The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-01-16
THE PRATTLER.

HE I1EKALD, III us HESC ISSUE Gnl!
year, had something to say editorially
on the hopeful outlook for Columbia
1t cited, as an instance of Columbia's
prosperity, that during ali those
pauicky times, when individuals anC
firms and corporations were turning
their toes to the daisies, Columbia's
business register was not blOtted by s
Single failure. 1 think the point
made was strong one, and We al
ought to congratulate ourselves upon
the solidity and prosperity of oul
business houses and men.
~
1 wish to supplement the remarks
then made, with more evidence
There is no surer evidence OF towns
prosperity than The fact that the
young men it grows find it big enough
to hold them. 1t takes bigger place
TO hold a young man than it does an old
one. A man past the meridian of life
is disposed to let we'll enough alone
He is more bent on keeping his affairs
straight than on stretching them out.
He is more disposed to balance ac-
thus it is that city full Cf old men
would be an old fogy, sleepy place.
#x*
I do not mean to be disrespectful to
the old men. L revere their age, and
respect their counsel and admit their
wisdom. They have builded perhaps
in their day better than the younger
ones will; but they know as well as |
do that their days for building are
DER. They have sometimes run on
borrowed capital and been pinched for
time; now they feel like they are run
ming on borrowed time and they are
timid about starting new works they
may not live to complete. Then toe
they grow TO like old things and they
don't care to change them. The
houses and the lawns and the weather
beaten old Court House are associated
with all the years of their lives; the
have served them all their lives and
they are good enough for the next
generation. And really old thing
suit them BEST.
81 ~
But young man is quite different.
The end of life to him is afar off; he
feels in himself the capacity for g 1t
things, and is moved by the spirit OF
ambition. The world is his field and
the most inviting spot his resting
place. Where he stops there must b
something to attract; where he stays
there must be something to hold him.
~
I think it hopeful sign for the
future of Columbia, therefore, that
the young men love it better than any
spot on earth. and that they can find
employment here commensurate with
,neIr talents. 1t frequently happens
that a boy would loy Q to stay at home,
out when he gets beyond a forty
dollar clerkship, there is nothing Tor
him to do; and he goes to city where
MS talents can be rewarded, and his
talents-the country-bred boys tai
ents-builds that city up.
#x*
For illustration, fifty years ago
what was millionaire King Cole, of
Nashville, but Giles county plough
boy! Now look what his talent has
done for railroads, and what it has
lone for Nashville, and what it has
done for himself
Now that condition of affairs that
per force must send young man oil
talent away, does not ..Xist nere. The
contrary exists to draw them back.
A few years ago they left by the dozen.
They have been steadily getting back
until now they have nearly all re-
turned. Young men of aptitude
young men Of business, OF morality
and s0briety, fiud their salaries here
growing with their capacity and eX-
perience.
~
The too, the most hopeful sign OF
all, is to find them going into bust
ness for themselves. When they dc
that they are tying their futures here
When they do this they say 1--WE have
looked the field over, and no place
has a brighter future than this
They are linking their destinies with
Columbia, and are resolved to grow
with it and make it grow with them
and that resolution i'll itself means
bright future for Columbia, for, L say
without the fear of successful contra
diction, the young business men oi
Columbia are the peers of any in the
South.
xxx
"And by their fruits ye shall know
themW