The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-07-04
SUGGESTIONS TO YOUNG MEN.

SUGGESTIONS TO YOUNG MEN.
LISA lamentable fact that mental cul-
tnre in most Young men is like stone
thrown into a pond; it IS there to be
sure. but remarkably well-concealed +;
Young men nowadays, are really IN
acouainted with that finest Of all arts
the Art Of Conversation. Before their
Supporters lin age. we mean-l Dung
America admits no other criterion o. su-
periority y they are dumb, most prob
ably bored Among themselves, fast
horses, fast money-getting, and fast mo-
men, occupy the intercludes between
cigar putting, billiards and potations,
In ladies' society, when not flirting
that fascinating device for tlmewastlng
and soul-spoiling,- few cant phrases,
wherein the last party Is graphically
descsibed as Jolly ''lots of fun -
Miss Cushman' readings as first rate"
so so" or ''an awful BORE" according
to individual taste,-altcrnated with
little mild Righteousness on the subject of
toilette and bair-dressing,-c
their stock in trade.
Young ladies complain that they can
not talk about their reading without
being set down for bias bleu." 1t is
equally certain that young men, Saving
the few exceptions who prove the rule, }
dare not venture into the world of books,
without being characterized as prIgs and
pedants, or if professionally employed,
SLOPPY" The fact is. success in the
10Th century, is fast becoming syDon-
ylnous with wealth. Practical influence,
| literary attainment, scientific discovery,
are all valued only by their equivalent in
| cash. That minister is most revered,
not who saves most souls, but who earns
the largest salary. And that young man
is the examplar of all morality,
fathers praise and mothers love, as son
in law who, having toiled at the desk
all day. retires to dream of ingots and
blank books: to weave subtle schemes oil
enterprise or extortion, and at thirty
presents the appalling spectacle ofyouth
grown old without the sanctity of hoary
hairs of wisdom baleful as the serpent:
and cynical as MephistopheIes Anc
here it is our duty to repobate that obi
Gus habit of universal skepticism tina
is daily gaining upon us. Beardiess boy
think it an evidence Of manhood and liz
tellect TO swear. Woman's love, politica
honesty, religious faith-for each the,
have shrug, and lifted eyebrow, and
hooking laugh. They do not realize tina
only genius Gares to be credulous, ant
only knowledge tolerant. What the,
don't know is not worth knowing, ant
| life is chiefly a sham, after all Hence i
follows that money, being the one thin!
tangible; the sole, indubitable fact, ha
become the acme of masculine ambition
that the earnest earn Ia by ''the swea
Of their brows, ignoring meanwhile every
social, domestic, and philanthropic duty
and the goodlooking idlers-marry it
Would it not be we'll therefore, for sucl
of them as have had the benefit of educ
ton and the entree of library, to SHOW
less diligence IL hiding their flight under
bushel?" The task of elevating the
| tone of society should not be left to the
young ladies alone. AS soon as men dis
card the paltry gossip and persifage Of
the ballroom, and dare to think anc
learn to express their thoughts in some
thing better than slang aud interjection
we are assured of the fair students of the
English classics" will meet them hall
way. Aad then, who knows even the
| club-room and billiard saloon may lose
their fascination, and home may become
something more than name, and society
really ameans of mutual Improvements.