The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1882-12-07
Goine West.

| lHe NouHk mhu III thc oiuct cohmuhi-
ties OF the east, reading Of the marvellous
growth OF this new western country, often
asks himself il he could not wisely join the
ranks OF the next annual migration west
No doubt thequestion, "Shall go West9'
is the uppermost problem in the minds OF
thousands Of the young men OF the east.
who have their careers 10 make. and who
have not yet gained sure aud promising
footing in the business world. II is a
question which each must answer for him
self, and concerning which no advice can
be given that would be OF universal appli-
cation. II would bea grievous mistake to
suppose that change Ct longitude alone In
sures success. Idleness, incompetency
and neryeless, drifting disposition have
no better chance in Montana than in Mas
sachusetts. Indeed, there are some men
who run along fairly we'll in the east in
the groove Of custom aud established &C.
quaintance and business connections, who
would make lamcniable shipwreck il set
adrift in new western community.
On the other hand, the chances Tor a
young man Of ordinary pluck and energy
are unuuestionably much better in the
west than in the east He shares the ad-
vantages Of being among tho first to open
fresh store house Of natural wealth. He
gets the first dividend on the increase OF
value resulting from bringing population
upon the soil. The landthe buys for four
or five dollars an acre or gets for nothing
by homestead settlement soon becomes
worth ten or fifteen. II he embarks in
trade ia ..y .asabanical pursuit. his
wares or his services are in brisk demand,
because all the newcomers around him re.
quire goods and implements. Then there
is a certain stimulus in the moral atmos.
phere caused by the ambitions and ener-
gies OF new community full OF hope and
activity, which makes hardships easy to
bear ard causes bnoyancy Of spirits.
Western people find it hard to make
their friends in the east understand what
they mean when they speak Of the differ
ence in the business and social tone OF the
two sections. 1t is difference TO be felt
rather than defined. There is vastly more
hope per capita Of the population in new
communities than old. and the immigrant
feels at once the resulting stimulus 1t
braces up the listless and desponding,
and makes even the most active man con.
Glade that there is deal more in him in
the way OF work and ideas than he had
supposed. Many ayoung man who would
have remained clerk or small l-salaried
employee OF some kind all his life had he
stayed in the east, becomes, among the
larger opportunities OF the west, "lead-
ing citizen" and the owner OF fine farm
or prosperous business.
The young man going west can there
fore count upon the opportunities OF OBJ
tanning good land at small cost, the bus
mess openings growing out OF the wants OF
a now community and the moral incentive
that comes from contact with hopeful, en-
terprising people. II he does not succeed
iu gaining full measure Of Independence
in the course Of ten years, the reason will
lie in his own disposition. He will either
lack energy and capacity, or he will be 80
much the creature OF habit and so thor.
oughly the outgrowth Of an older ciyiliz-
alton that he cannot adjust himself TO tho
new environments. There are men m well
as trees that will not thrive when trans.
planted The intending emigrant will do
well to study his disposition carefully and
make sure that he is not Of that kind. -
The oeaiwy