The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1893-06-29
ADVICE

been so benefited by advice that we
10 not feel like echoing the conclusion
10 which ". E. Beech comes il the
following article, which We quote from
Worthington's Aagazias, though we
heartily agree with the rest of it.
led. ". I. WI
Now about the only thing the aver.
age person is willing to give away is
advice, and it is all that one can hope
to obtain gratuitously. 1t is rendered
on all sides with iberality that would
be rraiseworthy if the offering were
more substantial. That it doesn't
"buy anything" appears not to detract
from its value in the estimation of the
donors, who vie with each other in the
prodigality of their bounty. No dis
credit, apparently, attaches to the very
general method OF palming off counter
felt currency in tie shape Of advice in
lien of the genuine coin that bears the
stamp of munfcence, though the re-
cipients doubtless have their own opin-
ion of its value. While 1t may be as
Sumed that much of the advice given is
we'll meant, it is also true that some
more tangible evidence of good will
would, in most instances, serve bet
Ter purpose.
The counsel and encouragement that
oue in erplezity seeks from a trusted
friend, differs essentially from the ad--
monitions that come unbidden from
| sail sorts and conditions of men," l
fancy that few people stop to think of
lie doubtful propriety OF giving advice,
sven when solicited. If the recipient
follows 1t to his own advantage, credit
is rarely given the originator, while if
1t brings unfortunate results, ones
shoulders must be broad indeed to
bear the reproach that will be heaped
npon them because of the error Of
Judgment.
A lady desiring to invest modest
sum in remuneratlTe enterprise re-
gently consulted a Well'known inanc1er
upon the subject. He said: "Madam,
[ never give advice" Inasmuch as
the gentleman in question never gives
anything, he failed to receive the
credit he deserved for his astuteness in
IeLuslAES W SAF0 oo'1SS'
Perhaps one shouldn't scrutinize too
closely the quality of gift. Indeed,
/ know that to be the prevalent Idea.
but in the interest of long suffering
humanity there should be opened up a
vein Of truthful criticism in this field,
showing that lot of worm-eaten old
saws are made to do duty, in season
end out of season, and that they con-
stitute the stock-in-trade of those who
are most fond of giving advice.
Counsel may be epigramnatle or
verbose, and is commonly the former,
ms one is credited with sagaeity if able
70 express concisely something pre-
sumably profound; so that maxlms-
good, bad, or indi6'erent-comprlse
the outfit of the average mentor.
The wiseacre who places his hand
patronizinglv Oh the shoulder, aud
says: "YouDg man, let we'll enough
alone" appears bIissfully ignorant OF
tie favor cf the chestnut while the
victim usually receives the admonition
much as the waiter does tip-as d
matter of course, without subjecting it
to the analysis of reason, which would
expose its fallacy. Literally con-
strued, it means, stay where you are.
1t would efectpally check ambition
and make indifference one Of the
virtnes. It would apply the brakes to
human progress, and bring abont
condition OF s.agnation Und'r the
influence of such counsel, Abraham
Lincoln would have remained prac-
ticing attorney in Springfield, General
Grant would nave continued In the
leather business at Galena, and deatI;
would probably have found Jay Gould
peddling mouse traps IN New York.
There are things wise and otherwise,
aud the precept IN question is not OF
the former.
WHO has not been cautioned thus? /
BE sure you're right, then go ahead"
No one can be sure of anything bat
death and taxes I think that most |
persons just drift along with the tide,
and if the end proves they ware right, I
they take unto themselves 2:aat credit |
for prescience, while if the reverse
happens, they derive satisfaction from
having lots Of company. If we could
he sure We were right ere setting ont |
upon our road, it would greatly sim
plifv matters: We should all be MIL
iionaires, OF something equally deslr-
obIe, according to our tastes; but, as
matter of fact, we must take our |
chances, it may be, that We are doing |
our best.
Another milIewed adage that takes |
the form Of atvice, and the utterance |
of which should, in my Judgment: be |
regarded as misdemeanor, is: Live !
within your means" What is one to
do who has no means? Or suppose
that, through some misfortune, an in
come is cut down, as it often is, below
the sustaining po1nt-how IS it to be
managed? Tie trouble with this par
t1cular heresy is that it has, to the IN !
thinking mind, the appearance of re-
sonahle1ess. and is frequently COM
menGed by those who should know
better. But will it bear analysis'
Obviously, to tell one having family /
to maintain, and whose income may
not exceed few paltry hundred dol !
lars a year, to bring his expenditures !;
within that sum, is to sdvi:e an I'M
possibility. One with limited means !
may be properly cautioned to spend no
uouey unnecessarily, but to arbitrarily |
assert that in every case man n2st |
live within h,s ipcome indicates q
driveller rather than sage. 1t "a
tnat this dictum usually !
emanates from those whose income is i
more than sufficient for all their needs, !;
and they fail to comprehend that |
literal compliance with the suggestion |
would be, to some Of their less fortu- |
nate fellow creatures, utterly lmprac-
ticable. Debt is an undesirable, and !
in some cases ruinous, thing toincur;
but it IS away ahead OF starvation, or
even suffering.
Fifteen years ego I came, by chaoc",