New-York tribune., 1874-05-30
A YOUNG MANS LETTER.

GoOp SENSE SIXTY YEARS AGO-AN OBSOLETE STYLE
or FRIENDSHIP.
To me Editor Of TIE Tribune
SIR: don't know that young mon as rule
were any more sensible half century ago than they
are now; but fancy that the style OF the fo'iowhe
letter. written 1911, by young gentleman IN Aioa"y
TO q younger one in Hudson would be CONSIDERED
un,oue ~ n occurred in the correspondence OF the
present day. The interest f 1t lies not only In its mat
ter but in the personal history Of the two iiehds
between it passed. The wriler was tho ate oof
ham A. Worth, for many years President OF the C''y
Bank Of NewYork being the predecessor OF Moses idy
lo In that position and the young gentleman whoh NC
40 seusibly advises IL now distinguished Dank fres
dent In another city.
MYDEAR Tom with this you will receive volume of
ELEGANT Extracts" which suppose ou would s,ady 1
iutend to send You down aforementioned articles by
the first slOop that leaves Albany Play wnen you ,Se
advantage OF an excellent constitution. and II am NOT
much mistaken, your understanding Is not inierior
Exercise will strengthen and confirm the frst and by
the powers OF your mind and an irreProaenspe o
esteemed RecoIect that in one sense you are sell
dependent you TO be indebted to no indIvidua, III III
exste nee either for your fortune or your lame FROM
your own nersopsi fxertons your independence mnss
snnc. md from purity OF conscience must arise your
merous and Of respectable family; family unta'nted
by crimes and unstaIned by dishonors anu win
p'h ,bs than viii bsar s Il Sare brothers
and sisters who will naturally look up to me
for an example, and will set them one wbicn tney
may follow in security swear my gear ,t ooy on iii
by the spirits OF the just made perfect that yon WIZ
never commit a mean dishonest or dlsnonorapio
action Spurn vice under whatever IOrm ~ may aP
pear In ts natural garb OF repulslVe Nu
garty or decked in all the flowers OF Elysluin ABOVE
all shun bad company you would shun the imeulale
destroyer of all your hopes do not mix or hingo WIN
those whose minds debased by habitual nfamy ana
have neither spirit 10 rise nor character 10 support
Siun society for its influence Is contiguous vice
OF every species is like the Electric Fire, is commun
Gated by simple touch. | would advise you to cn
courage PRIDE to court It's influence but 70 guaru
approaches OF vanity speak not OF tnat pary Ps
whose object is the gaudy and fantastic uecoratoh VI
your person. that which consists In Dig look anu
lofty gait that noble pride which constitutes
an shield against every species Oh mean
ness ts consciousness OF the value OF character IL
is an Impulse OF great mind II is an inseparabe com
OF genius and IL ever accompanies a thirst or
excellence 1t is magic wand that throws temptation
at defiance In short. Pride teven unsupported 0y ffh
cple will safe through the wnirpooi Oh us
spation and leave you uDhurt amid the fascinating
snarcs or seduction Let Honor In all cases De your
ruling star do suffer yourself to be swayed IRON
its dictates by anything material or immateria Ley
be the great axis which all your movements reVOve
| would also advise you 10 encourage taste ior
reading and to acquire II possible some consueFaDie
knowledge OF bellesletres or what Is commonly caeu
Polite Literature" l advise this not merely on ac-
count ot respectablty you w gam by such inforna
tiOn but account OF the pleasure ana amusement u
will afford YOU 'Tis true that perfect kn0wledge OF
the world OF and manners Is not 10 oe oDtaiueu
long intercourse and with men. But there Is
"A fund OF useful and may almost say lnuspehs-
able information be acquired by reading Tue more
you learn the more you are prepared 10 learn.
may venture say that our young hnancers nova
DAYS don't write letters OF that sort Do you think they
have improved upon the style of their grandfather'i
Nele York, May q, 1874 x