The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-03-20
Toa Tough Boy.
IBos,ou Hransetipt.l

Young man, l have watched you with unqualified admiration. The 6rst time my eyes heheld you l saw at glance that the aim aud object of your exist ence was to be q tough boy, and you have since been my daily study. and each day has added to my delight in ob- serving the rapid strides you are making towards your high ennobling ideal am pleased at the mar,yr-like devs. ton with which you struggle with the cigar at which your face pales, your head reels and your stomach trembles, but to which you adhere nevertheless, with a more than Spartan h,mnesS
 Again am happy at the 6ne. maniy instinct which leads you to mingle choice slang and elcgan, profanity with your i'm. proving conversation, and feel certain that the ladies, whom you are naturally proud to have as auditors, must wish that you were their own offspring. or at least that their boys could have the bene- 1t of your exemplary companionship,
 l presume that you are up to the state of liquor also. for cannot think that one so unmistably and praiseworthy tough as you appear can have neglected so impor. AaAA &0 Ss&HC0N NV N0k&uGDA SS w tNAU drink now and then. and possibly oc. casionally to get upsy. Ot course you do not like the taste ot liquor any more than you delight in the il tvor of tobacco. understand that per ec,ly. and honor you all the more for your self-denial. No worthy object can be achieved without more or less ot discomfort; and make sure that one day you will be a great de- stroycS of tobacco and competent dTuukArd.
 Young man, the path which you have marked out for yourself in lite is perhaps not wholly without its rough and rugged places. but 1t Is tull of promise for your self and others also
 The ruddy glow in your cheeks which oesrays your youth which ss a tough you are naturally ashamed will shortly tuin to the livid hue which marks the Man, with capital NJ. and your elastic step will afseT time mAteTia,iSe into the elegant touch of that apotheosis of the tough boy the Dead Beat Your peaEly teeth will long ere then have turned to 4 beautiful amber, or still moro beautiful | jet, if, indeed, you have not succeeded h casting them from you as reminders of childhood, and, therefore, unworthy oi so transcendent a character as yourself
 In that happy day you will have risen above the few weaknesses which yet ad here to you. You will have overcome the foolish pride which causes you to wash your face every day of your lie and which leads you to wear clothing fashionable in cut and devoid of tatters You will also have r,sen above the soSdid ambition of securing a name and place in the world, or of reaching that station of afiidence of which in your childish moments you still dream. h . word, you will have become the perfect being the butterfly of which you are as yet C beg your pardon) but the ugly grub And then the good you are des,incd to accomplish. in fsw years you ws!l have succeeded tn demorailIing your stomach. and racking your nerves, and wearing ou, your heart, and, in short. knocking out your entire physicai system. that you will be the making of the for tunes of a half score of doctoss, and should you succeed in 6ad,ng 6 youas woman f)ol enough to marry you, and should you have children, it will be your proud s.usfaction to know that your greatness shall live alter you and that your childreh, thanks to their parents toughness, shall in their turn greatly lid in making the medical profession a prof table one, % long or, rather, so short as they shall live.
 Yes young man, you are noble crsa- ture. Keep on in your glorious career, and when your ep,taph is written. a few years hence, let it consist only of these simple but proud wor4s, He vas a