The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1883-05-30
False Teaching Of Boys.

made 10 q gentleman who, when he
stood before school boys 70 address
them, stimulated them by telling
them that il they worked hard 10
school and afterwards, they might
one day be Mayor Of the city, Gov.
eFnor Of the State and President Of
the United States. He also told
them that richmen Of the coun.
Try were orce poor, and byindustry,
perseverance, and hard work had
made millions Of money, and we're
now able lolise like nabobs Thus
be taught the boys to aim at high
Office and great wealth as the true
measure Of success.
This description brings wildly
before me an incident which occur.
red in New York some years ago.
A mission school, in which was
interested, celebrated its removal
TO better quarters. Several gentle.
men addressed the school. One Of
them employed the arguments and
almost the very language quoted
above. Another told them, "there
was no virtue or merit in Office or
money, and neither Of them was a
fit object Of pursuit as an end; they
are to be sought only as the means
of accomplishing something for the
good Of others and the glory Of
Cod"
The first speaker had supported
his appeal to the ayariCe and am.
bition Of the boys before him, by
relating shis story: He said mer.
chant from the country requested
to be introduced at one of the city
banks, and after an interview with
the President, said on going out,
"what n superior lnan the Presi.
dent isp
"Now, boys" pnid the speaker,
al replied to my friend, that bank
President was once poor little
boy, employed to sweep out the
bank, and has risen by talents and
toll TO be rich and great man,
So may any of you become a bank
President, or great merchant, or
a member Of Congress" A third
speaker then addressed the school,
who told the following anecdote
az an offset to the former:
He entitled it the "sad story of a
boy who was ruined by false teach
ing at a mission school"
He said there was once a boy
whose teacher talked to him much
about getting on in tho world, be.
coming rich and great. AT length
his mind was fired with two mons
ter passions, ayarice and ambition
he wantedtobe rich and he want.
ed to go to Congress. lie thought
of it continually; ho could see no
method Of accomplishing his pur,
poses; years passed away, and yet
his longings we're unqualified; he
remained poor and obscure, He
became desperate; he determined to
have money by some means, and
with that to make his way to the
capitol. lie brooded over the mat.
ter day and night, his whole nature
was absorbed in the desire for rich.
es and power, At length a fatal
opportunity offered, and in an evil
hour, frantic with the thirst for
gold and office, he committed rob
berry TO u large amount, and as he
clutched the wages Of crime he
thought he touched the first step
in the ladder of fame and wealth.
Visions of future ease and distinct.
ION rose before himyhe spurned the
low and sorbid past, and glowed
with hopes Of the future.
But, alasIthc hand of justice sud
denly arrested him, blighted all his
fond, delusivo prospects, and cast
him down into the depths Of DIES.
pair and misery, Thatyoung man
instead Of gracing the halls Of leg
lslation, is now u convict in the
Safes prison,
His former teacher heard Of it
aud went to see him. lie express,
cd much sympathy with the young
man, and asked how he could have
forgotten the instructions of the
Sunday School and committed a
crime which had brought him into
wretchedness.
Judge Of his surprise and horror
when the unhappy criminal turn
ed on him bitterly aud charged him
with being the author Of his mis-.
fortunes. you taught me-" he
said, "to regard the pursuit Of mo,
ney aud power as the chief ain Of
life. | tried to reach it honestly