National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-07-31
ADVICE TO YOUNG MEN.
PhiIosoph'o Bob Burdotte Addresses
the Youth OF the Land on Politics
A Good Way Of Putting Plain
Truths,

the Youth OF the Land on Politics
A Good Way Of Putting Plain
Truths.
burlington Hdwtcyc,
Yes, my son, there are men who In the
morning Of their lives, tho brightest,
strongest, hravcst days they have to live,
90 through vicious courses and come out
reformed aud all right at last. There are
some men who do this. Once in awhile
you will find one; and you think you will
do just as no did. But tho hundred or
tho thousand men who started In with
him never got through The swimmers
who plunged into that turbulent sea OF
dissipation and recklossness with him
never gained tho shore again, but went
down in the combing pillows and tho
yeasty brcakcrsi How about them
Aren't you more than likely to DO ono of
tho multitude than you arc TO BIO the
exception l toll you, my boy, ten young
fellows OF your age may embark together
in the prodigal business, with good capital
and tho usual stock of red paint for mum.
cipal decorative purposes; thor hands are
steady, their brains arc clear, their hearts
arc brave, and they are ambitious and
hopeful and earnest; they only want to
have their racket and see the town before
thoy settle down to hard, steady work.
Thoy are not going 20 be drunkards.
They're all right; thoy don't believe in
this sort OF thing Mt oil, but they are
young aud It's quiet on tho farm with
nobody but tho old folks and tho elder
brother, aud they want to travel and 500
the world n little before they become good
citizens, props Of society, and pillars of
tho church. And by and by, whom the
state and society mud tho church wants
them aud moods thcm, we look for tho ten,
and thoro are not found, returning to give
glory to God for mercy and saving strength
aud cheering grace, save the stranger,
tho Samaritan. Aud wo ask, Where arc
tho nine2" My dear boy, there is no
more hopo for tho stranger for the street
walt, born In huunts Of viCo and walking
in its ways all his life, thun there is for
tho yonug man, who born in tho light
and taught In the ways of uprightnoss.
deliberately turns his back upon wisdom
and virtue, and intelligently makes vice
his choice. Tho stranger, charmed with
purity and health and cleanliness so
new aud beautiful to him, comes back,
but tho nine, my SOM
Now. my boys, be sensible in this mat
ter. You say, "Oh, we'll, I'll take the
chances on IT," VOL, now. that's all
right. Como, you and l are mon of the
world. we are reasonable men, we'll
take tho chances on IT," That's all |
ask you to do. Just take the chances on
IL" as You do on tho horse race, tho turn
Of card, on tho election, on tho prize fight.
the regatta, tho walking match. Just
give your moral conduct, your higher
life, your character, your good name,
your hopes aud ambitions an oven show
with the horse race and draw poker and
tho slugging match. | won't ovou ask
you to do better than that Just give them
Il fair fold and no favor, and may tho
best one win. At tho horse race do
you deliberately buy one chance in
ten in the pools? DO you put your
money oh the horse that has a record Of
ten races, nine of which he lost2 True
you back your favorito against the field
sometimes, but the favoritc isn't the horse
with the losing record. You don't draw
to pokor hand that you know won't I'll
once in ton times; not if you can just as
vol draw to something that Is dead suro
thing nino times out of ten. You don't
bot on the last man in tho walking match
Of course, in all games OF chance and
athletic contests and games of skill-and
they all 20 in tho same boat in these days
the chances are always against you, but
you don't select the worst ones. do your
Now DO honest, and give yourself as good
a chance in life Us you do at tho horse
race.
And thCn-gctting tired? Well, just
one word and I'll let you so. In three
card monte, in tho poker room, at tho
faro bank, ut the horse race, at the walk
ing match, in tho grand lottery, in the
little bunco scheme, who takes the
chanccs" Honest, now, who takes the
chanccsY Yes my son, the better every
time; tho pool buyers the people in tho
grand stand, the ticket holders. the Wis
itors from the country, the fools. And
who rakcs IN tho pile? Who gathers tho
stamps You arc correct; the dealer;
tho bunco stecrcr, the managers of tho
lottery, tho poker sharp, They don't
take tho chances" my sou. They arc
"childrcn of this world" who "aro in
their generation wiser than tho children
of light" They do not "take tho
chanches." They let you and mo "tako
tho chances" aud they take tho pot"
You may so, my son. Have some sense.
Not too much. You needn't burden
yourself with moro than you can manage.
A few grains OF sonse is as much rs most
men mood, and more. Oh, tons moro than
a great many men have. IL, j. b.