The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1890-12-13
The Young Man of To-day.

modern Young woman where there is one
that treats of the modern young man. 10
critics the little weaknesses OF young
women becomes to many writers so absorb
ing topic ms TO completely shut out from
view the fact that the modern young man
affords an equal abundance Of material Tor
the critical scalpel. The absurdity OF
modern fashions for women is universal
cry, but only here and there Is protest
made at the masculine fashiOn-plates which
parade through our principal avenues and
streets. The cry is that the modern young
woman Is shallow in her conversation, with
all her thoughts conferred on her apparel
Without stopping to argue the falseness OF
this charge, let me ask: Is the young
man of the present day so infinitely her
superior? Is he so studious, so scholarly
in his conversation? Arc his tendencies
for dress and pleasure less marked in scores
and hundreds of cases? 1t is well some
times to criticise the critic.
The young men have been most properly
called the flowers of a country. As is the
youth of the present day, so will be the
man of the future. In our country, young
men are undoubtedly more and more es-
tablisbine themselves at the head Of COM
mercial interests, and in the high places of
all professions, until one is at times amazed
to find the responsibilities of great COM
mercial and professional enterprises resting
upon Youthful shoulders and brains Its
highly creditable to. the young manhood of
America that these instances of ambitious
progress can be found; yet these cases are
still in the minority, whereas, with modern
energy and enterprise on every side, they
should be largely in the majority.
Take the average young man OF to-day,
and there is considerable room for improve
mcnt. The main trouble is his fear of
work, and his anxiety to enter only pro-
LESSONS which will bring him social recog-
milton. The fact is, that there are too
many young men anxious to toll with kid
gloves, and even then they are filled with
fear that they may rip the seams,
| do not exaggerate, think, when l say
that fifty per cent. of the young men in
business to-day perform their duties in
mechanical manner, glad when the clock
points to the hour which means the end OF
another day 1t is not an uncommon thing
for young clerks to begin at three O'Clock
to watch for the approach of five o'clock.
The period of life through which they are
passing has scarcely any meaning for them.
They are forgetful of the important fact
that they are standing at the eastern gate
of life; that they are passing through
season of their existence that should be
crowded full of plans and actions. An in
terest in sporting matters takes the place
of an interest in what most concerns them
and their future 1t is much easier for
thousands of our young men to remember
the name of every member of the leading
base ball mines in the country, than to re-
collect the names of the customers with
whom their firms have daily dealings. The
scores of base balls games take the place OF
the discounts allowed certain customers. |
have nothing to say against the national
game of base ball. In moderation, an In
tercst in this or any other form Of outdoor
exercise is heathful; but such interest be-
comes harmful when it is allowed to be-
come too absorbing, and business and the
practical side of life are made secondary
matters. An appreciation of sports is very
well in its proper place but that place Is
not the countingroom or the bushes Office,
an young mans business chances are
not materially strengthened in discussing
New York or Bostons chances for the pen
nant during business hours.
Every young man is in himself Il parcel
of tremendous possibilities, and these, he
realizes in proportion to his efforts to de-
veIop them In a country which holds out
so many opportunities for young men as
that in which we live, it is remarkable that
such comparative little effort is made TO
embrace them.
There is no excuse, except in the most
extreme of unfortunate instances, for a re-
spectacle young man in America to fail of
commercial success, if he will only look
about him and employ the opportunities as
they present themselves before him. Let
young man show to his employer that he
is working for something more than his
bread and butter; let him show that he has
the interest of his employer at heart and
will protect and further them at every
point, even if by so doing he is often CON-
PEELED to extend his offce-hours or make
an extra effort, and he is bound to succeed.
Every young man in business to-day can
and should rise above his position. One
position may be more conducive to this than
another, but ii is possible in all cases. Too
many of our young men stop at the point
of duty exacted of them; to carry the in
terests of their employers beyond certain
time of the day is beyond their comprehen-
sion II am not paid for working after
five o'clock" says the young man, forget
full that those who are making successes all
around him are the men who work day and
night if occasion requires it. Let young
man be afraid of work, and success will be
afraid of him. But let him find pleasure
in his work, and success will find him.
To this rule there is no exception. Sue
cess must be deserved before it comes
The successful young man to-day is he
who is not content with what has been
done, but strives to surpass it. Extraor-
binary talents arc not necessary to success.
The greatest genius is the genius of energy
and industry. Modify pleasure for bust
ness, but do not modify business for pleas
ure. This thousands Of our young men
fail to understand, and here lies the secret
of the standstill at which they find them
selves. The inclination is too much toward
pleasure and not enough to labor. 1t is in
yonth that we should work if, when we
arrive at manhood, we would have our
burdens easier.
A Young man must so conduct himself