New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-23
some other way Of protecting them and our
selves than that of the ropes end.
MENTAL PACK-HORSES.

MENTAL PACK-HORSES.
There appears to be class of young men
and women in the present generation who,
either from sheer laziness or Indulgence OF
brains, beg ideas and decisions for the regula-
ton of their daily life from other people, pre-
cisely as they take their shoes to be cobbled
or their garments to be patched. These
people are generally full Of lofty imaginngs
and unrest like Antony, they have immortal
lOngings in them; whereupOn they perch them
selves complacently with folded hands
on the pillar OF their discomfort
and despise men who have the
will and common sense to work heartily at
whatever is set before them, whether it be to
their liking or not. The editor of a news
paper is usually selected by this feeble
minded generation to bear the burden Of
their incapacity. There is not day, probably,
when he has not the private affairs of some
helpless innocent placed in HIS hands with
requests for aid, from assistance in matrimony
to the loan of fve-dOllar note. The Office
of newspaper, we had fondly imagined, was
clearly outlned-first to give the history OF
its time, and aftcrward to dcduce such thco-
rics or truths from it rs should be OF universal
application.
But sanguine young man in search OF a
career has different ideas. Our ordinary ex-
perience with such one is that he takes us
theoretically by the throat and bids us "proye
"our boosted philanthropy" by instantly procur-
ing him a good paying situation in New-fork'
If we suggest that from our suburbs TO the
Pacific there is said to be reasonably large
stretch of country which would supply every
willing Young man on the face Of the earth
with work and wages, he visits us with bis
loftiest scorn and indignation; in New-fOrk
he continues to starye, writing US down for
ever after charatan or an ass because we
would have had him do otherwise. Inc
women too who most loudly claim independ-
ence are singularly exacting of help: IN oO-
tanning il they write letters to this or that
journalist asserting their ability to MAIN
tain themselves, savagely abusing him because
he doubts it, and winding up with request
for him to furnish them livelihood az
authors. editors, or lecturers. These female
Mcawbers picture themselves and Their sex as
on the verge of starvation and despair, ana
demand that the editor, or the world back
of him, shall turn something up instantly.
They usually, too, indulge in hnely-havored
sarcasm, which, in the times gone out OF date,
was held out of keeping with wOman's gen.
cral gentlcness, especially when begging a
favor. One fair matrOn lately, reporting her
self to be by birth and intellect q lady, and
also a philosopher informed US that II we
were sincere in our interest in the advance
ment of her sex, we would at once go
out and find her place as chambermaid OF
waitress in first-class NeW-1ork family,
where she could perfect herself as short
hand reporter.
Now here was q woman with apparently or
binary intelligence falling into the two com
mon errors which hinder her class IN both
sexes from success. They mistake aspiration
for ability, and talk of what they will do In
stead of proving what they can; and secondly
they beg of passers-by to put their cart on
the high road, and carefully keep their own
shoulders from the wheel. Why should 81
"frst-c class New-YOrk family" be asked to
support a philosophic lady chambermaid while
she studies shorthand repOrtingW AS for
any quid pro quo in the way of efficient SER
vice, it did not seem to have occurred to her.
Why should the editor of her newspaper find
situations in kitchens or nurseries for her
rather than her doctor OF lawyer y lIdu WHO
collects news and eliminates general princi-
pies from it, is not thereby constituted men
tai pack horse for the liabilities OF his
readers neither is he 3 butcher or
wet-nurse for the public. He Is not
bound to furnish either strong meat
for men or milk for babies What he may do
concerns himself alone editorlally,
he is bound to urge upon these helpless aspi-
rants the truth OF the old saw, that he Is
best served who serves himself. The man
who stood calling for the ferry-man never
crossed the river, while he who plunged bold
" in reached the other side and went on his
way.
There are work and wages waiting for every
man in this country, but they who cry loudest
for help are usually the least likely to obtain
either. We confess we do not see the pathos IN
tales of want and hclplessness told with folded
hands. The ants are people not strong, the
prophet tells rs significantly, yet they prepare
their meat in the Summer.
BOND HAND AND FOOT.