The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-06-03
4 Representative Case.

4Na-AAAa4EANG CeeaNa
A few days ago the New York papers
narrated a very sad story. It was a
story the like of which has been told
many times before. 1t was a story that
viii be told many times in the near and
distant future, the name, location, and
dates otlg being changed. The story
Will be reed By many 6 boy Nh0 viii go
and enact the scenes In It over again.
The story VIII be read by parents who
will find IN it the leading facts ia the
career Of a boy of theirs It is only an
old story retold. It is q representative
story, likely to be told in the papers of
any great city at almost any time. 1t
shows how biography, ike history, re-
peats Itself.
This is the story briefly told. A
erown-uP boy by the name Of Calhoun
left his quiet farm home Ia L9ckhaven,
Pa, with the opening Of spring, TO seek
home and fortune in Philadelphia. He
took with him truthful testimonials of
his honesty, industry, and general capa-
bility to fiji places OF trust. he earn
estly endeaYored to find situation
where he could get a start in business.
Then he applied TO the Young Mems
Christian association for aid to fnd en-
ployment. All efforts resulted in fall
ure, when he went to New York and
repeated his experiments with the same
result. After spending weeks IN a
fruitless search for employment, and
being reduced to beggary, he wandered
over to Brooklyn, and while compan-
ion went into a house TO ask for food he
put a pistol to hIs head and fred, falling
on the sidewalk.
What took young Calhoun from his
home TO Philadelphia? Doubtlessly he
had read how Franklin went there,
poor boy, years go, and became famous.
He had also read how GiTard made his
great fortune in the same city. What
took him TO New York He had read
how AstOr, Gould, Vanderbilt and Fisk
went there, poor boys, and became i'm
mensely rich. He had also read the
career of Greeley, Bryant and John
Harper, so lately passed away. There
was an opening there for young men
now the same as when those boys went.
The chance was az good for him as for
them. He had youth, health, ambition,
and thought he could succeed.
There were q good many things that
this unfortunate voting man had for
gotten. or else he never knew them, and
among them are these That half
ullllLO44 10y yHs at tf4AC GlAALG AlA UAOAAGIs
have gone to Philadelphia and New
York, and failed OF achieving any very
marked success; hat the notable men
we have mentioned had very rare abili-
ties, and with little doubt would have
gained wealth or distinction, or both,
had they spent their lives as they began
them, IN small towns that getting a
start in business is often the result of a
fortuitous circumstance; and that the
chances for obtaining promising stu
ations in the old cities ia the east are
not as good as they we're many, or even
few, years ago.
1t is wise and well for many country
bred boys TO go TO cities. But if they
have no other reason for going than that
they are restless, uneasy, and tired of
the drudgery Offarm life, they had much
better stay at home. They will fnd,
unless they have wealthy and influential
friends to help them to places, that they
viii have to work hard to get even a
poor situation, and then have to work
hard TO retain 1t. The chances are that
they viii have more drudgery to per-
form, and less leisure for enjoyment,
than they had in their country homes,
for almost any occupation in q cry calls
for regular hours every day in the year
Because a boy fails as farmer, is no
proof that he viii succeed in some
occupation IN q city. There must be
some positive evidence Of success. ii
he Is fond of trade, is sharp in making
a bargain, and has, withal, industry and
perseverance, the chances are in favor
of his becoming good tr desman. But
it is no proof that he can handle a yard
stick well because he is very awkward
with a hoe or pitchfork. Boys who show
no love or aptitude for farming should
certainly be encouraged TO try their
hands at something else. They should
keep trying till they find something
that suits them, on something they are
suited for. II not found IN the country,
it should be sought for IN the city.
Some time in the life of NEST boys
raised on a farm there is q spirit Of uu.
rest and a desire to 60 away from home.
If ut all practical it is we'll to crafty the
desire, and to do it cheerfully. Give
the boy some money, some good advice
and directions, and some gentsel clothing,
and let him try his luck in making fame
and fortune away from home. Wish
him a hearty goodbye, snd tell him
his old plars, will be vacant for him il
| ne does not succeed. Exhor5 him to
write home often and tell freely all his
/ bad as well as his good fortune. Tell
him, moreover, that he viii not be
/ laughed at or mortified if ne does no
! succeed.
The chances are against his succeed
ing az lie expects. and also against ms
! blowing his brains out. II lie fails, he
will come back to his country home
much wiser boy than when he wen
away. Tie schooling he vii
receive VIII be very practical IN it!
nature, and as cheap as any derived
from books, and be Of a very pTactics
character. The very worst thing tina
can be done to boy is TO allow him T.
run away. The next worst thing is t.
yield an unwilling consent to his gOinl
away, and 20 inform him At the sam
time that you expect he viii fail. !
this does not ruin him, it If becaus
he is made of good stuff.