The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-01-24
Come With the Crowd.


See here, nv boyl The bells have
rung the old year out and the new one
in and a new watch has come on deck.
If you think you are going right along
in the same old grooves, while the rest
of us are making changes, you are up a
tree. You've got to toe the mark along
with the remainder of the world.
Now, then; you are beginning life.
You are from sixteen to twenty-one
years old. You think you know all
about it, but the fact is you aren't more
than half-baked yet. What you don't
know would cover all Lake Erie, while
your worldly wisdom wouldn't knock
an owl off his perch. Suppose you
make resolve to begin the year 1884
by not knowing more than half as much
as Plato, Diogenes and other wise men.
If YOU should condescend to admit that
YOU didn't even know more than your
own father, it wouldn't greatly affect
your general standing with the world.
Perhaps YOU smoke and chew. What
for? What's the use of paying out 500
year to insure bad breath, headaches,
red ewes, decayed teeth and nervous de-
bility, when you can secure a broken
leg, which is far nicer, by a tumble
down stairs? Chewing is a vicious,
nasty habit. Smoking affects the brain
and nerves and stomach. We admit
that a young chap of your age look
like a great statesman when he comes
down the avenue putting away at five
cent grab, but suppose you didn't look
like anybody but yourself?
Maybe you drink little; very prob
ably YOU do. A young man of your
age is apt to think it smart to guzzle
down lager and tipple wine, but there's
where he is lame. Even old drunkards
would caution you against the practice.
Drink not only wastes money, but it
sewers friendships, breeds anger, brings
about quarrels, and there is no end to
the train of wretchedness it entails.
Yes, great lawye rs, statesmen, poets
and philosophers drink, but they lose
respect by it. Men have = contempt
for their weakness, and the world reads
their epitaphs with sneers. Don't make
a persimmon of yourself because some
one else has.
Played poker or faro yet? If so, we
hope you got such skinning as will
asst you your lifetime. Let gambling
alone. Fight as shy of gambling rooms
as YOU would of mad dog. People
tell you about luck. That's all bOsh.
The gambler has you by the throat the
moment you enter his door. You can't
make any money out of him, but he will
see to it that you add to his capital.
Now, as to your personal traits. You
may have come naturally by your
egotism, but keep it in check. The
world in general looks upon it as dis,
ease. Even if you know all you think
YOU know the rest of us won't admit it.
Men hate boosters and braggarts.
Bluntness is a good thing sometimes;
sometimes it isn't Civility and a con-
scientious regard for other peoples
feelings are trump cards in the game OF
life. Be charitable without encourag-
ing vice; be honest in your opinions,
but don't imagine that it is your duty
to break up family or start church
scandal; in your dealings be square.
You may lose by it for time, but when
the public comes to understand that
you are Just and upright man you'll
make money and keep friends as well.
In fact, young man, suppose you
square up with your tailor, pay the
balance at your boot-makers, part your
hair on the side and fall into procession
with the rest of US. We don't claim tC
be pretty, and we don't own all the
brains in the country, but we can teach
you several things that may come use
ful in fnture wears. and we guarantee
to prove that horse sense and square
dealing are certain to pay semi-annua
dividend. Detroit Free Press.