The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-12-27


despite the prayers and the eeaxings of his
fond parents, deyelopsd no very marked re-
ligioIs traits. Filling temporary vacancy in
his fathers warereens, he eyinGed such a
lively turn for business, and such growing
distaste for his collegiate studies, that his
father and mother Surrendered, concluding it
was better, even for the church. that their son
should be a high minded, honorable merchant
than a half-hearted pulpit drone
When watching the movements of many
mistaken parents, we are reminded of the pa
thetie scenes of theI Iimbeeie asylums, where
the unfortunate boys and girls sit for hours
before long tables patiently trying to make
square blocks fit into round holes. Study the
bent of your boys, and if they have got the
stuff IN them to make successful engineers and
machinists, do not dwarf them to the measure
of the police lawyer and the party hack by
affording them instruction in everything but
that which they should know.
1t is good thing for this country that so
many boys are so early thrown upon their own
resources and certainly it is often good thing
for the boys. General William Sooy Smith,
the eminent civil engineer, was thrown on his
own resources at fourteen with fourteen shii-
lings in his pocket. But he attained to eminence
in his self-chosen profession, has acquired
comfortable fortune and an honorable name,
and has had the good sense to bring up son to
the same high destiny.
Colonel ]. Eondit Smith, distinguished in the
quartermaster's service in the Western Army
and Vanderbilts right-hand man. who died
recently in New York, knew the advantages of
work for boys and while the sons of other rich
railroad princes were enjoying their vacations
at Saratoga and other fashionable watering
places, his eldest son was tramping with the
surveyors over the pTairies OF Illinois, at work
on the new railroad which his father so Sue
cessfnlly projected.
The last time we saw Colonel Smith he ex-
pressed himself very strongly upon this sub
ject of work for boys saving that wealth
which pre-empted the American boys from
downright hard work was misfortune to any
family, and he told us of his son, who was
| then upon the survey.
"What position has he, Colonel ?p we asked,
thinking the man who was employing
thousands of men would make his boy at least
a captain of ten.
"What position? Why, he is dragging
understand that he takes his chances with the
rest of them. When he is worth more wages
he will get more pay and better position"
And this from a man in whose homo we had
seen more sumptuous living than in any homo
| west Of the Hudson River. 1t takes level
| headed man TO know that if he would train
his boy to rule he must first teach him to serve.
1t is the man who has worked at the case like
Horace Greeley, VINO makes the greatest editor,
while who ever heard of a great merchant, or
a great inventor, who did not begin at the
lowest round Of the ladder.
The son OF one of the greatest New York
importers is to-day IN the packing room working
with the poorest paid men and drawing the same
| salary, though his father is senior of firm
that does business of ten millions a year. 0,
no. boys, do not be discouraged because you
have TO work. Roll up your sleeves and 30 in
ike Troians You may master success what
ever your surroundings.
CARE OF THE BODY.
A correspondent asks a cure for corns. Try
/ this: Take teaspoopfal Of soda and work into
it soft soap until taielz paste is formed. Then
1 cut out piece Of kid or seft leather, about the
size of a half dollar and in the center make q
round hole as large as the corn. at night be-
| fore going to bed place the leather ovdr the
corn, and over this put thick coating Of
! paste. Cover with more leather and cloth.
Repeat this for three nights in successorI. The
/ fourth morning battle your foot, and " Iih the
| point Of knife lift ont the corn, whilh viii
come out clear, like grain Of rice. Apply
| some kind Of salve, and keepit moist. This is
an old, sure, and certain cure.
Never pare corn, but when it begins to
! scale, take a knife, loosen the edge. and peel
1 it off. To cut hardens the skin and greatly
| aggrayates the trouble. To avoid eorns, have
| easy fitting shoes; neither too large nor too
! small. Bathe your feet often, and peel off the
dead skin or callouses.
QUESTIONS AyD ANSWERS
"Kansas Girl y asks for some instructions In
writing for a paper. First, write town. State,
and date Next, write plainly, on one side Of
| your paper only. Then, remember to dot your
rs, cross your t's; begin your sentences with a
! capital, but never Jse one IN the body of a
sentence unless it is the pronoun J. which
should always be a capital as well as the name
| Of town, State person, battle, or other proper
| name, by which IS meant the name Of one par
! ticular thing, and not one of a class. Study to
say as much as possible IN few words.
HAn Indiana school girl says she is confused
! on her pronouns, and wants US to give her the
| rules. Of course, this cannot all be done at
| once; but the mistakes we note in her letter
| are: " / done it y instead of | did it,'' and
them boys" instead of those boys" as it
should be.
Yes, Daisy ~, we shall always take pleasure
in answering questions; SO write again. In re-
| sponse to your inquiry we would say that you
should always say, OF something past ~ saw
| it," or ~ have seen j" and rot !" see it,"
see it, should only be used in the present tense.
McCaslin Relief Corps, Paolo, Kan, is -four
ishing having begun June 9th with ten mem
bers and now numbering forty-fye. The
ladies surprised the Post with supper at their
| last meeting when speeches, songs and stories
followed, making up happy evening.
/ Mary L., ''Wisconsin girl,n wants to know
| if we would recommend her to read Ben
Hur,p General Lew Wallace's new book To
which we say yes, thousand times over. 1t
is glorious book.
Mrs. F. G. G.: "Tbomas at Chicka1nauga''
will be published in THE TRIBUNE. "Sheri.
| dams Ride" is net one OF Mrs. Sherwood q
poems. 1t was written by L. Buchanan Read an
Ohio poet and artist, some years deceased.
VIII some one answer question or two hui
not about kissing. Is a that has an honorable
discharge from the nine months SERVICE bat after
has no discharge therefrom, and has not dared to
vote for years, st subject 10 become member oi
| the CT. a Il. And is who is known to be an
habitual drunkard? a SOLDIERS WIFE.
nelief Corps Work.
MICHIGAN ENTHUSIASTIC = ANOTHER oHIo
coRps-ALL ALONG THE LINE.
PogAeoS, Nigh. December 10, 1855
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
The installation of officers of A. W. Allen RELIEF
Corps was made public followed by refreSbments
for the benefit of the Corps. have had the honor
to install several Posts in this Department followed
by public services, but have seen any society
create such favorable impression the public az
the ladies of Relief Corps, No. 2. The Corps il
wish the prospects of Post IA were as bright. This
| ladies could not have made better selection OF
| officers.
At the conclusion of the installation, Colonel