Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-12-22

The great Napoleon, who accom-.
plished greater things from smaller
beginnings than any one in history
distinguished himself at school in q
mock battle, capturing a snow fort
and was generally as active and dc.
termined in the play as any one O
you; but even the Rev. John S. G
Abbott, his greatest admirer anC
panegyrist, never even so much a:
limited that the young Corsican evel
joined a base ball club or stripped tC
his stockings in the heroic struggle o.
sculling a boat faster than any other
fellow.
If you should have to quit school
and march into the world to battle
alone for your place and position, it is
extrememely probable that vel
learned and remembered lessons and
a good word from your teacher would
be of more value and a better passport
to employment and success than a base
ball medal or a blue-ribboned prize
for sculling.
These are the deductions and con-
illusions Of experience, and | make no
doubt you are old enough to admit
that there is some truth in them.
1t is quite important that youshould
look at these things just at this time.
Probably boys were never of so much
Importance to this nation as they are
now. For some years the men have
been going wrong. Theyseem to have
thrown their energies in the wrong d.
rection. AT the rate they have been
going there will be, there is, great
need that you boys should very soon
take charge of the Countrywide
farms, the stores, the ships, the
railroads, the government
Base ballists are plenty, champion
rowers and the pets of boat clubs are
plenty. What the world wants, what
it needs, what it must have, or miser-
ably fail. is large-hearted, broad
minded, h~Onest-souled, energetic boys
boys whose industrious application
to their studies during school days
has or will enable them to assume all
the duties of life as honorable citizens
and work out such reformations as
will give the world and their own
country a nObler and worthier genera
ton Of men than the present.
The future great men of this coun-
try ought to come from the Southern
States. The people ofyour States have
been for long years bowed down with
humiliation and disaster. Possibly,
as we have been told, a wise power
has thus brought them low in punish
ment for great sins. God knows we
have not been without sin. But what
ever the cause or occasion Of our
overthrow, 1t would be a bad people. a
miserable race indeed, that should
not have learned-what all peoples
and nations and races, as well as indi-
vituals, have learned-the sweet
uses OF adversely, the firm nerve, the
tried soul, the purified faith, the ex-
allied manhood. Let US not lose our
faith in the boys who are to work out
the future of the South. Let the
foundation ola studious and honora-
BILE boyhood and youth prepare for an
exalted and dignifed maturity. Let
your ambition be exalted.
Boys of the south see that you set
an example, not for o-day, nor for one
circle of influence but let your hopes,
your ambition, include your whole
people, and then it will include the
whole world. Remember and emulate
the great spirits of the past and
encourage the exalted ideal Of the
poet, who pictured a hero whose ambi-
: = @Reaching up from high to
Became on fme's imperial slope
The pillar of peoples hopa,
The centre Of a worlds desiiev'
No boy ever failed from having an
ideal too exalted, an ambition too
high; provided it was noble and pure.
But the pathway of humanity is
with the wrecks Of those whose
purposes we're selfish and etoyeling.
Don't let any one laugh you out Of
your ambition. The pure and the
good will honor you, and The approval
Of your own conscience will make you
More health, sunshine and joy IN
Hop Bitters than in all Other remedies.