The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1882-06-08

eDcndntiOS landscape. ob
Are you poor: Envy not the tre'.
erous fortunes of your compai''o
While he who has no money - p
remember that he who has ho'" ~.
bat money is infinitely poorer 49,
millionaire Of yesterday may We
pitable beggar of today. he w.
yesterday revelIed in gorgeous
luxury, may to-day envy the '" 80.
independence and happiness % ."e
po5r peasant ia his humble .ol~
tage. Stocks may become value'ess'
banks may fail, treasures ihas oe
emptied, fortunes may VANISH :" q"
hour, but he who possesses enalac-
ter based on honor. truth, anu ','soe'
has capital that ia as solid anu URN
as the everlasting hills.
The Athenians reared magnln>
cent statue to the memory OF -f'o2,
and placed a slave on a pedastal to
show that the road to fame ana non
or was free to all. And America has
erected monumens ell along her
pathway, in the ives and grand
achievements of be poor, but heroic
men. In the gal by of illustricds
names that st1ihahe s1panent of
| Americas glory and greatness. none
shine with more brilliant iustre, than
those of her self-made men.
But there are other stars that. rise
above the horizon and beam with
hopeful promise, and SOON they begin
to waue, and flicker and finally sink
back into the darkness of oblivion.
Young men frequently make the fatal
mistake of relying on wealth and its
influence, or the prestige ofgenealogy;
disdaining those Divinely appointed
means which alone can place them on
the royal road to success. Too proud
to work, either with brain or hand,
he sinks into the horrible depths of
self degradation and self wrought
ruin; and the patriot, the philanthro.
pist and the christian, bend over this
wreck of splendid opportunity, of in
tellect aud of character, and exclaim:
Alas! he, too, IS a self-made man
All! the towering spirits, that have
been stripped oft heir plumage, by
this cowardly, unmanly dread Of
labor!
We live in an age when nothing
succeedslika 6cees and nothing fails
like failure. Improve these golden
moments, utilize your splendid OPP
portunities TO prepare yourselves for
the stern duties which await you.
Remember that the road to success,
is not the one that satisfies the am
bition of the kid-gloved jockey, as he
draws the rein over fast and fancy
horse. Remember that the road to
respectability, 70 usefulness and to
honor, does not cad out at the back
door of groggerl b, gambling saloons
s ',on other ha"a Of vice and d's''' a
monit]3h 70 {! philippians, presents
a beautiful p ef,r the study of
the young ma whatsoever things
are true, what aver things are hon
est, whatsoever things are just, what
soever things are pure. whatsoever
things are lovely, whatsoever things
are Of good report; if there be any
virtue, and if there be any praise,
think on these things" Let all your
thoughts, emotions and impulses, be
those of high-toned gentleman.
1t is not the bold and rugged out>
lines of craggy peaks, but the deli
cate blending of tints and shadows,
that gives charm and beauty and
harmony to the landscape. So the
blending of little words and deeds of
courtesy, of sympathy and benevo-
lence, makes upte grand aggregate on
which rests the symmetrical and low
able character, which challenges alike
the respect of the vicious and the adj
miration of the virtuous, and stamps
the mana genthman.
The immortal lee, in his humble
tent ON the snow clad plains of the
Rapidan, dividing generously his
rations with the sick and wounded
of his army, was no less great and
glorious as gentleman, than when
he rode to victory as the grandest
Captain of the age. Sir Philip Sid
ney in declining, with parched lips,
the flask of water in favor OF ole of
his wounded men, was great and
glorious as gentleman, as when he
rode the superb leader on the fatal
field of Sutphen.
Among all the busy, moving, rush
ing millions in the wosld, mission
is assigned to yoes Seek it, find it
and fulfill it. BE high toned and
honorable in all things. The world
admires and esseems it. Have
honestly entertained convictions.
Have opinions of your own and have
the manliness to asow them, if nee.
essary. The weakness and moral
cowardice of the man, is pitiable, if
not despicable, who never has an
opinion, until he frst ascertains the
opinions of all around him. His life
is a failure. He il mere drift wood,
dead and WORTHLESS, t1oating on the