Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-03-23

Under the above caption Miss Marion
E. Potter writes bright article in the
Palladium for March, college paper
published by the faculty of St. Mary's
school at Knoxville. The young lady's
conclusions are apt and cogent and she
very effectively combats the advice given
by Horace Greeley. and after reading her
arguments one would almost doubt the
wisdom of following his popular iDjunc>
ton: go west young man and grow mp
with the country" She says:
History gives many illustrations of the
tendency Ia mankind to migrate from
place to place, In search of unbounded
wealth. ideal state of society, and match :
less climate. A state of society which
knows 10 small boy, no book agents, no
sewing society; climate which knows
no mosquitoes. no slippery pavements. no
epidemic; where one may enjoy the adj
vantages of summer without feeling
warm. and the spots of winter without
feeling cold. The land must be also roll
ing in riches.
Fortune. men say, oft gives too mnch to many,
And yet, she never gave enough to any,
This spirit of discomfort is encouraged
in our own land. People say, go
West, young man, and grow up with the
country" and no one dares even to hint
that the step is unadvisable.
First, il is necessary to show it, to be
wrong from money standpoint: else,
alas, all other argument will be in vain.
II will be granted that the greater cost
of living in the west countcrbalanCes the
higher wages. On the other hand, in
the east, the young man has the advan-
tage of more various openings, one OF
which must surely suit his ability and his
taste. And it is very important that We
employ those faculties which promise the
best results. else failure is probable In
a new country the industries are few, and
men are forced into occupations for
which they are not At. The hawk can>
not be an eagle, nor the OK horse; the
mechanic cannot be a doctor, nor the
lawyer a blacksmith. A man cannot be
what ne is not. In the west we are apt
to find many wasting their energies in
this way. The young man in the east, il
he remain at home, has also the benefit of
the cor tidence and patronage Of friends
who have known him from his child
hood. The advice of such friends is in
valuable 10 one making a start in bust
ness. Especially is it foolish to leave
ones home, when n trade or Il profession
has been undertaken. "a rolling stone
gathers no moss"
Perseverance is the road to riches as it
is to many another desirable thing,
But if a young man does not go west
for wealth, perhaps he should 60 for So
cal Improvement Is western society
more favorable to such developments
than eastern? Of course, to MS, the west
means the new country. Is the state OF
society in II new country conducive to
gentle and courteous mannersl The
mode of living is necessarily rude, and
wanting in ceremony, and gruf manners
is the natural consequence. Invariably
a gentleman, western bred, lacks the pol
ish and finish of the average eastern gen
tleman. Now a conformity to social
usage is most necessary. There are some
who scott at form, and try to avoid it,
which of course is impossible. Form is
essential in every phase of life-as essen-
tial as the shell is TO the egg; 10 deny
this is folly. Now, if gentle manners
are so important, how necessary it is that
our associations be conducive to their
requirement.
Under this head may be placed educa-
tional advantages. Leaening is conferred
in the east. There are many colleges of
great merit, while the contact with men
Of letters incites q zeal for study.