Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-09-01

and so at every future stage of life. I
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; 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 England No
I one has superior rank or higher social po-
sltlon than you in America. In England
their ancient system of primogeniture and
title gives precedence and outward respect,
In large degree irrespective of merit 1t
Is net SO with us, and | am very glad.
Quarrel not at all with their system; they
seem to like it. But never covet it, and
never commit the silly snobbery of pre-
tending to prefer it to the system of your
own country.
The social life of England Is very charm
ing, and their plan of leaving ali land TO
the eldest son has built up vast estates.
adorned and dignifed with castles and
halls hlled with art and luxury and re-
fined 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 MAN,
just. Our best traits are heritage from
that race; but l 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 as
whole.
| Feel always manly pride that you are
an American, and that your future is here.
There is not, in all historic time, a
| greater record than that of the United
! States. Before the nation was a hundred
years old great civil war broke out, and
the North alone had at one time more than
million of armed men in the field, and
the South had vast armies also. After four
years of terrible war, more than twelve
hundred thousand soldiers were disbanded
almost in day. They returned to the
peaceful industries of civil lite without a
murmur, without disorder and without
crime. Under our system of government
they had learned to govern themselves.
Even IN the madness of the conflict, when
the President was assassinated, the Gov
ernment moved on without even ripple
of disturbance. More than three thousand
millions of debt was created, and the pa
per money was in such discredit that one
| gold dollar would buy two dollars and sew
enty cents of the paper But so soon as
the war ended we went bravely to work,
paid off e.third of our vast debt, and
now paper dollar will buy a gold dollar
IN any part of the country, and our ma
tional credit is of the highest grade. We
have finished more than seventy-five
thousand miles of railway, revived our in
dustries, increased in population, and our
! prosperity is such that our annual income
! Is greater than that of any nation on the
earth.
have letter from the Dean to-day, in
which he says, "Your sons improvement
has really astonished me-" Continue to
astonish the Dean and delight 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 well as your merits. You accept
| too many invitations from your fellow
students. This will weaken your
energies and prevent your success; 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; that Is mistakes you are
| 10 years old and scarce more than six feet
hight; that is not too tall; but if you
grow to any hight, carry yourself erect.
When you have done the duties of the
| day, and done them well, take your pleas
ures, which will be all the more keen and
when you have well finished the labors of
the term, you will enjoy the vacation a
thousand times the more by reason of your
successful toll.
do not need, in this letter, to repeat
the warnings against those petty vices
temptations and follies of which | have so
often spoken.
l will print this because l wish you to
read it more than once.
God bless and keep and guide my boy.
Your ever devoted FATHER