Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1881-12-28
Good Advice 90 Ambitious
Young Hens

Many Of tho young men OF our State
who have been ambitious toilll u place
IN some small office, aud especially to
procure clerkshlps at Washington, are
finding out, to their sorrow, that II
does not pay to hold public office aud
that they are infinitely better of at
home, pursuing the ordinary oyocailons
of life. We wish that fact could be
strongly impressed upon tho rising
generation, without submitting these
ambitious young men to the severe
crucible of actual experience,
1t should be the noble ambition Of
every American boy by study and tho
discipline of his mind, to lit himself for
the prizes of life, should they come
On this fitness depends in large measure
the pcrpctuiiy Of our free institutions
With nation of men ready for the
gravest responsibilities Of office, but
without an undue clomoring and ig-
noble strife to possess them, and the
civil service question will be solved at
once. And then when the call comes
to step higher, the offices will be filled
by men understanding their business,
aud fitted for the places to which they
are called. This preparation for the
gravcst responsibilities Of life on the
part of all our citizens, is the pride and
glory of our American system. We
like the remark made by the propric'
tor of newspaper TO n new apprentice
ELMER, fix your eye on the best
position in this Office, and strive to III
yourself for it. Don't set your mark
low; but put your mark on the editors
chair, and reach it if possible" That
was excellent advice. lie did not mean
there should be undcrhandcd scbeming,
possession without the requisite ex-
cellcnce, q knock-down drag.out fight
for the place, but the steady, step by
step progress, the discipline that comes
by the close application of the daily
experiences of life. In the slow and
often toilsomet' way tile, highcst,p!accs
are reached. When high and honor
able positions. come by this process,
they come to stay.
We have known 1nai financially
ruined, by leaving their regular pro-
fession or occupation for. temporary
official position. There is something
in human nature that is apt to
yield to the temptations that seem to
invite to something outside and beyond
the regular course Of life. The usual
business of life is abandoned, and tenn
porary expedicnts are resortcd to. 10y
and by the political wave recedes, the
man loses his office, and while he has
been serving the public in the place he
so much cravcd, his business has taken
unto itself wings. We have known a
skilled mechanic, who had spent years
in fitting himself for service, ond who
was receiving five dollars day, spend
month after month in seeking for al
office that was worth but two dollars
and fifty cent? day, and then he lost
livery fortunately for him, for it sent
him back to bis work bencha contented
and happy man. Hundreds of young
men are writing to leading publec men
and button holing every person who
has 1.-THE of influence, asking for ap.
pointments to clerkships at Washing
ton, at salaries that would hardly KEEP
soul and body together; and when Sc
cured they have nothing offered but the
closest drudgery, With bu. little hope
of promotion. Better remain on the
farm, in the mechanics shop, by the
workbench, or at the blacksmith
forge, at dollar a day.
The holding of a political office is il
every way honorable, and an hon
est and capable office holder is entitled
to respect, the same as persons fillin!
other departments of life. We do no
join the senseless raid that is Otter
made upon ofiice-holders nor do w
believe that because here and there i
found one who is recreant to his trust
the entire class must rest under tn
stigma. The gentlemen holding thes
places will compare favorably with an.
other class or profession. They are a
honorable, as generous, as able, a
high-minded, and as honest. And 70
fidelity to their trust no nation on tn
globe can present such list of incol
ruptible officials as our own nation.
But what we do claim is, that n
ordinary man can afford to set himse
to the task of professional Office seek
ing, but should seek some profession O