The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-11-15
THE YOUNG MAN OF TODAY

THE YOUNG MAN OF TODAY
There are ten articles written on the
modern young woman where tn r.. IS
one that treats OF the modern young
man. To criticise the little wal n .sses
of young women becomes to many
writer's so abso rbing topic as TO com
pletely shut out from view the fact that
the modern young man afords an equal
abundance of material for the critical
scalpel. The absurdity of modern fash
ions for women is a universal cry, but
only here and there Is protest made
at the masculine fashion plates which
parade through oar principal avenues
and streets. The cry is that the mod
ern young woman Is shallow in her con-
versation, with al! her thoughts ce1tered
on her apparel. Without stopping to
argue the falseness of this change, let
me ask: Is the young man of the pre-
sent day SO Infinitely her superier7 Is
he SO studious, so scholarly in his con,
versation? Are his tend ncles for dress
and pleasure less marked in scores and
hundreds of cases1 1t is well some
times to criticise the critic.
The young men have been most pro.
perly called the f)wers OF country.
As is the youth of the present day, So
will be the man of the future.
In our country, young men are un-
douotedly more and more establishing
themselves at the head of commercial
interests, and in the high places of air
professions, until one is al times amaz I'd
to find the responsibilities of great com
mercial and professional enterprisesrest-
ing upon youthful shoulders and brains.
1t is highly credltable to the young man.
hood of America that .hese instances Of
ambitious progress can be found; yet
these cases are still in the minority,
whereas, with modern energy and en-
terprise on every side, they should be
largely IN the majority.
Take the average Youag mon of to-
day, and there is considerable room for
improvement. The main trouble is his
fear of work, and his anxiety to enter
only into professions which will bring
him social recognition. Tne fact is,
that there are too many young men an
xious to toll with kid gloves, and even
then then are filled with fear tha,
they may rip the seams.
l do not exaggerate, l think, when |
say that fifty per cent, of the young
men in business to day perform their
duties in a mechanical manner, glad
when the clock points to the houl
which means the end of another day
IT is not an uncommon thing for oung
clerks to begin at three O'Clock &c
watch for the approach Of hve O'Clock
The period of life through
which they are passing has scarcel,
any meaning for them. They are for
getful of the important fact that are
standing at the eastern gate of lif. thai
they are passing through season oI
their existence that should be crowded
full of plans and actions. An interes
in sporting matters takes the place o
an interest in what most concerns then
and their future. 1t is much easier fo
thousands our young men 10 remember
the name of every member of the lead
| ing base ball mines in the country, thar
to recollect the names of the customer
with whom their firms have daily deal
ings. The scores of base ball game
take the place of the discounts allowed
certain customers. have nothing e
say against the national game of base
ball. In moderation, an interest il
this or any other form of out door exer
else is healthful but such interest be
comes harmful when it is allowed t.
become too absorbing, and business
and the practical side of life are made
secondary matters. An appreciation o
sports is very we'll in Its proper place
but that place is not the counting room
or the business office, and a younl
mans business chances are not materl
ally strengthened in discussing New
York or Boston's chances for the pen
nant during business hours.
Every young man is in himself ;
parcel of tremendous possibilities, an(
these, he realizes in proportion to hi
efforts to develop them. In countr,
which holds out so many opportunitie!
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 tht
most extreme OF unfortunate instances
for respectable young man in Amerlc;
to fail of commercial success, If he will
only look about him and employ til,
opportunities as they present themselve
before him. Let young man show tc
his employer that he IS working 70
something more than his bread ant
butter let him show that he has tn,
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