Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-06-09
" WHEN | WAS A BOY"
YOUNG MEN WHO DO NOT MILK,
PLOw OR CHOP WOOD.
80 Bystander" Does Not See Ruin in Good
Clothes and Innocent
Pleasures.

Status Ol Ine rlSlnS young lnen OI tne pres
ent generation was something startling,
and unless some remedy was at least sug-
gested to check this flood of dissipation
and ruin, the coming generation would
surely perish in its own vice and immor-
ality without exception. These convic-
tons have been expressed by either COM
mencing or ending with, "When l was a
boy" etc, etc.
These persons who are looking with
such dire apprehension as to the outcome
of this persistent extravaganza, dissipa-
tion and wanton excesses of the young
men of to-day invariably relate how, when
they were young men, they plowed the
fields and MIXED the COWS and fed the
chickens, and went to bed and got up in
the morning with a clear head and bright
eye, with the bloom of innocent youth and
health ON their cheeks, and with no fur
ther desire than 10 plow the fields, milk
the cows, feed the chickens, go to bed
early and get up in the morning.
They refer with no little pride to the
simple and plan habits of their younger
manhood, and l do not wish to be under
stood as attempting to detract from the
force of the general idea "that the safety
of nation depends not alone on the wis
dom of its statesmen or the bravery of its
generals, but the cottage on the hillside,
the brown brawny arm of the farmer" etc,
etc. | believe it possible for a young man
to be good, even in the absence of country
atmosphere, or successful in life without
knowing how to milk industrious without
having to plow, and even be President
without splitting rails" "selling wood !"
or driving a canal boat" but it was only
the other day that | overheard CONVEX
sation in which all the above possibilities
were denied.
II was between two venerable old gentle
men, as they sat in the reading-room of
the Golden Eagle. In the course Of their
conversation, where they had been deplor-
ing the present condition of modern young
men, four young gentlemen well known in
Sacramento, neither of whom was % years
OF age, stepped into a hack and drove
away.
"Now see there said one of these two
venerable old gentlemen; "did you and
ride in hacks when We were young? No,
sirp How many times have you heard
the remark, 81 was glad to have so and so
when | was young"
"Did we ever wear silk hats, and satin
ties, and white vests% continued the old
gentleman. "No; straw hats, with a hand
kerchief round our necks, a plain bed
tickin' shirt, homemade cloths, pair OF
pepper-and-salt pants, is what we had.
Did we drink beer? Not much Did we
play cards? No, no. Did we go to French
dinners, theaters and spend money? No;
we had no money to spend We dug pota-
toes for half the crop, and traded our half
off for boots and a winters coat" and
here each one of my old gentlemen friends
had to tell his story of his "first overcoat,"
and | have heard the story of the "tirst
overcoat' at least 900 times. l remained
no longer to hear what further comments
they had to make.
1t was with a very sorrowful, suspicious
and doubtful shake of the head that they
saw these four young gentlemen drive
away in the hack. They really looked as
they felt-sad, and ! have not the slightest
doubt but that they both thought these
four young men would go on and on in
their extravagant dress and ways, and ride
in hacks, until at last, at their journey
ruin and disgrace.
But, now, as a matter of fact, who are
these young men that so conveniently
furnished an illustration of the downward
path of the modern young man? With
one exception, they were all young men
who had pushed their craft into the stream
of life alone, and who on this day stood on
the threshold of as prosperous a career as
ever cast its shadows before or marked the
first steps Of any man. One of them is
the manager of one of the largest whole
sale establishments on the Pacific coast
and stands the peer of any man in COM
mercial circ.es.
Another has, by uuceasing toll, perse-
verance and determination, risen from an
errand boy to a stakeholder in his firm
and is not yet %.
One other is identified with a great re,
tail establishment, stands at the head by
the side of the owners, and assists in the
direction and supervision of over 200 EN-,
ployes.
The other has the absolute management
of one OF the largest enterprises carried or
by any corporation in the State of Califor-
MIA, and he is only a.
One of these young men supports hi'
father and mother; another is educating
sister, and third contributes monthly tc
an enterprise in which he has an individual
concern.
They do not pillow the fields, or milk
they do not go to bed with the chickens
and sometimes take a glass of wine; bu
every morning they are at their post o
duty, and ride over difficulties in inan
cial enterprises and business complications
that would strand man who milks from
now on to eternity. And yet these are
four of the young men through whose in
strumentality the coming generation Is tC
perish.
Now, ! am not putting it too strong-it
is the Gospel truth-that there are 8
legion of people who believe that because
young men nowadays do not wear ole
clothes, and live in houses with 70 floors
with cracks stopped up with clay, and
read and study with tallow candle a
night, this country is on the down grad,
to ruin, and as soon as they shall hav,
passed away the remainder of us will 60 t
the hot place in lump.
Ii young man express an opinion
nowadays, ii is from arrogance and con
ceit If he is silent and studious, 1t Is from
Incidence and avoidance of work. II he il
ambitious, it is presumption. If he i
wrong, he is condemned. If he is deac
right, it is an accident If successful, by
other hands. If unfortunate, deservingly
and the slightest enjoyment is dissipation
One feature of Sacramento generosity i
marked by the free open air concerts giver
at the Capitol Park and Plaza. Nothin:
could possibly be met with more genera
approval and universal gratitude than thes'
outdoor musical treats. There is an alb
sence of all restraint about them. Chill
dren romp on the terraces, men lounge OF
the well-kept lawns and women pitch theil
camp Stools where they please. The tireC
workman is refreshed from his labor of the
day, the Office man breathes the cool even
ing air with thankful heart, and the
seamstress or shop girl forgets all distinc
tions between poverty and wealth, anC
walks with the same light tread to tn,
music of the band that marks the step o
the bankers wife or daughter. "'Tis mu
sizes golden tongue that fiatters the ageC
and the poor" And l have often mar
yeled if there are any in this great throns
enjoying the superb music and beautiful
surroundings who stop 10 think to whom