Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-12-10
Some Advice to Young Men.

That the Herald always keeps in touch
with the people is shown by the loads of
letters from all parts of the country aud
on every conceivable subject-which daily
come to this Office.
One of these letters, JEST received, runs
in the following strain:-
II am country boy. I came from a
farm in New Ham pshire to New York with
the hope of making name aud fortune.
Either the fame or the fortune would salts
fy me, bat prefer both if they are within
reach.
Will you kindly tell me how can carve
out for myself successful career?"
The results of our experience and obssr-
vations are entirel, at your service, young
man.
Suppose We begin our conversation by
defining terms. What do you mean by "a
successful careei?"
If, as you say, you are ambitious to be.
come a millionaire two or three times over
your chance is one in a thousand.
Possibly you may be that one. 1t de-
ponds on your natural gifts and your op.
portunities. But how about the other nine
hundred and ninety-nine7 Are their lives
an immense bulk of capital?
10 other words, is surplus of cash the
prime factor in the problem OF happiness,
and ia citizsn's usefulness to be measured
by his bank account solely?
Yoa may also get the fame you wish. 1t
depends on your education, on the quanti
ty and quality of your brains and on your
native genius. With these. everything is
possible; without them, you will everlast-
ingly hunger fsr the unatsainable, and in
the ED draw the coverlid of a wasted life
over your head and die disappointed man.
The number of those who achieve such
greatness that the public build mon lme1ts
to their memory is very few, but If your
name happens to be in that list the Herald
will gladly subscribe for the purpose.
Don't make any mistakes in this matter.
If you wish to get out of life all there is in
it-for you-there is way to do it.
Real happiness consists of health, self
respect, the good will of the community and
a sufficient income to crafty your reason
able wants. Everything else is trivial and
not worth bothering about. The man who
has steady work, fair wages, cosey home,
enough to eat, thick overcoat, and the
consciousness of personal integrity, is
nightly favored fellow, ia possession Of
more than three-qnarters of the best things
which this world affords.
Now, you can have all this If you make
certain rules the basis of your conduct.
First-Don't aim too high, but aim
straight. Enerson's advice to ''hitch your
wagon to a starr is the merest buncombs
of rhetoric. Ycu will produce larger prao-
tical results if you hitch your wagon to a
we'll fed mule.
Lougfellow's poem, Excelsior" is an
other bit of exquisite trash. Ofcourse it is
beautiful, s'and all like that, you know"
but it is not adapted to rough aud tumble
fight with circumstances.
The young man in that poem shoulders
a flag and starts for-well, for nowhere, so
far as we can discover. He is one of the
climbers-ar explorer of the celestial Alps.
When he gets to the top of hill he turns
back aud screams out "Excelsior" What
for we can't say. This is free country,
however, and he can do as he pleases. Up
he trudges until he gets to the snow capped
summit of the next ascent. Unreasonable
boyl he seems to be just as dissatisfied as
ever. Evidently he wants the earth. In
spite of chronic bronchitis and in con-
slant danger of pneumonia, he waves his
bunting, yells "ExcelsiorP' once more and
strikes out for an altitude where the mer-
curry freezes in tie bulb.
He may be going yet, for aught we know.
He has undertaken tough job, though,
aud his flag by this time must be in tatters.
You want to get rid of go3d deal of
this excelsior folderel. 1t is mighty
poor investment of talent. Stay down be-
low, and let the glaciers and the mountain
peaks take care of themselves.
Seeond-Do your work we'll, no matter
what it is. Study your business. Make
Yourself master of it by putting your head
and heart into it. Ifit is bookkeeping, then
keep books,in such fashion that the Angel
Gabriel will want to lend you his crown as
a token of approval. If you are mechanic,
or artisan, or farmer, be proud of yourself,
be proud of you. Nothing is needed go
skilled fingers. You may have long pull,
but the clock will strike an unexpected
hour and the opportunity-which comes to
everybody in turn, but which most people
miss-will present itself. Study the bull
dog, and when you get your teeth into a
big thing, let them stay there.
Third-Save money. The coward runs
in debt, the brave man has five dollar
surplus in his po ket. The world may
laugh at you because you can't have four
in hand necktie. All right, let it laugh.
You are your own world, and the people
who sneer are simply outside barbarians.
When they see that five dollar bill growing
bigger they will all want to shake hands
with you and send you to Congress- Keep
we'll within your income and you will save
yourself from skulking round the corner
like kicked dog when the dun is on your