The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1875-05-22
Strong Mems Sons.
ny aEv. JOHN nALI, D. D, \. Y.

It is q common subject Of remark that
men'of force and character do not leave
their cxcellencies to those who bear their
In all probability, the facts which
appear to sustain this impression arc un-
Intentionally over estimated. For if such
a young man is of only average power, he
IS rated below 1t BY comparison with his
father. rh3Expectation is so high, that
moro ordinary excellence disappoints.
And great men being CONSPICUOUS in
90 their sphere, exceptional attention is con
contratod on those who succeed them. On
this very account, the notable cases Of de-
gcneracy will seem moro numerous than
they are, because they are SO striking;
Just as 1t IL common to allegc that mole
sons Of clergymen turn out badly than
Of the same number of ~laymen's sons,
though, in point of facr, it is far from
being the case. But one such scapcgracc
Is widely known, much talked OF, and
multiplied to the vision and imagination
of the unreaecting. : g.
eSStli, making Ill deduction, it must be
owned that in many sad instances weak or
vicious men inherit the fortunes and dis
grace the name of fam ~ fathers. Ola
recent English law-l, of high place
and low morals, this story is told. Ad-
dressing his SON and hcir-a known
black sheep-he said: at pains me to
think that when l am dead my fortune
y - VIII go othe greatest scamp in England"
Yes, father" said the du:iful and APP
prccia.iTe aoh, "wlcn yuu are dead" 1t
was 3 neat rctort, tut It ".s II horIid revc-
lation. In America, the failure of fami-
lies to perpetuate their position is regard
cd as more common than elsewhere, from
the great tluctuntion, it Is alleged, of af-
SSe tnIfsi und the Want of entail laws and
hereditary titles Whether it il so or not
We do not stay to Inquire. 1t is of more
practical Importance to throw out any
hints thut may teEd to the diminution of
an evil which, however we may reduce
It's magnitude by exact statement Of fact,
Is large cnoughlt to call for consideration.
Ilc natural history OF Il single weak
ing may suggcst some precautions. 1t
would run III some way rs this: The
honorable Henry Brown-his tathcr-no
si&E mutter what name you fill in-was carly
thrown ON his own resources. He had to
save, and deny himself, and ccUnomizc
every dollar. lie had hArdSlips, endur-
'nce uf which rendered him patient, and
sdlfhculties, battling with which gave him
strength. Every SUCCESS ncrvcJ him for
q new struggle! He had no time for
triIing, anu no means to devote to cncr-
waiting indulgence. His very poverty was
his defence. He had no friends to allure
him from the hard road he was travelling.
~ 1t was not worth any SIRENS while to sing
-" 10 MIN. The only consequence he could
command was the result Of his hard-won
successes. He had every motive to effort;
and tllat habit Of application was formed,
- 5000 hhklLillOlN1 us HI I'll
ergy. So he, In the working out OF ordi-
nary OF Divine Providence, achieved
success. Simpletons called it 'luck."
He was credited with genius" lie
knew that it was genius for work; it wus
the power to take pains and hold ON that
made the difference %s.i. .- p.
But now, let US study the position of
his handsome, wcll-dressed and elegant
e eldest son, MIR. Henry Brown. Mr.. Henry
since the day he learncd to cry for more
sugar II his pap, never wanted anything,
that could be got for asking. lie was
graded in q dainty crib, something be-
tween a big white lily, and Il small pink
cloud hanging near the setting sun. lie
was wrapped IN furs in winter, and took
ms alrihgs IN summer under n parasol.
lie had books, pictures, toys, pleasures as
9 no Swanted them, for tho asking, and often
. without 1t. He was "born Il gentleman"
Tho Difference OF tile very nurse told him
he was rich. He has friends of the kind
the rich have. lie is worth counting and
Hhuttering, II not for his own sake "fOr the
connections" Tradcsmcn are Obseuuious. |
He has time, money, leisure, and those
who Can help him to fill i; up. His COLI
dition Is i'll absolute contrast TO his
falher's at the same time of life. All that
went to make his father lie misscs-all
that his father escaped is in his lot. Nc
wonder If Henry Brown, Junior be not
,.'r:' This fathers son." rs men say of a 0clIip
OF tho old block" but only rs they re-
son of-his father.h Eg.0. 80
Now what should be donc7 what for
these endangered childrcn7 what by
thcm7 n...o. .....
They should be put, rs far as possible,
90 In tho place their fathers occupied. Cut
,tiSof all needless indulgenccs, luxurics and
hot-housc forcing. Give fitting work to
the Child, the hoy, the youth, the man.
Insist on its being done. Some scions of
~ great houses arc ruined, in England, by
tic grcnt schools and universities, but
more IRE saved by being put on a level
1 with "otIcr fellows" and cufTcd, and
drilled, and ranked like the other fcl-
lows" Some one has said that men arc
taught 10 bc speakers rs puppies to swim;
s"cliuck them in" So in mnny instances
the youngsters Of rich families should DO
taught to work. And yet Il mistake may
READILY occur here. a sclf-lnadc man
may expect that in his sons, which, ut the
corresponding period was in liim-witli-
out just reason. Your boy, Mr.. Dives, TO
whom your wealth is not II profound Sc
cret, caunot be expected to rate II dollar
rs you did ut his ago. You must allow for
this in the kind Of work, the training md
-. the surroundings Of your son, or you may
provoke him to anger" Error here is
often cgregious nnd ruinous. And what
should they do for themsclvcs7 "TFain
rules for The sons Of great mon-to keep
them from rnin-tlint is what VIC require.
.. - e.
REVERSE OF FoRTUSE.-Strangc re-
verses OF fortune nrc occurring everyday,
for riches tako to themselves wings, and
the man who to-day is rolling in wealth,
ta. mny tomorrow he n bankrupt. A cu-
riots instance Of such Il reverse is here re-
lated: