The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-05-10
What shall he DO to be Saved !
Roundabout in New Orleans Times.

A young Frenchman, recently arrived
i'll New Orleans, and but,ljust now fa-
miliarized with our language, writes to
Roundabout for advice.
He is young, poor, and anxious to
work. He is evidently well educated,
and, while he has found levee labor too
severe, is still both willing and anxious
to try anything which may be offered
him. Such is the case submitted.
There are too many hundreds Of
young men in precisely the same cOndi-
tiOn. Living in a city which ought
never to be at a stand; whose incalcu-
liable advantages of location should as
sure it q constant and unbOunded prog
ress, they are yet confronted with the
dread problem of existence, under cir
cumstances which afford the very scant-
lest means for its solution.
Some weeks ago we called attention
to the fact that more than three hun
dred young men had answered an ad-
veTtisement offering $40 month for a
person Ito run a store, keep plantation
books, and make himself generally use
full" Gould any better commentary be
offered?
And yet the country papers-and
specially those of the Attakapas par
ishes-are continually calling for young
men, offering them remunerative labor
and an assured future competence in
return for honest industry. There is no
lack of opportunity, but the young men
Of this day are not yet awake to the
false distinction which is made against
the sturdy independence of agriculture
in favor of the various grades of polite
servitlde. Clerks, runners, statesmen,
thinks themselves above men who fol-
low the plOw or toll in the forests, and
in a sense they are right; but the rea-
son is not because the former pursuits
are more exalted than the latter, or in
vOlve any more manhood and intelli-
gence. 1t is because young men leave
those occupations to a monopoly by the
uncultured classes. The distinction is
all on the surface, and means nothing
at ALL
Wedonot quarrel with this. Men have
q right to use their discretion, and to
choose whatever walk in life they may
most incline to; but it is evident that
there is not clerical employment for all,
and that, under the present state of af-
fairs, somebody must choose between la
bOriOus industry or a polite form of
pauperism.
Our correspondent is evidently one of
these. The fact of his being a stranger
here, his consequent friendliness and
his want of those various little thread
bare supports which still keep many of
our young men from absolute want,
have forced the problem upon him
somewhat sooner. We know of no open
ing here, and, without any circumlocu-
ton, advise the country.
In the Attakapas, for instance, there
is room for him and thousands like him.
He will find no lack Of warmth in his
reception, no Withholding of friendly
counsel. Throughout the extent of Ba-
you Teche, and beyond it is as far as he
may journey, no inhospitable door will
remain closed to his sOmmOns, no refu-
sal will be shown his mute or spoken
appeal. He has but to go there, and a
little courage, like patience, and the
question of existence loses all it's terri
bic uncertainties.
We. give him this advice, and through
him the same to every one whose des,
tiny is similar.