The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-07-09

coed In life settle it in your mind what yen mean
to do, and. assuming your object to be worthy,
let nothing tempt you from It's earnest, constant
pursuit.
CAPACITY TO CIRCUMSTANCES.
Another condition, and one too often overlook
ed, is q capacity of adapting ourselves readily to
circumstances. Not only il it true that your
lives will be very different from each other; that
you who have walked together in sweet converse
for years, engaged in the same studies and seek
ing the same end shall walk together no longer,
and that your paths shall diverge widely; but u
Is also true that the life of each one OF you Will
be different in the future from what it has been
in the past. You will be thrown into commune
ties whose habits, customs and occupations may
be very foreign to you; you will see some things
which in your Judgment need correction and I'M
provement; you will see others that are new and
strange. Now, whatever may beyour profession,
YOU will have to deal with men. and your success
will depend largely on the way yon deal WIFI
them. 1t is possible for you to cultivate such
habits of seclusion and exclusion .thaE the COM
munity will begin to suspect q cherls q leelins
of conscious superiority on your part. Ihey u
begin to feel that there is such a want OF sympa-
thy and congeniality as will render all association,
whether for business or pleasure, most embar.
RAISING. However true it may be that your ad'
vantages and opportunities place you above the
mass of+those about you, yet it would be 3 grave
mistake to Ia-ade your distinction. There !:
nothing of which unlettered common sense Ii
more intolerant, and justly, than the conceit OF 9
youth fresh from college, with his honora bloom
INK thick upon him, who by his caustic criticism
and contemptuous raillery insinuates chat al
society is demoralized and that the wheels OF
Progress have stopped. Such a one Will array
against himself the very elements Of social pow
er which he should and must command II nj
succeed. We are persuaded that many fail eithel
partially or wholly because they are not one Will
the people where they have cast their lot. There
il an ofishmness which is mutually repellant and
which stands an insuperable barrier to conn
dence. ,
Is there not q special propriety in calling at
tention to this condition Of success in view o.
that altered state Of things Which now prevails
at the South. I need not refer % matters with
which you are perfectly familiar: to that convul
sive uphearsal Of our whole social fabric, ant
that widespread poverty which have followed {
disastrous war; to the necessity for new indus
tries, different modes Of living and an earnest
buoyant effort to wiring from disaster all it
strengthening, vivifying, e~levating influence
and expel all Its bitterness. Th "New South" L
to conserve, to cherish and perpetuate as q So
cred inheritance all that is good OF the past and,
what is far more difficult, she is to construct from
the floating debris, the disjecta membra, q nobl'
edifce in which shall dwell securely her children
in all their generations, worshipping at the alter
OF the household divinities, Love nnd Peace
This great undertaking il to be accomplished by
the educated young men Of the South. It car
only be done by a just appreciation OF the de
mands of the situation and a cheerful CONSIDERATION
OF themselves to whatever toll, sacrifice and per
sonal discomfort the grand result may require
And we exhort you, take no counsel OF indolen
grumblers who spend their time in ~ceaselesa
signs that things are not as they once were or o.
they might be, but who raise not their little fin
ger to restore the past or reform the present
Impressed with the grandeur and glory OF tn
work and animated by the heroic example o.
those whose untarnished fame is a richer inheri
lance ever than these sunny skies, this .genla
cline and generous soil, let no difficulties dlscour
age you. ,
Another condition more important than al
others, and which may be said to include al
others, is an honest sincere
DESIRE TO BE USEFUL.
