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

each duty every day. If you let burden
of arrears accumulate it will discourage you
If you have five things to do each day, they
are easily done; but if you put them off with
the idea that you can do fifty on the tenth
day, you will surely fail.
Mind not what others do; they may be
able to waste more time than you can afford
more likely, however, that they will fall
Many in Christ Church do not expect to
make any figure in the world, and have no
ambition but to pass through, and many
affect to despise the diligent.
Ii you have not determined purpose to
take stand as a scholar, and to lead an
earnest, manly life after you leave Oxford,
then leave it now, and save me the morti-
fcation and expense, and yourself the re-
proach and scorn which your countrymen
bestow upon wasted opportunities. Do
we'll, and there is nothing in my power
which would not do to advance you. Be
a failure, through your own Incidence,
weakness and indulgence, and though you
are my only son, should feel that / had
one too many.
Success comes not of spasmodic effort,
but of continued every day work.
Read the fable of the hare and the tor
toise, and profit by its teachings, and re-
member that success, with honor, is one of
the highest pleasures of life. have many
fears lest in companionship with so many
young men of easy fortune, and no ambi-
tion beyond that of the easy life of an Eng
lish gentleman, you lose the sturdy purpose
which should animate you daily. Remem-
Der that America is not England. No one
is born to titled greatness or to any other
greatness here; he who gets it must achieve
it, and he who cannot achieve it in some
form is of small consideration. We have
no idle class, and trust that we may never
have. An idle life is worthless and un-
happy life.
Never go to balls or parties in term time,
and avoid late wines and suppers at all
times; they always injure the health, and
without health life has scarce pleasure.
From his birth Sampson drank neither
wine nor strong drink, and those who are
trained for the ring initiate his example,
During our late war it was conclusively
proved that those who drank water only,
escaped disease and endured fatigue far be-
yond the others.
cannot too strongly urge upon you the
Importance Of early retiring to rest. In
have shown that early sleep and early rising
dl0 dluOuS buO CAlC1Cob l0doOuS VI lOD& u1Cy
and science has revealed the fact that the
magnetic rays Of the sun are widely differ
ent in the morning from those Of the declin-
ing day. As the sun goes down, most of
the beasts and birds seek their place of
rest, many of the flowers and plants and
trees fold their leaves; and the large SUM-
flower, which looks toward the sinking sun
in the west, is turned to greet him in the
morning toward the east. As he approach
es to usher in the day, all nature, from bird
to flower, seems animated with invigorated
life. Then the mind of him who has had
refreshing sleep awakes with it's best
thoughts, it's wisest plans, it's largest capa-
bilities. But this can come only to him who
has spent the midnight hours in Sleep
Sleep restores the nervous forces of the ex-
hausted brain, and the best constitution
will soon be shattered and the best mind
will become unstrung if sleep is neglected.
1t was justly called
"Sore labor's bath.
Balm Of hurt minds. great natures second
course,
Chief nourisher at life's feast.'
Third-That economy is virtue and
that extravaganza is vice, never forget.
You never see man of forty who re-
gretted his economy; you will see plenty
who mourn their early extravaganza.
Lavish expenditure never wins respect. It
may win temporary fatterers, who despise
the fool they flatter. Pay every debt you
owe, but
"Neither borrower or lender be,
For loan oft loses both itself and a friend"
Let not your vanity ever tempt you to
spend money. English young men are
awake; they laugh at the foolish Ameri-
cans who are so lavish. Remember that
your hope, your pride, your life is to be
in America country whose fnture is un-
imagined and whose greatness and power
will surpass any empire in the world. You
are to be part of it.; and, if you do not
one day go as ambassador from the great
est republic that has ever been to the most
powerful and advanced kingdom in Eu-
rope, you will fail of your possibilities and
Of my hopes.
Do not listen to the twaddle about the
decadence of England; she is not in
decay, but In the full vigor of robust man
hood. Great nations do not commence
their fall until their morals are corrupted.
As yet England has sturdy moral sense,
courage, and capacity for self-denia. and for
brave deeds; she believes in God and truth
and Justice. She has many faults and weak
nesses. She is not moving forward with the
colossal power of this younger, bolder,
more rash and fearless America; her civil
lization is in advance of ours, but she has
inherited many prejudices coming down
from old centuries which retard her prog
ress and from which we are free.
I would deprive you of 20 innocent plea
sures; that is no pleasure which Injuries the
health, jades the mind, and makes you feel
meanly and weak and unequal to the labor
which is to fit you for manly life.
Study well whatever the college course
requires, and never say that this or that
will be of no use. All is of use which disci-
plines and strengthens the mind. When
training for boxer, you strike the sand
bag; you would not tell the trainer that
you do not expect to fight sand-bags in
life, and hence you will not strike them
now. You lift weights to strengthen your
hands; you do dry work to strengthen the
head; and remember that you must do
it; no one else can do it for you; as well
might you get some one else to strike the
sand-bag or lift the weight which was to
strengthen your muscle.
Duties well done every day, and difficult
ties surmounted as they arise, grow easier
continually, and finally become lasting en-
joyments.
Never play cardS 1Or money. lt Is no
pleasure to win a fellow-student's money,
and it is a pain to lose your own. The
habit is always bad, and oftentimes fatal;
never acquire it.
Dress like gentleman; never be pecu-
liar or 1ashy, but dress as becomes you,
not as becomes some one else. Never talk
about your expenses or your money, and
never be ashamed to live with economy; on
the contrary, be proud of it. Your bust
ness now is to acquire knowledge, and yol
need not be anxious to display yours, es.
pecially to older men; but always try to
learn of them.
Never say to another what it would be
unpleasant to have him say to you.
Remember that good manners are of
great Importance. Manners should be
frank and easy, with dignity.
Avoid fawning, toadying ways as you
would the foul fend. Never fawn to a
prince or swagger to peasant. Be court
eous and manly everywhere and to every
body.
Let your manner be quiet; nothing is
more underbred than a flSrried address,
with face wrinkled all over with grinning
delight.
The countenance can express pleasure
and welcome without idiotic contortions,