The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-03-04
How Bors Nav succeed In Life

"a poor boy" inquiries what occupation
it is best for him TO follow, and how can
he best succeed in life?
The choice of an occupation depends
partly upon the individual preference,
and partly upon circumstances. 1t may
he 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 whatever
YOU undertake, and you cannot well
help achieving 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 discouragement. Not only many, but
most Of our successful business and pro-
fessional men were trained in the hard
school Of penury. Stewart, NandeTbilt
and John Jacob Astor struggled upward
from youth Of poverty. A well known
Member Of Congress assured the writer
that at the age OF nineteen he was fat
boatman on the Mississippi river. The
obscure beginnings Of Abraham Lincoln
are familiar 10 all Americans. Yet more
remarkable was the rise of President
Andrew johnson, who did not learn 20
read and write till after he was twenty
one. So numerous are similar cases
that il almost seems as IL poverty, i'm
stead OF being a hindrance, were posi-
tive help. Rich boys are often spoiled,
and their energies sapped and under
mined, by luxurious habits, the too free
use Of money, and the lack Of that disci-
pline which comes from indigence.
As an element Of success great stress
must be laid upon incorruptible integrity
which OF late years is unfortunately toe
rarely found. 4 business man once said
to the writer:
Il can find plenty Of smart young men
20 work for me. What ! want is al
honest clerk, whom / can implicitly
trust"
Scarcely a day passes in which some
defalation 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 penny that is not his own
/ let him initiate the stern integrity OF
John Quincy Adams, who would not
write private letter upon Government
paper, but provided n separate stock OF
stationery for such uses. A boy or man
who establishes n reputation for stric'
honesty will not remain out OF employ
ment.
Don't give mp all your time TO business
Reserve part, IL only an hour daily
for reading and mental improvement
/ IL Abbott Lawrence had been familial
only with the details OF his business h'
would never have received the appoint
ment OF Minister 10 England, a plac,
which he filed with credit 10 himself
| and 20 his country. Some men promi
nent In business have found time ais
for n wide and varied course OF reading
which made them agreeable ana In
structve companions. Once at Dime
party an eminent clergyman made al
incorrect historical allusion, and Yfs a
once set right by a quiet merchanswh
sat beside him.
last Of all, remember that you owe
debt 10 humanity. Try TO live and labo
so that the world my be the richer AM
mankind the happier for your hayin
lived. A great inventor, great philan
thropist, leaves a legacy to his rac'
Who can estimate the incalculable del
Of the world 90 the inventor Of PRINTING
Of the steam engine, Of the telegraph
| W no Will utliN liiiAi NhriilitStvitf W IT hhiiH :
lin and John Howard, helped 10 max
lthe world better than they found IL
How long will the memory Of Scott, o
Dickens and Of Thackeary live in th
fund Of innocent pleasure which the
works are destined 20 afford for gener'
tions 10 comet All cannot attain the
celebrity or emulate their great achiey'
ments. but no one Is 40 humble that b
cannot promote In some degree the hal
piness IL those around him.
A good mother, when her son wi
leaving the home Of his childhood an
going out into the great world, KNOWN
That he was ambitious, gave him Tia
PARTING Injunction:
MY son, remember that though Il IL
! good thing 10 be a great man, IL Is
great thing 20 be q good man."
No sounder or tTucr words were eve
, spoken. A great man may dazzle but
good man is n beacon shining afar, y
whose bcneficcnt light a multitude al
: enabled 10 walk IN safety. The be
success IL oficn achieved by the hun
blest, and an obscure life, well-spcnt
better than a wicked renown.