The Press., 1885-07-09
(flartford Courant.) NOT so BAD AS REPRESENTED

f
 ,. Hon. Frederick Billings, one of the most respected rich -men in the United States, is quoted by the New York Tribune IS say ing :- +ss.a
 l If were young man just starting out in fife, though were granted at the start all the experience which rather eventful life has brought me, should be in absolute doubt | where to turn or what to do.
 l His remark has caused good d al of comment, and has Set many ptopl. to meditating upon the difficulties hat bes t boys now starting out ill life Bnt it is a question whether things really are so very different from formerly First of all it IS t. be remembered That MT. Billingsspeaks with sall the experience which a rather eventful life' has brought him.. Fms in itself is likely to make a man slow to ad- wise 8 youth. Experience, if it teaches anything, teaches the danger of advising Life, as a man looks back upon it, seems SD shaped and fashioned by what at their time appeared to be only trifles that the position of guide is one to be avoided not assumed. It is very possible that a train of reflection of that sort, combined per haps with s touch of dyspepsia, led to this very hopeless remark which has been quoted. ... ... .
 The fact IS that ten or twenty years ago there was the same hopeless outlook Every place was full The young mans opportunity had gone by twenty years al ready. It is the worlds way of talking. fisherman of this city went out fronting as boy about twenty years ago upon one of the streams not ten miles from Hartford. The kindly owner of the land on which he trespassed strolled out and mounted the fence, ridiculed the little fish that were caught and explained that fshiu' was all gone, but twenty years ago there was a half-pounder in every pool. Within year or two the same fisherman revisited the brook, pulled out the fingerling trout as before, and was informed as before that fishin' was all gone, but twenty years ago there was a half-ponnder in every pool. Twenty years had made no change in the fishin', and then, as twenty years previous, the halcyon days were at a period of twen- ty years further off, This is only small incident, but it has it's suggestive force. It shows how people look at things. It is true that circumstances differ as the de- cades roll by. It is true that there is less individual assertion now, and that yonng men in starting out work for others and so indirectly for themselves. They have to wait longer for advancement and are long CT in becoming their own masters. It must be so in civilization that is growing old and in communities that have arpar- ently reached their growth. But in just such places the advancement is the more worth waiting for, and the success when it comes the more enjoyable. . l But, be all that as it may, the young men are wanted As individuals crowd each other in the pressure of competition so do rival interests, and for success the very best working force is needed Keen managers in self-defense are all the while on the lookout for good material, and the boy who is willing to begin at the bot tom is pretty sure to be able to get in somewhere. It must be so, for, what ever the business depression, death goes on making vacancies, and fresh ex- agencies keep up their demand for new ma- terial. And besides that, jpdging by the result, business does in one way or anoth- CT absorb the annual flood of boys who are set to work for themselves We do not speak especially of college students, though it is the proper thing at commencement season to write as if they were the only youth in the country. The.-' really are but small part of the growing population, and it does happen that each year nearly all those who want something to do get it.
 It may not be what they want, but they get a chance to begin, to earn, to work, and to find out for themselves and for oth- CTS what they are good for Once started, the question of their success hinges on the opportunities they get and the use they make of them. ....... *. .-...