The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-09-26

Reputation, power, and the consideration
which comes of ability, attainments, and
good character are what the man from
thirty to seventy covets. Nothing but the
well-spent years of early life can secure
them.
| would keep you from no enjoyments
suited to your age which are not injurious
to your real happiness and your future
success.
You have health and good constitu
ton, and you have no inherited tendencies
to any vice. 1t is easy for you to do right
and it will be objectionable if you go astray
l rejoice to find that profanity is con
sidered vulgar in England, 1t is vulgar
everywhere During the two years that ]
resided in England l never heard profane
word from gentleman. Among the young
men slang seemed to be abundant [ hope
that it does not prevail at the university
Remember that when you are twenty
five you will desire what others value at
that age, and so at every future stage Of
life. | mean what the higher order Of
men value.
Live each year in the way which will
best fit you for the next year, and thus you
will lead happy life-a life which will
secure to you the happier life to come.
You start with every advantage, but for
get not that yours are advantages suited to
America, not suited to England No one
has superior rank or higher social position
than you in America In England their
ancient system of primogeniture and title
gives precedence and outward respect, in a
large degree, irrespective of merit. It is
not so with US, and 1 am very glad. Quar-
rel not at all with their system; they seem
to like it. But never covet it, and never
commit the silly snobbery of pretending to
prefer it to the system of your own country.
The social life of England is very charm
ing, and their plan of leaving all land to
the eldest son has built up vast estates,
adorned and dignifed with castles and
halls filled with art and luxury and refined
taste; but all this is at the sacrifice of many
human rights which we value.
Nothing like this possible in America,
and it will not always last in England.
The substratum of the English character
is solid honest, truthful, and, in the main,
just. Our best traits are heritage from
that race, but [ feel quite sure that, with
all our faults, we are rapidly improving
upon our English sires, and that we shall
become quite the superior people as a
whole.
Feel always manly pride that you are
an American, and that your future is here.
There is not, in all historic time, a
grander record than that of the United
States. Before the nation was hundred
years old great civil war broke out, and
the Nation alone had at one time more
than a million of armed men in the field
and the South had vast armies also. After
four years of terrible war more than ,200,-
600 soldiers were disbanded almost in a
day They returned to the peaceful indus
tries of civil lie without murmur, without
disorder, and without crime Under our
system of government they had learned to
govern themselves. Even in the madness
of the conflict, when the President was as
sassinated, the Government moved on with
out even ripple of disturbance. More
than three thousand millions of debt was
created, and the paper money was in such
discredit that one gold dollar would buy
two dollars and seventy cents of the paper
But as soon as the war ended we went
bravely to work, paid off one-third of oul
vast debt, and now a paper dollar will buy
a gold dollar in any part of the country
and our national credit is of the highest
grade. We have finished more than 75,-
900 miles of railway, revived our industries
increased in population, and our prosperity
is such that our annual income is greater
than that of any nation on the earth.
| have a letter from the dean to-day, il
which he says: "Your son S improvement
has really astonished me-" Continue tc
astonish the dean and delight me.
This shows that you have the ability
and that there will be no excuse and nc
pardon if you are not faithful in the future
From time to time [ shall hear from the
dean, and also from your tutor, and they
will tell me all and only the truth, They
will reveal your shortcomings, if you have
them, as we'll as your merits, Your accept
too many invitations from your fellow
students. This will weaken your energies
and prevent your success; besides, you vii
become bore, which avoid as you would
''the plague" Short visits do not bore,
When we last met you did not carry
yourself erect. You seemed to think thai
you were awkwardly tall, and you tried tt
look shorter. This is a mistake. You are
nineteen years old and scarce more thar
six feet high; that is not too tall; but if you
grow to any height, carry yourself erect.
When you have done the duties of the
day, and done them well, take your pleas
ure which will be all the more keen; anc
when you have well finished the labors Of
the term you will enjoy the vacation F;
thousand times the more by reason of YOU
successful toll
[ do not need, in this letter, to repea
the warnings against those petty vices
temptations, and follies of which l have ST
often spoken.
l will print this because | wish you Il
read it more than once.
God bless and keep and guide my boy.
Your ever devoted FATHER.