Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-06-24

but yourself. The world is SO constituted
that it is not in mems power to withhold
respect from lofty character, real ability
and good conduct.
You may be invited to ball or dinner
because you dance or tell a good story; but
no one since the time of Queen Elizabeth
has been made cabinet minister or lord
chancellor for such reasons.
The years of youth are short, and the
pleasures Of youth perish in manly life.
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
these.
] would keep you from no enjoyments
suited to your age which are not injurious
to your real happiness and your success.
You have health and good constitution,
and you have no inherited tendencies to
any vice. It is easy for you to do right,
and it will be objectionable if you 90 as
tray.
rejoice to find that profanity is consid-
cred vulgar in England. It is lEulgar
everywhere. During the two years that 1
resided in England never heard profane
word from a gentleman. Among the
young men, slang seemed to be abundant.
hope that it does not prevail at the uni
versity.
Remember that when you are twenty-five
you will desire what others value at that
age, and so at every future stage of life. I
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; life which will Sc
cure to you the happier life to come.
You will start with every advantage; but
forget not that yours are advantages Suited
to America, not suited to England. No
one has superior rank or higher social po-
sition than you in America. In England
their ancient system Of primogeniture and
title gives precedence and outward respect,
in large degree, irrespective of merit. 1t
is not so with us, and I am very glad.
Quarrel not at all with their system; they
seem to like j.. But never cOvet it, and
never commit the silly snobbery of per-
tending 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 filed with art and luxury and refined
taste; but all this is at the sacrifice of
many human rights which we value.
Nothing like this is possible in Ameri-
ca; 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 North 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 twelve
hundred thousand soldiers were disbanded
almost in day. They returned to the
peaceful industries of civil life without a
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 assinated, the govern
ment moved on without even ripple of
disturbance. More than three thousand
million 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 so soon as the
war ended we went bravely to work, paid
off one-third of our vast debt, and now a
paper dollar will buy gold dollar in any
part OF the country, and our national credit
is of the highest grade. We have finished
more than seventy-fve thousand 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.
I have letter from the Dean to-day, in
which he says, ''Your sons improvement
has really astonished me-" Continue to
astonish the Dean and delight me.
This shows that you have the ability and
if you are not faithful in the future
From time to time I 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, it you have
them, as well as your merits. You accept
too many invitations from your FELLOWSHIP
dents. This will weaken your energies
and prevent your success, besides, you will
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 that
you were awkwardly tall, and you tried to
look shorter; this is mistake; you are
nineteen years old and scarce more than
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
ures, which will be all the more keen, and
when you have finished the labors of the
term, you will enjoy the vacation thou
sand times the more by reason of your sue
cessful toll.
I do not need, in this letter, to repeat
the warnings against those petty vices,
temptations, and follies of which 1 have SO
often spoken.
I will print this because I wish you to
read it more than once.
God bless and keep and guide my boy.
Your ever devoted
III