Smyrna times., 1893-03-15
The Discipline of Poverty.

Nixon Waterman asks, "Do parents
ever seriously think of the advantages
70 be derived from poverty as a discip-
lineT Twice within memory of the
present generation, a man who started
at the lowest extreme of the social
scale, has risen to be the President of
the United States. Abraham Lincoln
rose from his nest of leaves in a Vast
ern log cabin to be twice elected ruler
OF the nation, at most momentous
period OF the nations history. travers.
ing In the passage every degree of the
social scale. The poor frontierman's
child, the fiatboatman, the day laborer
the INDECENT student, the humble
country lawyer, the politician, the
stump speaker, the legislator, the
statesman, the President-who would
believe for minute, that, had he been
rich at the start. he would have ended
where he did? 1t was the discipline
OF poverty that made him what he
was. gave him a profound svmua.
thy with the people, most of whom are
engaged in a struggle with poverty
from the cradle to the grave. 1t stim.
ulated and trained his powers to their
highest development, and it belned
him form those habits of industry and
economy that are essential to tba
highest success.
James A. Garfield was another in
stance of the benefcent influences Of
poverty. He rose from as low a place
as did Lincoln. One of the most bril-.
liant men who ever occupied the Pres
ldental chair, his great accomplisb-
ments and powers won for him the
respect of the great, and his sympathy
with the humble drew to him the
hearts of the world. This wonderful
man, who, during his youth, knew
hoIhing of the advantages which
wealth insures, spoke as follows on the
advantages of poverty: Poverty is
uncomfortable, as l can testify. but
nine times out of ten the best thing
that can happen to a young man is to
be tossed overheard and compelled to
sink or swim for himself. In all nv
acquaintance never knew man to
be drowned who was worth saving"
Samuel Johnson, in writing of wealth
says; All this excludes but one evil
poverty" And to strong. deter
mined youth, poverty is no evil: it is
demonstrably true that Of all the ad
Vantages which come to any Young
man, poverty is the greatest. The
young man who is saved from the ef-
fort of making his own way in the
world, and the necessity of establish
hls own position, is denied the most /
powerful stimulus to labor and devel.
Opment.
The young men who are coming
every year out of the colleges and in.
dustrial schools of the country. and
starting into active life, will win success
Ut I@ilure manly in accordance with
the amount of stimulus under which
their education has been acquired. If
they have been obliged to labor until
they learned the value of money; if
they have been forced into close econ.
omies and learned also how difficult if
is to keep money; if they had grown
up with the consciousness that every
thing they hope for in the world must
be won by their own unaided force
and industry; if they have acquired
thrifty habits and self helpfulness and
Seiit trust-they enter life with great
and most assuring advantages. No
amount of wealth given to u young
man can possibly afford him SO good a
prospect of success as poverty that has
secured such advantages as these.