Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-07-12
BILL NYE 10 YOUNG MEN
Small Grains of Advise to the Rising
GeneratiOn-The Advantages Of
The West as Country for
Growing Up in.

y
many more to come, the vital question
with the young American, "Where can I
do the best and soonest succeed?" has
been and will continue to GO right on IN
the vital business. I select the following
letter for replying purposes rather than
any other Ia my possession because it is
earnest. personal and pertinent.
VIM. NYE, ESQ, WORLD OFFICE, New
YORK CITY-Dear Sir. l write to ask your
advise as Western man as to the advisa-
bllity OF young man of Eastern parent
age going West TO grow up with the coun-
try. [ am at a loss what to think, as there
are SO many contradictory stories afioat
in the various Eastern papers relative to
theWest, and especially as so many West
ern men who crack up the Western coun-
try as being the place to live in are con-
tinually coming East, investing their
surplus or engaging in business with
Eastern concerns. If the West offers
such broad field for advancement, why
then do Western men such as you leave
such fertile fields and pasture new?
With kind regards, yours very truly,
CABLE.
It is true that a great many Western
men have gone East to invest their sur
plus, but if they had never gone West
they would not hive had any surplus to
invest.
The advantages of the West for the
young man consists in this, that he is
there given chance to show his gait and
demonstrate his merits. Nobody asks
him who his grandfather was and why
he came West. He is tested and Endorsed
or lynched, according to his merits.
hot 10 oil To is ~
S. suit of clothes and a bob-tail gene
alogy as any other man, if he be a good
citizen and pans out all right. The diff
ference between the East and the West is
that in the West less attention is paid to
forms and exteriors than in the East. In
the West a man may be millionaire and
still be required to behave himself. In
the East millionaire can behave HIM
self days end do what he pleases the rest
of the time.
But the chief advantage to a young
man who has his way TO make in the
world consists in this-that industry and
merits are at once recognized in all new
countries.
The last question is more or less per-
sonal one, and it shows that the nam who
wrote it was philosopher. In replying
to it l must not forget that it is serious
and sensible inquiry. Ny own case is an
exceptional one. In the first place, every
body is not allowed to remain in the West.
In one way the West is democratic. in
another way it is exclusive and aristocrat-
ic. It is no sign that Others will have to
move East because [ did.
Seriously, let me say to the young men
who read this, that if they are made of
fho irb{ of 1ata ioI
coed sooner in the West on less money
and less crest that they can where usages
have been long established and where
customs are gradually becoming more
European. In the West America sticks
out more prominently, and there is a
degree of freedom from the petty envies
and jealousies which curse the lives
of those who live in older countries.
could be poor and come nearer enjoy
ing il in the West than anywhere else.
This is not surmise on my part. 1t is
experience. Many writer's have shown
US where to go with capital to do the best
but what we want is information that will
help those who want to know where they
can get the most enjoyment out of power
ty, where good citizen is wanted and
welcomed.
-
and Boston boys in new countries is
homesickness and disappointment be-
cause a good many institutions to which
they have been accustomed are not to be
found. To succeed in the West young
man must become part OF his adopted
country, and loyal to it. He must not
act upon the principle that he is still a
citizen OF New York or Boston, but in
good earnest begin to be necessary to
the section of country he has removed to.
And, after all, there is not so great a
difference between the East and West. All
Western men, with the exception of the
Indians, were Eastern men, ana Eastern
money makes the West successful. Let
no young man from a large Eastern city
console himself with the notion that he is
comforting a favor on the West by remov-
ing to that part of the country. The fact
that he is there at all is proof that he
came here to better his condition, and he
can not conceal it. He who goes West
solely to teach the untutored pioneer the
elements of refined civilization will not
ex-dear himself to the community, for the
humble pilgrim who walks into a new
town ia the Territories and goes to work
attending to his own affairs is more apt
man car than the man who enters the
place preceded by silver cornet band.
The West, of course, is not now what it
used to be, for modern improvements have
reached everywhere, and the frontier is
pretty well narrowed down, bat there is
still plenty of amusement, excitement and
instruction for the inquiring minds.
have said seriously what [ have said,
q
have often been asked. A good citizen is
an ornament and success, whether he
dwell within the shadow of Bunker Hill or
the caDons of Colorado, but he would sue
coed quicker and get the eye of the
speaker sooner, perhaps, in Colorado, be-
cause the farther a young man can gef
from the depressing, but brilliant record
of his grandmother, the better he will be.
The statement has nothing TO do with the
cam palgn.
Another thing I have noticed in the
older parts of the country, and more es-
pecialIy in New England which keeps
young man back. In the town of his ma
tivity he is never considered by the old
settlers as man. He is called Henry or
George, or worse still, "William's boy or
"John's boy" until his teeth begin to fall
out, whereas in new field he would be
called Colonel or Judge or Governor on
good salary.
The West wants good, live, self-sup-
porting young men. Whether or not the
East can spare them I do not pretend to
state. The WEST will always welcome the
sensible young men from the East, or
from other countries, who are equipped
for rough-and tumble with outrageous
fortune. While would not guarantee
success to everybody Who goes West to-
day, I would certainly under like circum-
stances go West myself, willingly and
hopefully. It Is no sigh that the West is