, 1882-10-21
The American Boys Opportunity

The intelligent man Who has fought his
way up the hill of life, and through dcs-
perate difficulties, and has passed the
middle milestone, still endowed with
mental vigor which impeaches his physi-
cal strength, can hardly commence the
descent into the shadowy vale # old age
without tinge of melancholy, al the
thought of having To fnrcsn all participa
tion in the erowding, jostling erents Of
the times. And especially will such
man almost envy the American boys pos
sible opportunities, yet while he does
this, viii be saddened by the reflection,
that the boy shows little disposition to
make the most Of these golden chances,
and that if he profits by them, they must
thrust themselves upon HIM
From this middle milestone Of life,
what panorama the eyes Of the man who
has reached it, beholds He sees, that at
some moment, one country more than an
other, represents the sentiment OF all
mankiEd-that country now, America
He knows this from many obviour reasons
one, that tho vast tide Of immigration
has turned America ward. He secs, amid
the swift changes peculiar 10 modern
times, which bring the various nations in
to new relations, and In the adjustment
of sscial forces, that America stands con-
fessedly conspicuous and pre- eminent.
And he has almost To invent faith to
reach out and grasp what America is to
be, as he remembers, that, if each cen
tury is to be reckoned as a year in the
life OF a nation, America is an infant OF
but years growth, ye. possessed of the
fibre and strength of giant. He sees,
tha. to-day, America has entered upon
the settlement of questions, which, as
they shall be determined, in one way or
the other, will nake the peace and pros
perity, or the calamity pf ases TO come
questions of Education, Society, Capital,
Labor, the direction Of talent, of charac-
ter, nature and habits, the removal Of
restrictions and antique inequalities
with reference to religion aud poll
tics. He sees the lodging of more
power with the zeal people, which means
a wider personel liberty, an invitation to
each man to make more Of his career.
Cant goes down and Common Sense comes
up, and human duties rise in the place Of
ideal perfection
Is it any wonder that the man ready to
make life's descent, chafes at his position,
or that he should be anxious for American
boys. What opportunities here Presen:
for the boys Of this great country Ii
there is any period in which man would
desire to be boy. is it not this. 4 per
iod when there is to be 4 revolution, the
old against the new; when the old in Pol
tics, Religion, Law, Education, and kind
red things will either stand or he cnmPen
stated BY the possibilities Of the new 4
period when all men will he challenged
for their opinions upon matters IN the
past, relesated to the high classea; when
the interests of all men shall Dc lifted TO
higher levels, and the feelings OF the
ycunges; and simplest Of Gods children;
the philosophy of the mere bridie-Pa'hs OF
life, shall be matters Of universal inter
est. What a time for boy 20 be born,
to live, To be nurtured to manhood; Atime
.hen every avenue Of his life fairly bris'les
with rranscendent opportunities for the
acquisition of vast array d knosledse
that he may have for the simple taking