The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-06-19
Business Chances and the Business
Mistakes Of Young Men.


ing will do them 50 much good as strug-
gle which teaches them exactly what there
is in them, educates them gradually 70 its
use, instructs them in personal economy,
drills them into patient and persistent
habit of work, and keeps them at the foot
of the ladder until they become strong
enough to hold every step they are ena-
bled to gain. The years of every mans
business or professional life are years of
education. They are intended to be, in
the order Of nature and Providence.
Doors do not open to man until he is
prepared to enter them. We think il is
the experience Of most successful men,
who have watched the course Of their lives
in retrospect, that whenever they have ar
rived at point where they are thoroughly
prepared to go up higher, the door TO a
higher place has swung back Of itself, and
they have heard the call to enter. The
old die, or voluntarily retire for rest, The
best men who stand ready to take their
places, will succeed to their position and
its honor and emoluments.
The young mep will say that only few
can reach the top. That is true, but it is
also true that the further from the top one
gets, the more scattered the neighbOrhood.
One can fancy, for illustration, that every
profession and every calling is pyramidal
in its living constituency, and that while
only one man is at the top, there are sew
eral tiers of men below him who have
plenty Of elbow room, and that it is only
at the base that men are so thick that they
pick the meat out Of one anothers teeth
to keep them from starving. If man has
no power to get out ofthe rabble at the bot
tom, then he is self convicted of having
chosen calling or prof. ssion to whose
duties he has no adoption.
The grand mistake that young men make
during the first ten years Of their business
and professional cares, is in idly waiting
for their chance. They seem to forget, or
they do not know, that during those ten
years they enjoy the only leisure they will
ever have. After ten years, in the natu-
raj course oe things, they viii be absorb
ingly busy. There will then be no time
for reading, culture, and study. If they
do not become thoroughly grounded in the
principles and practical details of their
profession during these years; if they do
not store their minds with useful knowl.
edge; if they do not pursue habits of
reading and observation, and social inter
course, which result in culture; the ques-
tion whether they will ever rise to occupy
place where there is room enough for
them, will be decided in the negative.
The young physicians and young lawyers,
who sit idly in their Offices, and lounge
away the time waiting for something to
tnrn up" are by that course fastening
themselves for life to the. lower stratum,
where their struggle for bare livelihood
is to be perpetual The first ten years are
golden years that should be filed with per-
petual reading and observation. Every
thing that tends to professional excellence,
should be an object of daily pursuit To
such men the doors to success open Of
themselves, at last. Work seeks the best
hands as naturally as water runs down
hill, and it never seeks the hands Of
triAer, or Of one whose only recommenda-
ton for work is that he needs it. Young
men do not know very much, any way, and
the time always comes to those who become
worthy, when they look back with wonder
upon their good opinion Of requirements,
and their own, themselves.
There is another point that ought not
to be overlooked in the treatment Of this
subject Young men look about them and
see great measure of worldly success
awarded to men without principle, They
see the trickster crowned with public
honors, they see the swindler rolling in
wealth, they see the sharp man, the over
reaching man, the unprincipled man, the
liar, the demagogue, the time server, the
trimmer, the scoundrel who cunningly
manages--though constantly disobeying
moral laws, and trampling on social cour-
tesy--tc keep himself out Of the clutches
of the legal police, carrying off prizes Of
wealth and place. All this is demorali-
zing puzzle, and fearful temptation; and
multitudes of young men are not able to
stand before it. They ought to under
stand, that in this wicked world there is
great deal Of room where there is integrity.
Great trusts may be sold by scoundrels,
but great trusts never seek them; aud per-
feet integrity is at premium, even among
scoundrels. There are occasions when
they need the services of true men, and
they do not find them in shoals aud in the
mud, but alone and in pure water.
In the realm of eminent requirements
and eminent integrity, there IA alwavs