The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-11-10
Correspondence 81 TnE CrAnaoA.l
10 the young Men Of Mississippi.

Tba wrstar has recently travelled almost
a..sfretv over the State of Mississippi and
bss extended his travels over portions o.
fbe West that have been extensively adj
vertised and have, in consequence, Deem
drawipv vast numbers of immigrants and
a. has returned 70 cast his lat with those
with wEom he has associated from childhood,
assured from observation the present
condition. as well as the future Of this State
il as encouraging, if not more 50, thai other
inferior but more widely advertised states.
The average young man who has grown
from boyhood to manhood in the same place
is disposed to regard that particular locality
as holding out but few inducements Tor nm,
and, if be be all imaginative youth, addlc-
ted to the yellow-backed literature OF the
dav. he will either wish himself securing
the broad plains in pursuit OF the savage
Indian or will imagine himself amassing
wealth in the mines of Coloradoor Mexico
while he of a more practical mina viii
somehow get the impression that the scenes
of childhood and home have become stale
and distasteful and, altogether, 1t seems that
a change has become Imperative and ne
goes-West. At home he has been accus-
toned to the habits of settled society
abroad. he finds everything different. lie
pursuing their diversified interests, he misses
the soclabiIity aud sympathy to which ne
has been used everything seems new aud
unsettled, and he is disposed TO think that
the country so attractively pictured to his
imagination must be further Westward.
But ne may continue to the golden sands OF
the Pacific and he will be conscious OF the
same general impressions. The fault, If any,
is in himself He should have expected all
these unfavOrable contingencies before start
ing and should have, accordingly, prepared
himself to meet them. He should go forth
prepared not to expect too much, to adapt
himself to the country and people that he
may happen to visit and that be is in search
of a location that will unite all the circum-
stances best suited to his particular vocation,
for in these times no young man should
venture abroad TO better his condition unless
he is qualified for some particular calling.
In novels and Sunday School books the
young man whose sole depe ndence for a
livelihood is a strong constitution and a
willing heart is a hero; while in practical
life, he is generally common tramp.
Young man, choose your vocation and
qualify without delay. As general rule,
the young man who has always borne an
enviable reputation at home will hardly
better himself by leaving while he who is
known as a ne'er-do-well should by all
means grow up with some other country
In the West the writer found the supply
of non-producers everywhere far in excess
of the demand, while in many places build
ing and improvements were retarded owing
to the scarcity of skilled labor. If our
Young men would go West as skilled me-
chanics. their chances would be good of
finding steady and remuneratiVe empty
ment but when they go in search of
possible agency or clerkship or to find an
easy opening for professional labor they
must expect to find an army already before
them and nothing but hard work, merit aud
patience will secure a livelihood The
thousands of emigrants that are being yearly
poured forth at Castle Garden,
MANY having means or skilled by
the long apprenticeship required in
Europe, are all going west of the Mississippi.
As yet, the tidal wave of immigration has
not reached the Southern States. Many
political circumstances that have hitherto
been serious obstacles are fast disappearing
and when the tide changes and an industri-
Gus, monied people come upon and fired a
genial, healthy climate and fertile soil,
instead of grasshoppers, droughts, severe
cold and other drawbacks so characterlc OF
our Western country, no citizen Will then
regret having adhered to the South in the
time of her adversely. But it is best that
our dissatisfied young men 60 abroad, Ii
| they find better land, so much the better
| for them: but if their search be fruitless so
4 much the better for the State, for they Will
| return satisfied and disposed to work, and
Mississippi welcomes all such men.
BENEvoLo.