
accomplished all 1 felt myself capable anC
therefore l preserved this unhappy life
Work is proof against temptation, an'
will give all we need desire. 1t is idlenes
that drives men into dissipation-dilli
gence that holds them back Earnest ef
fort is the true alchemy. Itmay not turl
all things to gold, but it will devise th
means of usefulness in proper channels an'
develope higher manhood. Over th'
doorway of every temple of Learning
upon the threshold of every young man
entrance in real life, 1 would wrie "Aal
! In eaceUentia sine LdbOre," SILEX.