The record-union., 1891-12-21
THE THORNY PATH.
Office Holding, and Its Pitfalls That
Endanger Young Men.
Sam seabough's Warming to a Youth
full Friend Many Years Ago-The
Road TO Intemperance.


young man any good" remarked bus-
an ex-public official passed up street
with flushed face and suspicious un-
steadiness about his legs.
Il tell you," resumed the merchant, as
a REcoRD-UNIoN reporter came along,
that about the worst thing young man
can do is to go scrambling about to get
into Office. That young man hardly
knew what it was TO taste liquor until he
allowed himself to be talked into becom-
ing candidate for an appointive Office,
and now he's full most of the time-that
IS, he generally has aboard about all the
liquor he can carry. He has acquired
habits he will not be able to shake off
nearly SO easy as he was shaken out of
Office"
(Which reminds me-" said the other,
'of bit OF advice l once received from
sam Seabough, the old-time journalist.
In looking over some old letters the
other day found one from Seabough. 1t
was written October "a, 1S68-twenty-
three years ago-shortly after he came to
Sacramento as editorial writer on the
UNION. l was then out of position, but
had very good political pull, and was
using it to get clerkship in the Custom
house under General Miller, and in a
letter to Seabough l mentioned what L
regarded as my prospective good fortune
An easy position and fair salary.
Now, everybody who knew Seabough
knew that he hated to write letters; in
fact, he rarely wrote one, and when, a
day or two after l had written, received
q reply from him, appreciated the fact
that he was in dead earnest and wrote
with purpose in view. 1 have the letter
with me, and the RECoRD-UNION may
print it if it will. l regard it as good adj
vice to all young men. The letter reads:
SACRAMENTO, October "a, 1868.
My Dear Friend: I received yours of
the 23d inst. You still speak of "that
office" in expectancy, as if you could not
get over the idea of taking it. l am sorry
Tor this. Without knowing exactly what
office you are promised, L now venture
TO say to you that even If you get the
very best one in the power of General
Miller to offer, it will prove an injury to
you in the long run. 1t will bring you
IN no direct compensation in money for
the inevitable habits of Incidence mot to
say dissipation, from which [ believe you
have far above the average of exemption)
you will contract there; and when you
leave you will be really far less qualified
TO earn living at any regular business
Than now.
No young man at your age can afford
such waste OF time for preparation tor
future action in life. 1 have noted a good
many Of my former friends who have
put themselves to much trouble in secur-
ing such appointments, and in no single
instance has the office obtained failed to
work them a serious Inconvenience, if
not a positive injury.
/ speak of this matter with a pretty full
knowledge of what l am talking about.
Colonel James informed me once, after
he had been Collector tor four years, that
he never made an appointment which re-
suited in a benefit to the appointee, nor
ever discharged an incumbent who did
not afterward come and thank him sin
cerely for relieving him of place that
was far more in the nature of curse than
a blessing. He said they were all dis
satisfied, save only those who could not
do anything else, and had already, of
course, ran pretty far along the descend
ing scale of life.
You will probably think it strange that
] should take upon myself the duty of
writing this way to you and in truth
should not trouble myself to do SO if
Gid not like you, and think it worth while
to warn you against yielding to persua-
sions which / am convinced you should
resist as firmly as you would bad COM
pany or intemperance. AS general rule
all offices not held directly from and di-
rectly responsible to the people, are
curse to those who hold them.
If you want to work at your business,
ouO S<%h SOC iAACLG III Aodn
CISCO come right up here. J-s says he
has place for you. This city is becoming
an exceedingly lively, pleasant and beau
tiful place, and / am sure that you would
better situate yourself with reference to
those in part dependent upon your ex-
ertions, as well as with regard to your
self, alone, by coming up here than by
accepting the best Custom-house Office
Colonel Miller can tender you. In after
years you will regret the fact should you
now conclude to reject this advice. Faith
fully and truly your friend,
SAMUEL SEABoUGH.
''That was good advice" remarked the
merchant, when his friend had read the
letter; did you act upon it?"
81 did," was the response. 81 aban-
doned the pursuit of the position I was
after, came here to Sacramento, and here
] am yet. If 1 haven't got rich, am at
least better off financially than if had
wasted several years in the Custom
house, and feel that I am better fitted
for the legitimate pursuits of life.''