American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-11-28

This desire should be cherished and
strengthened. The stronger the desire,
the more vigorous will be the action to
which it will lead. The more vigorous
the action the greater the improvement.
This desire may be strengthened by
considering the advantages of mental
culture. 1t took Hugh Miller from the
stone-quarry, and placed him among the
intellectual chiefs whom Scotland de-
lighted to honor. The great Chalmers
gave to the tone-cutter the right hand of
fellowship when he laid aside the chisel
and mallet and took the editorial chair
of paper whose influence was felt
throughout the length and breadth of the
land. Remember, Hugh Miller had no
culture but that acquired by himself
while laboring as IA jorncyman, lodging
in novels, and living upon oatmeal. You
possess far greater advantages for self
improvement than he possessed.
Think of Franklin, who with advan-
tages inferior to yours, became one of the
leading statesmen of the age, and its
most distinguished philosopher; whose
writing exerted greater influence than
the writings of the most highly educated
men of his day. All this was done by
the diligent use of means far inferior to
those within your reach.
Instead of signing over advantages
which you do not possess, reso7Fe, with
use of those within your reach. You will
then be surprised to find how many adj
vantages you have and what progress
you can make.
The way to secure better advantages
is to make diligent use of those you
have. Men are always disposed to help
those who earnestly help themselves.
Two men were moving; one had
cast-steel scythe with patent snath, the
other had very inferior scythe. g Your
friend has the advantage of you," said a
gentleman who was passing, and stopped
a moment as the man was whetting his
scythe; he has much the better tool to
work with"
"That's so" was the reply, but this
is the best one l could get. The grass
must be cut; must work the harder"
And he went on moving with a will.
The gentleman was in need of an as
sistant in his business. He wanted a
man to do whatever was necessary to be
done. He hired the man with the poor
scythe and thus laid the foundation of
his fortune. If the man had remained
idle till he got first-rate scythe he
would have missed his opportunity of
making fortune.
Do not remain idle waiting for better
advantages for mental improvement.
Begin today the diligent use of those
you have. The world wants men who
Iecl lnat WOTk must De zone, anu VIII 40
it with poor tools if they cannot get good
ones. Make up your mind that you will
be an intelligent, able and honorable
man; go to work to make yourself such a
man, and the world will call for your
services and give you credit for all that
you do. The men who complain that
they are not appreciated are not the men
who are ready to do their best at what
ever comes to hand.
The desire for improvement may be
strengthened by associating with intelli-
gent, cultivated men. You are not quail
flied to associate with them on terms of
equality, but you can seek their &C
quaintance. You say: "You do not
wish to thrust yourself on the notice of
able men; they would not be pleased by
your so doing"
If your motive is self-improvement
every really able man will sympathiZe
with it. 1t is characteristic of every
truly great mind that it wishes to lift
others up to its level-not to cast them
down. The well-educated man sympa-
thiZes with the desires of the young to
obtain an education. A few words of en-
couragement and counsel from such a
man may greatly strengthen you for your
work.-JosepA Alden, in Hearth and Home.