The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-05-13
The Worthless Young Maa.

No man is responsible for tie eireuul-
stances of his b rth. If he is born in d
rif kety tenement hous, and graded iIE8
discarded soap box, it is nothing to his
discredit.a If heis bern with a. golden
spoon in his mouth and brought rup
| among all that is elegant, he cannot 1elp;
il. 1t is Customary to speak of tbe1dHrty
and poor aud -uneducated as the lower
and the dangerous classes The pc PIE
who have money and fine clothes, and
nice houses, with good things on their
tab 'es, are sometimes alluded to ss the
upper classes If those who have these
desirable things make wise use of
them, it is well. If they Eeglect their
| opportuniti in this direction, they M
~ better members Of society than the
poor fellows. In fact, they are not Al
good, for they fail in giving ,ciety wixt
it has right to expect of them. : - ~ !
Itoften happens that one of the most
unforl unate Of men is he who ives born
among wealthy people whose money was
all they had. Wealth is supposed 81 70
/ hand in hand with culture, but there
are cases in which the two are not on
speaking terms A boy is allowed to
have his own way while child. When
ne goes to school he is a bully and a
tyrant Priding himself on the wealth
and position of his parents, he domi-
neers over the other boys and refuses to
obey his teachers. Unhappiiy there, are
teachers base enough to tody to such a
boy and to fail to compel him to learn.
He grows up without habits of dill
gence. He has nosapplication, nor can
be give thoughtful atte ntions to any
thing he should'study. Relying on the
power of his father g money, he expects
to get through the world without max
ing any special exertien. According to
his way cf thinking, learning is thing
for poor mem sons. For the sake OF
making a tolerably decent appearance
amorg his friends he must pass certain
examinations at school and college. By
paying tutors for special services 10
coaching him this is managed without
much difficulty. The preparation oil
those parts of examination which are
written is a matter of regular business
on the part of poyerty-stricken students
who have need of a few dollars. When
these are purchased they answer as well
in some quarters as if honestly made by
the youth whose production they claim
to be. A,diploma is in due time placed
in the young mans hands and he goei
out to lounge upon society. We're hs
. pecuniarify vagrant, as he IS socially
the police would bid him move on
Were he shabbily clad, instead of beins
arrayed in costly. apparel, he would b
dispised by the very person7 who asso
ciate with him. Never having improved
his mind during the period asst gned fol
his education, be has now .neithers ambi
tion nor capacity for rimproyementl II,
,, allows hisRmental Faculties TO run 3tt
waste. He seeks the, companionship O.
the uncultured and the unworthy
Sometimes these are the rough persons
. who hang about stables and Sometimes
they are the indolent representatives O
wealthy families. It does not take lon,
for an idle young man to stray int
mischief. He Is to lazy to work, ant
looks with disdain on all who toll fo
their living. Were such young persol
willing to concentrate his mental ant
other resources on some useful purpos
, he might be of considerable use to tn
world. He might devote himself to in
E venting something, and if not immedi
, ately profitable, he could afford to wal
5 awhile for the result. Thousands o
5 poor young men have planned and pei
fected inventions under pressure of ad
verse pecuniary circumstances. The
had ambition, which he has not. 81
will never step out of his beaten path
which is that of lounger. He hs
lounged ever since he knew how, an
) will continue to do so as long as h;
: profitless life shall last. The world
{ work may 60 on for all he cares, but
will do none of it. There is little hop
a for the youth who reaches maturity as
i lounger. The only way to make any
1 thing of him is to take him in han
$ while very young. r5---.z. 5.-..... =