Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1893-12-12
AN UNSUCCESSFUL CAREER.
Tho Ruin Wrought by Drink end Bad As.
sociates.

A bright-eyed boy, with every out
ward indication and promise of sue.
cess, leaving home with his mothers
kiss upon his cheek, his fathers advice
ringing in his ears, the innocent
thoughts of home life clinging to him
as though to shield him from the as
saults of error, the thoughts of brother
and sister ever reminding him to be
obedient to his employer, enters the
printing Office, as an apprentice, to be-
gin his career of self-support. The
work is interesting. His nature is all
aglow with eagerness. The world is
bright to him. He is very ambitious,
willing to do whatever is told him. If
told to go one mile, he is willing to go
farther
He is, after time, promoted, and his
sagerness now to succeed causes him
to press on. His companions now are
not suitable for young man who
wishes to attain the highest degree of
success in his profession. He wants to
see and know what life is. Unhappily,
he sees too much of the wrong side of
life. AT first it stuns him; he remem-
bers his mothers parting his fathers
admonitions, and brother and sisters
warning; but he heeds them not. The
novelty, the dare, the easy abandon in
terest him. He wants to see and know
what others see and know, and, unfortu-
nately, led into places where those who
would succeed never enter, he finally
becomes a part of that which he was at
irst only an interested observer; he
goes now as a member of the circle.
He has learned his trade-and much
else that it were better for him had he
never learned. He is companionab BILE,
and is liked by his associates. He is
not bad-hearted, but rather thought
less, good-natured, easy-Roing. His as
sociates keep late hours; so does he.
They drink liquor, and he learns, little
by little, to do the same. He does not
realize that he has thrown down the
battlements to powerful foe when he
does this, nor does he know that the
very qualities in his nature which make
him interesting and lovable indicate
that he, of all others, can not safely
take an intoXicant into his system. He
feels strong, is full of hope and nervous.
energy. 1t does not seem possible to
him that he can fail, though he is affec
tionately warned of his danger. Friends
plead with him, tears are shed for him,
but to no effect. And, finally, aban-
doned by almost imperceptible degrees,
he is left to pursue his own course. ::
Time passes, but for some reason he
does not keep up with its procession,
except as to age.
Years go by; he is now middle-aged.
He has worked hard and has been
faithful to every trust; but he has now
passed the time in his life when sue
cess is possible. He sees men of his
age succeed, and pass him in the race
for prosperity, and often wonders why
his station is inferior to theirs. "Why
has fate dealt thus with me? For" he
says, 81 have as much ability as they"
Manhood and middle age come in
succession, but the thread of his life,
changes not for the flaw. which has
been unconsciously made by strong
drink has weakened his whole nature
now, though he will not admit it. But
presently he is thrown out of
work. He wonders why they let
him out, when he has been there so
long. His earnings have gone for
pleasures, his taste and desire for val
liable knowledge with regard to his
calling, gave place long since to love
for socially and amusement, and his
store of knowledge is made up largely
of stories that in their repetition bring
jolity and laughter among his boon
companions, and in the time of need he
finds now no treasured funds, no in
creased wisdom in all that pertains to
his calling, on which to depend.
They tell him, but can not convince
him, of the habit he has formed. He
passes on, he gets little work here
and there; but no one seems to take an
interest in him. no one wants to give
him steady" for, the say: "he is
not reliab ble."
And so times goes on; the final judg
ment has been passed upon him; he can
not be found when wanted, he is not
able to do the work, or he can not be
relied upon. He has been through the
process, he has been at the door of sue
cess. but failed to enter.
Old age has come to him-and also
his right senses; but it is too late. He
looks back upon his past life: he sees
what a failure it has been, and finds he
has been branded-'unsuccess
National Printer-J journalist.