The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-01-23
ROon at the Top.

To the young men annually making their
entrance upon active life, with great ambi'
lions, conscious capacities and high hopes,
the prospect in ninety.nine cases in hun
cred is most perplexing. They see every
avenue thronged with their superiorS in oX'
periencc, in social advantages, and in pos
session of all the elements and conditions of
success Every post Is occupied, every office
filled, every path crowded. Where shall they
find room? 1t is related of Mr.. Webster that
when a young lawyer suggested to him that
the profession to which he had devoted him
self was over-Crowded, the great man replied
Young man, there Is always room enough at
the top Never was Wiser or more sug'
gestive word said. There undoubtedly is al
ways room enough where eXcellency lives.
Mr.. Webster was not troubled for lack of
room Mr.. Clay and Mr. Calhoun were never
crowded. Mr.. Evarts, Mr.. Cushing and Mr.,
O'Conor have plenty of space around them.
Mr.. Beecher, DR.. Storrs, DR.. Hall, Mr.. Phil
lips and Brooks would never know in their
personal experience that it was hard 10 OBJ
tain II desirable ministerial charge. The
profession is not crowed where they are. DIR.
Brown Scquard, DR.. Willard Parker DIR.
Hammond, aIe not troubled for space for
their elbows When Nelaton died in Paris
he died like Moscs-on a mountain. When
Won Graeie died in Berlin he had no neigh
Dor at his altitude.
1t is well, first, that all young men remem-
Der that nothing will do them so much injury
as quick and easy success, and that nothing
will do so much good as struggle which
teaches them exactly what there is in them,
educates them gradually 10 its use, instructs
them IN personal economy, drills them into a
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 enabled 10 gain. The first
years of every mans business or professional
life are years of education. They are intend
ed TO be, in the order of nature and Provi-
dence. Doors do not open 10 a man until lie
is prepared to enter them The man without
II wedding garment may get in surreptItious.
ly bat he Immediately goes out with a tlea in
his ear We think /, is the experience OF
most successful men who have watched the
course of their lives in retrospect that when
ever they have arrived AT Il point where they
were thoroughly prepared to so up higher,
he door TO higher piacr ulS 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 recdv Ia take their
places Will succeed TO their position and lis
honors and emolumen;s.
The young men will say that a. ~ lew
can reach the top. That is true gu' It is also
true that the further from the hoi ''l one goes
the more scattering tie neighborhoUd. One.
can fancy, for illustration, that every profess
ion and every calling is pyramidal In It's liv-
ing constituency, and that while only one
man Is at the top, there are several tiers of
men below him who have plenty Of elbow
room, and that II is only al he base that
men are so thick that the' pic. the meat gu,
of each others teeth u keep them from starv-
ing. Ii man has now power 10 Get out OF
the rabble at the bottom then he is selfcon.
vicied of having chosen a calling or profess