Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-04-12
TO my Country Friend,
sEEKISd A slrrArIoy IN rowy.

shall suppose, my young friond, that you
have just come from the country. hope in
coming to the city you have been Influenced
by none Of those wild notions Of speculation
and fortune which have turned the head Of so
many young men, coming to the city in search
Of employment. If you have supposed that
there was any magic in city life, that could
make great man or eminent merchant out of
very obscure country youth, the sooner you
undeceive yourself the better Nor, if you
have been distinguished and aattered by your
circle Of country friends, is the position you
occupy here much changed If you have
not wise discretion and large share Of
common sense, you may be disappointed and
mortified when you discover how small po.
sition you must occupy before you eau com.
mence life here. | do not say that it will be
to your disadvantage to have had high and
honorable motives, to guide your conduct, such
as when they are seen will command the aiIec-
tions Of the wise aud good everywhere but
sei-conceit is seldom manifest as the result Of
these qualities, but rather modesty and defer
ence to others.
If you have come to the city to make your
fortune, you should not expect to find it al
ready made Success is usually the result Of
humble beginnings, patient perseverance, labo-
rious industry, and a careful improvement Of
such opportunities as may come in ones way.
A fixed purpose to succeed in some branch Of
business, congenial with your taste and con.
sistent with your experience, cherished in
subordination to available opportunities, will
give the only warrant to your hopes.
If you have no plan or fixed purpose Of
life, you should have remained in the country.
where indecision aud lack Of enterprise do
not create such heavy expenditures and be-
come so much Of burden as here It is
pitiable to see young men, with the appear
ance of ability and enterprise, come to the
city and wait weeks or months to find situ-
alton while the object Of their wishes is
put farther and farther from them, from their
discovering by their course, capriciousuess
Of purpose and an uncertainty of plan, which
destroys what little prepossessions in their
favor might have been conceived, while they
Intimate their views of business to be wholly
above the situation which an inexperienced
youth can fll with profit to his employers.
1t has been said that " there is no royal
road to mathematics :" there is certainly none
to an elevated position in business in our
cities, and the young man who at the outset
is too proud or too indolent to do the drudge.
ry of porter will seldom make a competent
salesman. Whatever Is really successfully
done must be accomplished by those who are
masters of their situations Though you may
have plan and purpose for honorable posi-
tion' still you will never attain it by ,cqitiag |
IN idleneS for its coming. You must begin
the world where you find it, and by your con.
duct and industry illustrate your talents and
skill. Our business men are not slow to ap-
preciate practical talent and to appropriate it
where they can see it would be useful and
profitable.
With moderate expectations you will need
to school yourself to the most rigid economy.
But this is consistent with a respectable home
with people of character, though of moder-
ate means. The safety of young men in cities
is better assured with the surroundings of
friendly home. And if society is an object,
you may find it without the prospect of bank
ruptcy, or with the humiliation of c4arita.
bic liberation by those looking on you as
by attending the religious serv-
ICES of some Christian church. 1t may be
true that the injunction to love our neighbor
as ourself is not so thoroughly practiced in
our churches as it ought to be. But it is
much better practieed there than any where
,lse
Many young men coming to the city sup
pose their fortunes are made if they can get {
admission to fashionable society. But such
'ociety oitener proves their ruin. 1t raises
many temptations to expenditures beyond
heir means, and induces acts of dishonesty, !
Which very soon exclude them from business
confidence. 1t is for this reason that most of
'ur business men will pay nearly twice the sal ,
lry to married men with families and homes
han to smart young men, of social habits Q
md fashionable ambitions as they feel that |
heir business interests are so much safer in
he hands Of men who have the interests of
amily to regulate their habits and lives. 1t
nay be assumed as fact, that no competent
business manager ever went to fashionable n
'all or theatre to find or select the responsible
gents Of his business One thing more not !
nly strive to perform well the duties Of such S
ltuation as you may get, but do not complain $
you occasionally have extra duties imposed
elonging to such as are above you for so ac. a
uiring Information Of duties will be your h
est assurance for advancement, should one be v
'anted to fill situation above your present a
osition. i NJ G h
Every human soul has the germ of some