The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-10-01
The Little Gray Cabin.
rom the Youths Companion.

From the Youths Companion.
An English author lately in this
country, while looking over book of
biographies OF eminent Americans, re-
marked, "The little gray cabin APP
pears to be the birthplace of all your
great men," pointing to picture of a
four-roomed frame dwelling, such as
may be seen in every village from
Maine to California, and which is
usually tenanted by the poorer class
OF mechanics and laborers. In such q
| dwelling Lincoln, Grant, Garfield,
Blaine, Jeremiah Black, Webster, An
drew Jackson, Hawthorne, Emerson,
Zoe, and among men of affairs,
Astor, Girard and Vanderbilt. were
born. Intact, the great majority OF our
successful financiers, soldiers, iurists,
or statesmen look back to the little
gray cabin" devoid OF luxury or ease,
as the home OF their childhood, where
their ambition and strength had birth.
The ordinary significance and moral
OF this fact, which is preached every
day to the boy readers OF the Com
| panlon who are born in Strengthened
circumstances, is-imitate the purpose
| and energy, industry and courage, YOU
too may be useful and influential.
| You have the same chance as these
men.
Now no good, but much harm, is
| done by false statements, however
| hatterlng. it is not true that the
boy born now III the little gray
cabln, without an extended education.
without capital, or family, or political
influence has the same chance as the
successful men OF past generations.
The latter entered the race with few. if
any, competitors. The boy OF today
finds trained athletes arrayed against
him.
Astor and Girard. for instance,
found out there was money to be
made in dealing in peltry. Their six
pences turned into pounds as if by
mage But the poor boy now who
goes INTO the fur trade finds it q vast.
long-established industry, in which
enormous capital is invested, and
thousands OF experts are employed
lie must begin by carrvinshome pack
ages, and how long will it be before his
energy and ambition will win him the
race against countless other vouno
men who also have energy and ambi.
tlon, ana with them capital knowl.
edge and influence?
Poor lads push their way into the
great cities, encouraging themselves bv
remembering that Ben Franklin land :
ed IN Philadelphia with but a sixpsnce
in his pocket fN''e'
Ihey forget that Philadelphia was
then but a village, and soon after the
neld otthe most important events in
the world. Every citizen who had
any ability found the stage ready
ior nm to play the part OF hero.
frankiln, with his little paper printed
py hand, Immediately found a
nearing from the whole of the
colonies, and was pushed to the
'front.' as director fpublic affairs. Bnt
now soon would a poor boy with a
nand- printed sheet find notice now in
Philadelphia,. or be called to control
her municipal councils?
| '"Ihere is always room on ton >,
ls q popular and true maxim. But
there Is great differencein the ro,,t es
70 the top. Our advice to poor },ovs
who think their place is con to,,n "a
to keep out OF the crowded roads !,
you covet the phenomenal success q
the Astors and the Lincolns, try 10,
IL under the same conditions that
1ney did; IN the rousher, more sparse
" settled regions of the country, wher,
competitors are few, and where .
man OF natural ability is soon not
ed. The South and West now otfs,
these conditions, but they are hart
to be found in our large cities. @>