The Baltimore County union., 1890-11-08
THE YOUNG MAN OF TO-DAY.

There are ten articles written on 'Lne mOQeTn
young woman" where there is one that treats
of the modern young man. TOcritics the little
weaknesses of young women becomes to many
writers so absorbing topic as to completely
shut out from view the fact that the modern
young man" affords an equal abundance of
material for 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 centered 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 studi-
Gus, so scholarly in his conversation? Are
his tendencies for dress and pleasure less
marked in scores and hundreds of cases? 1t is
we'll sometimes to criticise the critic.
The young men have been most properly call
ed the flowers of a country. Asis the youth OF
the present day, so will be the man ofthe future.
In our country, young men are undoubtedly
more and more establishing themselves at the
head of commercial interests, and in the high
places of all professions, until one is at times
amazed to find the responsibilities OF great
commercial and professional enterprises rest
ing upon youthful shoulders and brains. 1t is
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
ment. The main trouble is his fear of work,
and his anxiety to enter only into professions
which will bring him social recognition. 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, l think when I 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.
It is not an uncommon thing for young clerks
to begin at three o clock to watch for the ap-
proach 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 recollect the names of the
customers with whom their firms have daily
dealings. The scores of base ball games take
the place of the discounts allowed certain Gus
toners. have nothing to say against the ma
interest in this or any other form of outdoor
exercise is healthful; but such interest be-
comes harmful when it is allowed to become
too absorbing, and business and the pratical
side of life are made secondary matters. An
appreciation of sports is very well in its proper
place but that place is not the counting-room
or the business Office, and young mans
business chances are not materially strength
ened in discussing New York or BoSton'S
chances for the pennant during business
hours.
Every Young man is in himself parcel of
tremendous possibilities, and these he realizes
in proportion to his efforts to develop them.
In a country which holds out so many oppor-
tunities 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 respectable
young man in America to fail of commercial
success, if he will only look about him and
employ the opportunities as they present them
selves 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
at heart and will protect and further them at
every point, even if by so doing he is often
compelled to extend his of6ce-hours or made
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 coducive to this than another,
but it is possible in all cases, Too many OF
our young men stop at the point OF duty exact
ed of them; to carry the interests of their en-
ployers beyond certain time Of the day is be; be-
yond their comprehension. II am not paid
for working after five O'Clock" says the young
man, forgetful 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 sue.
cess 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. Success
must be deserved before it comes.
The successful young man to-day is he VINO
is not content with what has been done, but
strives to surpass it. Extraordinary talents
are not necessary to success. The greatest
genius is the genius of energy and industry.
Modify pleasure for business, but do not modi.
fy business for pleasure. This thousands OF
our young men fail to understand, and here
lies the secret of the standstill at which
they find themselves. The inclination j. is too %
much toward pleasure and not enough to Ia
Dor. It is in youth that we should work if,
when we arrive at manhood we would have
our burdens easer.-Ladies' Home Journal