The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1870-09-01
TO THE YOUNG.

When man reaches that point in life's
journey, where looking back he may have a
full and perfect view Of the route along which
he has come, and sees as it were in pano.
rama, the actions of his life exercised by the
magic power of memory, pass in solemn re-
view When arraigning them at the bar of a
matured judgment he can try them by the
immutable standard of right and wrong with
out prejudice, and decide without bias deduct
ing from such decisions those principles which
it were wisdom to heed; then he may as
sumo without egotism, the part of mentor to
the young, and they have almost right to
expect that, bound in the cords of common
and sympathizing humanity, he will not fail
to point out to them, with healthful admoni-
ton and earnest warnings, the dangers which
must and will beset their paths. But, when
one reflects, it is not surprising that our
gray -haired men are SO often silent, and are
seldom heard to raise their voices when it
would seem there was the most need The
much-vaunted age in which we live has GER
tainly not fostered spirit of veneration It
has been eminently iconoclastic, and it may
be worth an inquiry, whether in our haste
for newer discoveries and greater achieve
ments in the arts and sciences, we have not
neglected to hearken to the voice of the past !;
and whether, as old and exploded theories
and meaten sophistries have been level
ed we have RETAINED our hands from that
which not only time had rendered venerable,
but all experience proved Invaluable. OF
this nature the counsel Of our old men par
takes, and it is no indication of our ADVANCE
ment that, In these latter days, the epithet Of
Old Fogy is applied to those who would fain
have the young of the risingg eneration, resu-
late their lives on soender principles. Let
us take care lest in refusing to heed the coun-
sells of the aged, we are unmindful of those
very means, the use Of which, have made US
great in the past, and will prepare for greater
achievements in the future.
While all this is so, it is harsh apd per-
haps untrue old adage that characterizes as
fools, all those who refuse to learn in any
school save that of experience. There is
strength pertaining to the young, constitu
tionally, and felt in all its force when nature
first puts forth her power" that is impatient
under the least restraint and feels itself
equal to the solution Of all lfe's problems.
This is often the case with minds well regu-
lated, and with not a tinge OF egotism. The
feeling is akin to that which possesses the
high spirited student who, intent on some
difficult theorem in mathematics or hidden
principle in physics, refuses the least assist
ance in its calculation from others. Hope so
stroug in the breast Of the young voyagcr
just preparing to launch out on the broad
ocean of life, would have him believe top,
that the very storms which must arise, will
prove but fayoring breezes to watt him on his
couse, and that the sunken rocks just discern
ible above the water, are fruitful apd happy
isle wherein he may rest when wearicd, Sc
cure and happy. All who that has felt the
stirring of this fancied strength in his youth
full arm, and who has heard with rapt atten-
ton, the syren tones Of Hope in promises as
brilliant as delusive, but remembers the spell
that was woven around him too often only to
be broken by the sober and stern realities of
life and how sudden was the awakening, and
bow bitter the tears as we conned the lessons
we should Eaye learned years before, under
the harsh and unrelenting discipline of expe=
rience; the price for tuition being often
wrung from the brow amidst the deep anguish
of the hearts Gethsemane.
Life has been said to be more serious than
death, and to him who remembers the respon-
sibilities and duties which state of being
implies, the aghorlsm may not seem to be
wholly without iaraa: Right at this point
too. we fear our young people make p radical
mistake. They are seldom, if ever, impressed
with the seriousness of life. They seldom
ask ssfor what am made 2p What is the OBJ
ject of my creation, and how may I best full
fill it?" or if they ask these questions like
careless Piats, they wait for an answer
They live frop hour to hour-from day to
day-with no well.-defned purpose or view on
this question until ere they know it, old age
is upon them, and they appreciate, when too
late, an opportunity forever lost. The an
guish OF that hour i is often ENHANCED BY the