The Hickman courier., 1878-06-21
Starting in Lite.

The first great lesson a young man .
should learn Is, that he knows nothing. .
The earlier and more thoroughly this .
lesson is learnt, the better. a home /
bred youth, growing up in the light OF I
parental admiration, with everything to I
foster his vanity and seIf.esteem, is sur
priscd TO find, and often unwilling TO /.
acknowledge, the superiority OF other /.
people. But he is compelled to learn his
insignifcance. His arts are ridiculed, .
his blunders exposed, his wishes disre-
garded, and he is made to cut q very
sorry figure until his self conceit is
abased, and he feels that he knows
nothing.
When young man has thoroughly
comprehended the fact that he knows
nothing, and that, intrinsically, he IS of
but little value, the next lesson is, that
the world cares nothing for him. He is
the subject of no mans overwhelming
admiration neither petted by the one
sex, nor envied by the other, ne has to
take care of himself He viii not be
noticed till he becomes noticeable; he
VIII not become noticeable till he does
something to prove that he is OF some use
70 society. No recommendation or in.
PRODUCTION viii give him this, or ought
to give him this; he must do something
10 be recognized as somebody. There is
plenty of room for men in the world, but
there is ne room for idlers Society Is
not very particular what a man does, so
long as he does something useful, to
prove himself to be q man; but it viii
hot take the matter on trust.
There Is no surer sign of an unmanly
and cowardly spirit, than a vague desire
for help--a wish TO depend, to lean on
somebody, and enjoy the fruits of ether
peoples industry. There are muItitudes
of young men who indulge in dreams OF
help from some quarter, coming in at
convenient moment, to enable them 10
secure the success in life which they
covet. Thus, one Of the most painful
sights IN the world, is that of young
man with q strong constitution and a
Presentable figure, standing with his
hands in his pockets longing for help.
There are positions in which the most
independent spirit may gracefully and
gratefully accept assistance-may, in
fact, as a choice of evils, desire it; but for
man who is able to help himself, to seek
help from others is positive proof that
he hiss been unfortunately trained, and
that an indolent bias exists in his charac-
ter. Let Us not be misunderstood. We
would inculcate the pride of personal in
dependence, which, in its sensitiyeness,
repels the good Offices of friends What
we condemn in a young man is the habit
of dependence which makes him anxious
to accept as a favor, those things which
he might readily acquire by his own in
dustrial exertions. a man who willingly
receives assistance, especially if he has
applied for it, invariably sells himself to
his benefactor, unless his patron happens
to be q man of sense, who is giving abso-
lutely necessary assistance to one whom
he knows to be both sensitive and honor
able.
When a young man has ascertained
the fact that he knows nothing, and that
the world cares nothing about him, that
his success in life must depend on his
own exertions, and that he must look to
himself, and not to others, for assistance,
he is in a fair position for beginning lie.
The next lesson is that OF patience. a
man must learn to wait as well as to
work; and to be content with those
means of advancement in life which we
may use with integrity and honor.
Patience is one of the most difficult
lessons to learn. It is natural for the
mind to look for immediate results. Let
this, then. be understood at starting
that the patient conquest of difficulties
which rise in the regular and legitimate
channels of business and enterprise is not
only essential in securing the success
which 8 young man seeks in life, but
essential also to that preparation of the
mind requisite fer the enjoyment of
success, and for retaining them when
gained. 1t is the general rule, in all the
world, and in all times, that unearned
success is q curse.
1t is a rule also that the process ef
earning success shall be the preparation
for its conservation and enjoyment. 50,
day by day, and week by week-so,
month after month, and year after year,
work on; and in that process gain
strength and symmetry, nerve and
knowledge, that when success, bravely
and patiently acquired, shall be yours,
it shall find you prepared to receive and
to keep it. The development OF all your
mental and moral qualities in the brave
battles of life will amply reward you for
the struggle. 1t will help to make
man of you, and give you not only self
respect, but the respect of your fellows
and the public.