San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-09-28
Sli,rtinE I'm Lifs..

StnrtinE I'm Life.
The first great lesson young man
should learn is, that he knows moth
ing. The earlier and mora, throughly
this lesson is learnt, the better. A
home bred youth growing up in the
light Of parental admiration, with every
thing to foster his vanity and self es-
teem,is surprised to Gnd,. and often un
willing to acknowledge, the superiority
of other people. But he is compelled
to learn his insignificance, his arts
are ridiculcd, his blunders exposed
his wishes disregarded, and he is made
to cut a very sorry figure, until his
self -conccit 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
but of little value, the next lesson is,
that the world cares nothing for him.
He is the subject of no mans over
whelming admiration neither petted
by the one sex, nor envied by the 9TH
er, he has to take care of himself. He
will not be noticed till he becomes
noticeable; he will not become notice
able until he docs something to prove
that he is of some use to society. No
recommendation or introduction can
give him this, or ought to give him
this; he must do something to be rec
ognlzed as somebody. There is plenty
of room for men in the world, but
there is no room for idlers. Society is
not very particular what man does,
SO long as he does something useful, to
prove himself to be man but it will
not take the matter on trust.
There it no surer sign OF an unman-
ly and cowardly spirit. than a vague
desire for help--a wish to depend, to
lean on somebody, and enjoy the fruits
of other peoples industry. There are
multitudes of young men who indulge
in dreams of help from some quarter
coming in at a convenient moment to
enable them to secure the success in
life which they covet. Thus one Of
the most painful sights in the world, is
that of young man with a strong
constitution and a presentable figure
standing with his hands in his pockets
longing tor help. There are positions
in which the most independent spirit
may gracefully and gratefully accept
assislancc-may in fact as choice of
evils desire it; but for a man who is
able to help himself TO seek help from
others, is positive proof that he has
been unfortunately trained, and that
an indolent bias exists in his character.
Let us not be misunderstood. We
would not inculcate the pride of per-
sonal independence, which. in its ex
treme scnsitiveness, repels the gooi
Offices of friends, What we condemn
10 young man is the habit of deren-
dence which makes him anxious TO
accept as q favor, those things which
h, might readily acquire by his own
exertions. A man who willingly re-
ceives assistance, especially If he has
applied for it, invariably sells himself
to his benefactor, unless his patron
happens to be man Of sense, who is
giving absolutely necessary assistance
to one whom he kncws to be both SEN
sitIve and honorable.
When a young man has ascertained
the fact that he knows nothing, and
that the world cares nothing about
him, tina. his success in lie
must depend ON his own exertions.
and that he must look TO himself, aud
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 we'll as 20
work and to be content with those
means Of advancement in life which
we may.usc With isiegriiy and hoBor.
Patience is one ofthe mos; dili-u,t