This will supply many deficiencies and correc
many errors and 30 essential is it that no life car
be successful in the highest and bert sense o.
tie word without it. Whatever else may b.
gained, whatever worldly distinction, honor ant
wealth and pleasure, if there be not this desire
ever present, regulating and controlling, ther
IQHU ulc - u lhlluIc, OlllO luAuIClJ tHio oAo
alton is too often overlo oked in those calcula
tons which enter into human conduct. Every
other view of the matter is we'll weighed. There
is the most careful estimate of everything thai
will affect reputation, ease, comfort and prosper.
ity, Whatever contributes to one or all OF these
is most earnestly and persistently sought with
out regard to its influence on others. Let it not
he 30 with you. Regard the powers with which
a benevolent Creator has endowed you, the on
ergies, the impulses, all the resources Of YOU
nature Oh instruments of good to your fellow
men. I'll 81 great mistake, q low unworthy view
of the matter, to look upon the learned profes'
sions, or indeed any ayocation, as o mere means
of livelihood or as different methods by which
they may obtain independence and distinction
They are rather expedients which wisdom ant
humanity have selected to protect the rights ant
relieve the sufVerings and elevate the character
Of society. However they may be abused, they
are not designed for ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, but to give
scope to benevolence. They are the channel,
LONG established and well worn through which
beneicent influences seek an outlet to gladdenet
desert and make q sterile waste fresh and Ea
grant as q garden. All this is readily admits
with reference to the preacher. He ia the objec
OF universal denunciation, and justly If he pros
titutes the holy and benefcent ordinances o.
heaven to mercenary and selfish purposes; If Ii
makes the pulpit
ALADDER TO ~pREFERIENT,
and the Gospel a means Of gratifying his ambi
ton. But I ask is the minister alone bound b,
the obligation to do good TO all men. How ha'
il come to pass that the lawyer and the mer
chant may use their occupations for mere money
getting and yet public sentiment utter no con
demnation2 Who absolved them and other
from that law which binds all to promote the gen
eral good? Be assured that is q false standard
-l.:.f .ro,,15 roooc,,ro opnnooo nv fha fhnuaand n
BY mere eminence Of position The desire fo1
wealth and honor is proper and even laudable i
these be sought az q means OF more extensive
usefulness. We respect the mar who by. indus
try, skill and foresight has acquired o fortune
not to satisfy ~avarice, but to employ It in thu
operations Of benevolence. We admire him VIII
BY his diligence and capacity has made a name
not that his wide reputation or large influence
may fintter his vanity or nourish his PRIDE, but
NAV come upon him and that for him the widow
heart may sing for JOY. Young gentlemen. l
Won be animated by motives Of this charac
ter, if the good of your fellow-mer
be- with you TIE prevailing consideration, ther
many Of those difficulties which perplex thu
scheming, the selfish and the ambitious vii
vanish before you. Guided by q principle SC
simple, so safe, Of snch universal application YOU
will thread your way safely amid.t dangers tina
ensnare and ruin others. Let 1t be your purpose
settled, fixed and unwavering, to make your in
move. In the soft words Of q sweet poet, lie
your influence all be spent in soothing sorrov
and in quenching strife, in aiding helpless indi
gence, in works from which at least q grateful
few derive some taste Of comfort in q world o.
woe. Then let
THE sUPERcnIoUs GREAT.
confess you serve your country, you recompenss
you sit secure, and in the scale Of life hold NJ
ignoble place.
You enter q field where truth, honesty and viz
tue need to be commended, not BY beautiful
theories or high sounding words, but by living
example. Where ignorance needs to be removed
and intelligence guided and restrained by good
ness. And, while you recognize the claini
which society aud humanity have upon you, re.
member that these claims find their highest OBJ
legation and most binding force in an obligation
to God. You sustain other and more important
low-men. And amid the impressive scenes OF THU
hour may each Of vol hear, hear to obey, tht
voice of Him whose service is love whose benedic'
ton is success, saying, $50 work in my vine
yard"
'Iife is before ye;' from the fated road
Ye cannot: turn then take ye up the load.
Not yours to tread or leave unknown the way,
Ye must 70 DER ii, meet ye what ye may.
Grid up your souls within yon to the deed
Angels and fellow-spirits bid ye speed"
THE CROWD
was simply immense on both Wednes-
day and Thursday. We made a close
opd corofu1 ost;nato IF the assemhlare