The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-07-16
How Bows NAV succeed in Life.

How Boys Hay 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
be 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 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 ha- 4
school of perjury. Stewart, Vanderbilt
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 heWas a fat
boatman on the Mississippi river. The
obscure beginnings of Abraham Lincoln
are familiar to all Americans. Yet more
remarkable was the rise Of President
Andrew Johnson, who did not learn to
read and write till after he was twenty
one So numerous are similar cases
that it almost seems as if poverty, in
stead Of being 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-
pine which comes from Indulgence.
As an element of success great stress
must be laid upon incorruptible integrity,
which of late years is unfortunately too
rarely found. A business man once said
to the writer:
Il can find plenty Of smart young men
to work for me. What want is an
honest clerk, whom I can implicitly
trust"
Scarcely a day passes in which some
defalcation is not brought to light.
Widespread misery often results from
the lax principles of some young man
placed in a 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 a private letter upon Government
paper, but provided a separate stock of
stationery for such uses. A boy or man
who establishes a reputation for strict
honesty will not remain out Of employ
ment.
Don't give up all your time to business.
Reserve a part, If only an hour daily,
for reading and mental improvement.
If Abbott Lawrence had been familiar
only with the details of his business be
would never have received the appoint
ment of Minister to England, place
which he filled WITH credit to himself
and to his country. Some men pronli-
nent in business have found time also
for wide and varied course of reading,
which made them agreeable and I'M
structiye companions. Once at a dinner
party an eminent clergyman made an
incorrect historical allusion, and waH at
once set right by quiet merchant who
sat beside him. "
Last of all, remember that you owe a
debt to humanity. Try to live and labor
so that the world my be the richer and
mankind the happier for your having
lived. A great inventor, a great philan-
nropist, leaves a legacy to his race.
Who can estimate the incalculable debt
of the world to the inventor of printing,
of the steam engine, of the telegraph
Who will deny that Washington, Frank
lin and John Howard, helped to make
the world better than they found it
How long viii the memory of Scott, of
Dickens and of Thackeary live in the
fund Of innocent pleasure which their
works are destined to afford for genera
tons to come! All cannot attain their
celebrity or emulate their great achieve
ments. but no one is SO humble that he
cannot promote i'll some degree the hap
piness of those around him.
A good mother, when her son was
leaving the home of his childhood and
going out into the great world, knowing
that he was ambitious, gave him this
parting injunction:
"My son, remember that though it is a
good thing to be great man, it is
great thing to be good man."
No sounder or truer words were ever
spoken. A great man may dazzle but a
good man is beacon shining afar, by
whose benefcent light multitude are
enabled to walk in safety. The best
success is often achieved by the hum
blest, and an obscure life, well-spent is
better than wicked renoWn.