New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-05
HIRKKLNG RERDENS.

We all know EsOp's story OF the donkey and
the horse how the patient ass submitted v lille
his selfish companion piled the load on IT, bit
bv bit, until it fell dead by the roadside, when
the horse had to carry both tie burden ana the
dead ass the rest OF the way. We are glad TO
see the selfish beast punished, but we have no
pity for the ass. Americans lave no sympathy
with patient donkeys. OF all people, We think,
we are the least likely to be imposed upon, pO-
liticaly or socially. Down-trOdden nations OF
Europe NAV tOtter meekly under their loads,
but the American knows just when TO MEX and
march off without yoke or burden. All OF
which may be true of us as a nation. but is abso-
lutclv false Of us as individuals. The American
Is pIobably more heavily loaded than any
other man on the road through hfe, but he
differs from the donkey in this, that he loads
himself. lie almost invariably overrates lbs
str myth and ability. He enters for the grand
prize when he is only fl. TO win the scrub-race.
Let any reader of The TRIBUNE look through
the community III which he lives, and he will see
how much of the discomfort, misery, and
meagre, unsatisfactory living in IFS households
comes from the effort OF men and women to I'LL
a profession or a social place for which they are
too small.
The equality of opportunity which Is the
birthrght of every American citizen has It's
disadvantages. Every place is open to the am
bilious youngster, and II never occurs to him or
to his parents that he is not fit for any place.
His cOnceit and energy are almost invariably
bigger than his capital OF brains. Nature,
probably, fitted him to be small tradesman III
his native village. He has shrewdness, good
humor. that pert, familiar address popular in a
half educated community. He is sent to Yale
and made q clergyman. Or, he was intended by
the wise old mother for life on farm. His is
a slow, narrow, just intellect. He enjoys quiet
and steady routine has an appetite tor small
gossip and small pleasures. But his father
wants to make a gentleman OF the boy, aud. IN
the bucOlc mind, to be a gentleman 1t Is neces-
sary to enter profession. The boy Is sent to
college, and then TO one OF the cities to put out
his sign as a lawyer, without money, family or
politIca influence. In both cases, life OF course
muddles down forever after into most miser-
able incOmpetency and failure. In lower
station il ould have been full, useful and sat
isfied.
Every newspaper Office swarms with young
men just out of college, OF fine literary TASTE"
eager TO become journalists, and confident they
are competent to fill the shoes OF Greeley or a
Delane. They have Just that ability and gentle
endowment OF books which would qualify them
to teach modern literature in ladies school,
but they push their way into newspaper Office
and grow old there, working hard accomplish
ing nothing. gaming neither reputation nor
money. There is no career, perhaps 80 siIewn
with the crippled and ruined Us that Of lltera-
ture Il seems an absurd platItude to say that
young men should gauge their ability before
choosing an occupation foI life; bnt some sach
WARNING is needed here. In Europe mans
career and social rank are pretty much lined
ont for LIN ut birth, and he ms To content him
self Herewith. USulliy he makes the best of
it, and is happy. We pend great deal OF
on him. an the misery OF depressed
talent. Bat il is Z question whether there Is
not quite rs much III scry IN tue perpetual
stlamin- common among ourselves, III our
shift ing social lite, to b. or to seem SOM thing
for which we are totally untitled. DO lnok
like the OK now T. SAID the frog, swelling and
swelling Oar human frogs do not always |
burst, but they go through life with that inees-