The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1879-02-21
Now ro RISE.
BY JOSEPH ALDEN.

Some persons are content TO be mere
hewers of wood and drawers Of water.
They simply seek for what they shall
eat, and what they shall drink, and
wherewithal they shall be clothed.
There are others who desire above all
things to become rich. They desire
knowledge, intelligence, mental power.
They see persons distinguished and IN
huential in consequence Of mental cul-
ture. They desire similar distinction
and influence.
But they lack the means Of culture.
They are, perhaps, obliged to labor for
i their daily bread. The school and the
instructor, the books and the leisure,
are not for them. They have burning
thirst for knowledge, but the spring Is
distant and unapproachable.
They look with envy upon those who
enjoy ali the advantages for education
that can be desired. They look with
contempt upon those who possess ad-
vantages which, from Incidence, they
fail to use. It is for this class that this
article is written.
Men have, it is true, very different
advantages for improvement; but the
persons for whom / am writing possess
one advantage greater than is possessed
By many Of those whose advantages
| they envy. II is the desire for knowl-
edge. the desire for mental improve
ment, the desire TO rise to the compan-
ionship Of men of mind and culture.
| Without this d4~Ire II" external advan-
tages will he Of any avail. 1t is Impos-
sible to educate IA mind ;hat has no de-
sire for knowledge, no kindling OF en-
thusiasm IN contemplating those who
! have left .st,.,l ,isn's on the sands Of
time" -.
My young reader, yoa have some de-
! sire 70 become a. intelligent and jnfiu-
entail, nav more, distinguished man.
1t is 10 some extent evident that you
have the capacity to become such
man.
This desire should be cherished and
strengthened The stronger the deAire,
the more vigorous will be the action
to which it will lead. The more.vigor-
Gus the action, the greater the improve
ment.
This desire may be strengthened by
considering the advantages of mental
culture. It took Hugh Miller from
the stone quarry and placed him among
the intellectual chiefs whom Scotland
delighted 10 honor. The great Chal-
mers gave the stone-cutter the right
hand Of fellowship when he laid aside
the chisel and mallet and took the edi-
torial chair of a paper whose influence
was felt throughout the length and
breadth Of the land Remember, Hugh
Miller had no culture but that acquired
by himself while laboring as a journey
man, lodging In novels, and living up
on oat meal You possess far greater
advantages for selt-improvement than
he possessed.
Think of Franklin, who, with advan-
taxes inferior to yours, became one of
the leading statesmen of the age, and
its most distinguished philosopher !;
whose writings exerted a greater infiu-
ence than the writings of the most
highly educated men of his day. All
this was done by the dilhgent use of
means far inferior to those within your
reach.
Instead of signing over advantages
which you do not possess, resolve, with
> an iron will, to make the best possible
7 use of those within your reach. You
will then be surprised to find how many
: advantages you have, and what progress
you can make.
, The way to secure better advantages
r is to make 6iligent use of those you
r have. Men are always disposed to
: help those who earnestly try to help
themselves.
> Two men, were moving. One had a
cast steel scythe, with patent snAth.
D The other had very inferior seythe.
!. "Your friend has the advantage of you, !"
: said gentleman who was passing and
stopped a moment as the man was
| whetting his ssythe; che has much the
4 better tool to work with"
/ THAT'S So" was the reply, "but this
is the best one could get. The grass
j must be cut; must work the harder. "
And he went on moving with viii.
The gentleman was in need of an as
sistant in his business He wanted q
: man to do whatever was necessary to be
: done. He hired the man with the poor
scythe, and thus laid the foundation Of
. his fortune If the man had remained
q idle till he get irst-class scythe, he
would have missed his opportunity Of
making fortune.
Do not remain idle waiting for better
advantages for mental Improvement.
Begin to-day the diligent use OF those
g you have. The wcrld wants men who
It feel that work must be done, and will
!, ,S do it with poor tools if they cannot get
good ones. Make up your mind that
you will be an intelligent, able and
honorable man; go to work and make
!, yourself such a man, and the world
u u will call for your services, and give you
credit for all that you do. The men
, who complain that they are not appre
ciated are not the ones who are willing
to do their best at whatever comes tC
l. hand.
Il