Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-09-19
THEIR ABILITIES.

THEIR Abilities
How to, make money fast, and
with the least possible labor, is the
great question at present, with our
people. After speculations, bad in
vestments, and poor management,
have depleted the purses of the East,
the victim rushes for the West
thinking that his tricky business edu-
cation, learned by bitter experience,
will give him employment where he
can turn it to good account. He ex-
poets to meet ignorant, half-civilized
men, eager and ready 20 turn over
their m0ney to him for investment,
and ask his advice in every matter
of business. Instead of this, much
to his surprise, he finds the moneyed
men of the plains fully his equal in
anything requiring sharp practice,
and much his superior when it comes
to lOng-headed calculations as to
whether or not something will turn
out paying transaction. He sees
himself surrounded by men in buck
skin suits and cow-hide boots, who
always take their whisky straight,
curse loud and deep when they feel
like it, and often eight the tiger to
the tune of thousands, and still have
always enough to stock a rancho or
open gold mine; men whose simple
word is better than thousands of
contracts, "signed, sealed and deliv-
-ered," and whose every action is
open, honest and reliable In COM
pany ike this our emigrant sees at
once that all his fine expectations are
ended in smoke, and so he hurries
back to the East with the excuse
that the climate was too severe; the
people too rough; and, in fact, is is
not half so good a place to make
money, as one would suppose.
There is another class, younger in
years, but more numerous, consisting
chiefly of young professional men,
mining experts, book-keepers and
clerks. 1t has been well and truly
said, that many parents prefer to see
their sons selling shoes over coun-
ter for Sc week, than have them
learn the trade, and earn $Is by
making them. 1t is this
SHABBY GENTILITY -
that makes the majority Of our m fast
young men, and furnishes many in,
mates for our penitentiaries. After
an imperfect and superficial educa-
tion, the youth finds himself in the
Office of some ''eminent advocate. !"
Here he remains couple of years
skimming over books in which he
finds neither interest or pleasure. At
the end of that time he has no trou-
bic in passing a so-called examina-
tion, and receives authority to 90
forth to prosecute or defend, al
though in these latter days, he is apt
to know more about beer than briefs.
The West is chosen as the best field
in which to display his talents; his
carpet-bag is packed and some place
liked upon for settlement, which, If
land-speculator's reports are to be
relied on must surely rival New
York City in few years. On his
arrival, how great must be his dis
appointment when he finds it moth
ing but a mining-camp or railroad
station, with houses few and far be-
tween, interspersed with tents and
dug-outs. Early as he may put in
an appearance, he will be apt to find
from three to dozen of his legal
fraternity ahead of him. He hangs
out mis- shingle but waits In vain for
clients. There being but little prop.
erty, every man knows his own with
out the assistance of the law. Quar-
rels are settled on the spot-result-
ing often in the death of both par
ties; where only one falls, the coro-
ner's jury always exonerates the
other in a verdict "That if he
hadn't killed him, he'd been killed. -"
Criminals are invited to "dance on