Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1879-03-08

~ WIN DohSh, eo->dJ koiA'Pe, 40 eno
owner of half score Of houses, OF
stands behind the counter of his fine
city store, and congratulates himself
on his change of fortune. His sub
stantial progress has worked, too,
wonderful change in the man himself,
for, oblivious Of "the rock from whence
he was hewn," he pointedly y snubs, or
remorselessly communicates his past
associates, especially if he has fam
lily of daughters and pays assiduous
court to the elite for admission into
their charmed circle.
But the terrible Ito him) question,
"Who are you?" confronts him there,
and he and his pretensions are con-
temptuously assigned to the middle
class" by law Of society as inexora-
Bile as the rigid DEGREES of the Medes
and Persians.
Again, take tho case OF two neigh
bors, following the same alton, each
of whom has son of tt same men
tai calibre. One gives his. boy,
Hans, a good, substantial English
education, and places him in the shop,
or behind the counter, where he labore
with hearty goodwill, contented
with his lot, and has no cause to be
ashamed of his honest parents and
their homely associations. He drives
his plane, swings the hammer, or
weighs and measures his goods, with
a cheerful heart and happy smile.
His ruddy cheeks glow with the hues
Of health and he gives every promise
of stalwart manhood. When he
reaches mans estate, behold, he has
shop or store of his own; he marr,es
come blooming lass in his own sphere
in life and lays a prosperous founda-
tion for the future.
The other nsighbor entertains am
bilious views in regard to his boy, or,
perhaps, the boy himself looks with
disda;n on the humble pursuits Of his
parents, and Teddy is despatched to a
"college' to prepare for brilliant
future. How the father delves, tolls
aid swests, and ekes cut his scanty
pittance to meet the expenses of the
boys tuition And what dreams he
has of the crown of success that
awaits him 1t is great change for
the boy-s metamorphosis equal to
any of Ovid's. From the humble
cottage ard home folks to the lofty
halls OF learning is almost like a
transition to Arcadia, and his new as
sociations and habits strengthen the
contrast. His limited means spur
him on to mako good use of the time;
by-and-by his hasty education is ccm-
pleted and he bears away diploma
which is supposed to DO the talismanic
open sesame to fame and fortune.
Now, that he has returned, nhat shall
we do with him? The parental ex-
cheauer is hopelessly exhausted, and
it would I've regarded as an insult to
suggest to him any hing short of one
of the learned professions. Like
Bradley Headstone, with his respect
able silver and respectable suit Of
Clothes" he must fain be content to
follow Bradley Headstones respecta-
BILE avocation. No matter if the old
man tolls and groans in the amut o.
the pit; no matter if his bended back
and care-worn face mutely appeal fol
the help of manly arm and fila.
heart-Teddy's white hands and white
face must be preserved immaculate
and his shabby counterfeit of gentility
be maintained at all hazards. Ea
necessitate, he must retain his place al
the family hearthstone, for "othel
refuge he has none;" but he supsrcil
iously snubs his old-time acquaint
ances and connections; they, in theil
turn, despise him, and he is socially
ostracised by the very class he fawn'
upon and into whose society he woulc
intrude. Perhaps his thoughts
"hgt tly turn to love" but he coldly
avoids the buxom lassies of his owr
class and sets his affections on some
naughty "ladye of high degree" i" only
to be ridiculed and mercilessly con
signed to the Tomb of the Capulet
for his temerity and presumption.
This is not an overdrawn picture
for there are thousands of just sucl
cases, where perverted education ha
been the ruin Of its possessor.
Our boys should be taught that nt
amount of learning disqualiies 1asr