Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-09
Cabinet Minister or Lord Chancellor
for such reasons.

4
The years Of youth are short, and
The pleasures Of youth perish in manly
life. Reputation, power, and the con-
sideration which comes Of ability, at
tainments, and good character are what
the man from thirty to seventy covets.
Nothing but the well-spent years OF
early life can secure them.
l would keep you from no enjoy
ments 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 tenden-
cies to any vice. 1t is easy for you to
DO right, and it will be objectionable if
you 60 sstray.
rejoice to find that profanity is con-
sidered vulgar in England. 1t is vulgar
everywhere. During the two years that
/ 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 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
forget not that yours are advantages
suited to America, not suited to Eng
land. No one has superior rank or
higher social position than you in
America. In England their ancient
system Of primogcniture and title gives
precedence and outward respect, in a
large degree, irrespective of merit. 1t
is not so with US, and am very glad.
Quarrel not at all with their system;
they seem to like it. But never coyet
it, and never commit the silly snobbery
Of pretending to prefer it to the system
vi JOuI OWN COunlI1s
The social life of England is very
charming, and their plan of leaving all
land to the eldest son has built up vast
estates, adorned and dignifed with cas-
ties 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 is 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 a
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 az a whole.
Feel always manly pride that you
are an American, and that your future
is here.
There is not, in all historic time,
grander record than that of the United
States. Before the nation was hun
bred years old a 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 ter
rible war, more than 1000, 900 soldiers
were disbanded almostin a day. They
returned to the peaceful industries of
civil life without murmur, without
disorder, and without crime. I'm
der our system of government they
had learned to govern them
selves. Even in the madness
of the conflict, when the President was
sssassinated, the Government moved on
without even ripple Of disturbance.
More than three thousand millions Of
debt was created, and the paper money
was in such discredit that one gold dol
lar 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 our vast debt, and
now a paper dollar will buy gold dol
lar in any part of the country, and our
national credit is of the highest grade.
We have finished more than $4,000
miles Of railway, revived our indus
tries, increased in population, and our
prosperity is such that our annual in
come is greater than that Of any nation
on the earth.
| have letter from the dean to-day,
in which he says: "Your sons i'm
provement has really astonished me-"
| Continue to astoDiSh the dean and de-
| light me.
This shows that you have the ability,
and that there will be no excuse and
no 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.
You accept too many invitations from
your fellov-students. This will weaken
your energies and prevent your sue
cess 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 a mis-
take. 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
pleasure, which will be all the more
keen; and when you have well finished
the labors of the term you will enjoy
the vacation thousand times the more
by reason Of your successful toll.
| do not need, in this letter, to re-
peat the warnings against those petty
vices, temptations, and follies of which
have so often spoken.
l will print this because | wish you
to read it more than once.
| God bless and keep and guide my
boy.
Your ever devoted FATHER.
Here and There.