Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-08-02
How Boys May Succeed In Life.

"A Poor Boy inquiries what occu-
patton it is best for him to follow, and
how he can best succeed in life.
The choice of an occupation depends
partly upon individual preference, and
partly upon circumstances. 1t may be
that you are debarred from entering
upon that business for which you are
best adapted. In that case, make the
best choice in your power. Apply your
self faithfully and earnestly to what
ever you undertake, and you cannot
well help achieving at least a moderate
success. Patient application sometimes
leads to great results.
You emphasize the fact of your being
a poor boy, but this affords no grounds
of discourag ement. Not only many,
but most of our successful business and
professional men were trained in the
hard school of penury. Stewart, Van
derbilt and John Jacob Astor struggled
upward from a youth of poverty. A
we'll known Member of Congress as
sured the writer that at the age of nine
teen he was flatboatman on the Mis-
sissippi River. The obscure beginnings
of Abraham Lincoln are familiar to all
Americans. Yet more remarkable was
the rise of President Andrew johnson,
who did not learn to read and write till
after he was twenty-one. So numerous
are similar cases that it almost seems
as if poverty, instead of being a him
drance, were positive help. Rich boys
are often spoiled, and their energies
sapped and undermined, by luxurious
habits, the too free use of money, and
the lack of that discipline which comes
from indigence.
AS an element of success great stress
must be laid upon incorruptible integ-
rity, which of late years is unfortunately
too rarely found. A business man once
said to the writer:
." can find plenty of smart young
men to work for me. What | want is an
honest clerk, whom l can implicitly
trust
Scarcely day passes in which some
defalcation is not brought to light.
Widespread misery often results from
the lax principles of some young man
placed in position of trust. Let our
Young correspondent resolve that he
will live on bread and water rather than
appropriate a penny that is not his own.
Let him initiate the stern integrity OF
John Quincy Adams, who would moi
write n private letter upon Government
paper, but provided separate stock Of
stationary for such uses. A boy or mar
who establishes reputation for stric
honesty will not long remairt out of EN-
plOyment.
Don't give up all your time to bust
ness. Reserve a part, if only an houl
daily, for reading and mental improve
ment. If Abbott Lawrence had beer
familiar only with the details of hi.
| business he would never have received
the appointment of Minister to England
a place which he filled with credit t
himself and to his country Some mel
prominent in business have found tim,
also for wide and varied course o
reading, which made them agreeable
and instructive companions. Once at ;
| dinner-party an eminent clergyman
made an incorrect historical allusiOn
and was at once set right by a quie
merchant who sat beside him.
Last of all, remember that you owe
debt to humanity. Try to live and labo
so that the world may be the richer an
mankind the happier for your havin
lived. A great inventor, great phi
lanthropist, leaves legacy to his race
Who can estimate the incalculable deb
of the world to the inventor of printing
of the steam-engine, of the telegraph
Who will deny that Washington, Frank
lin, John Howard helped 10 make tn
world better than they found itP Ho'
long will the memory of Scott, of Dicl
! ems, of Thackeray live in the fund {
innocent pleasure which their worE
are destined to afford for generations
come! All cannot attain their celebrit
} or emulate their great achievement
but no one is so hHmble that he cannC
, promote in some degree the happines
of those around him.
1 A good mother, when her son WI
r leaving the home of his childhood an
J going out into the great world KNOWN
I, that he was ambitious, gave him tn
I parting injunction:
= "My son, remember that though
{ is a good thing to be a great man, it
. a great thing to be good man."
i No sounder or truer words We're ev
;, spoken. A great man may dazzle, b
a good man is beacon shining afa
i by whose benelcent light a multitu'
a are enabled to walk in safety. The be
5 success is often achieved by the hun
/ blest, and an obscure life, we'll spent,
!. better than a wicked renown.-N
II Weekly