The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1894-09-08
FOR Y0UNG MEN.
Advice from the President of the Stand
ard Oil Company, of Ohio.


Many things have been written
and spoken on advice to Young
Men," that | can hardly expect to
he able tesaay anything new on that
subject During my active business
career and as an employer Of Young
men have had ample opportunities
to observe their successes and fail
ures. In my Judgment it is all-im-
portant for young man to secure
as liberal an education as possible,
and to make up his mind and deter
mine early in his youth as to the
business or profession for which be
is best suited, and in which he would
be the most likely to be successful.
A great many young men start out
in life with the belief that after they
have secured good education they
have achieved the most important
part of their life's work, and that
success thereafter is assured They
very soon learn by experience, how
ever, that their education is simply
preparatory to the real work of life.
| am enthusiastically 10 favor of
thorough education, and | regard it
as being the first duty OF parents to
secure this for their children if it is
possible for them To do SO.
| have known "a number of Young
men who did not have the advantage
of a tharong education in their youth
who in the battle of life have out
stripped Young men who had great
er advantages If were to advise
as | frequently do young men who
were about to enter upon their life's
work. would say first, take advan-
tage of every means in your power
to acquire knowledge. That at this
age Of the world, with all the adyan
tages OF books, papers, night schools
DC, at their own command, any man
of ordinary intelligence, with rea-
sonahle application can do. He
should not forget, however, that in
acquiring knowledge. the education
of the heart is just as important as
the education of the intellect
" is of the utmost Importance to
any young man that he be exceed
ingly careful as to his associates.
He should avoid the company of
those however agreeable it may APP
pear at the time, who will not aid
him in building up his character
and reputation. He should seek the
acquaintance of and only associate
with such persons as will tend to
elevate and ennoble his character, as
a character and personal integrity
are, after all, of the greatest impor-
lance; and the young man who has
received liberal education and
thorough moral training, who has
acquired and is deserving OF repu
tation for industry and integrity,
has already laid for himself a good
foundation for successful life.
1t is also one of the requisites to
success for young man to practice
the strictest economy, and to begin
to accumulate early in his career.
A small amount laid aside periodi-
cally from his earnings will in a.
verv short time enable him to feel
as if he were making start, at
least, in securing ultimate indepen
dence, or at all events laying up
something for rainy day.
Another requisite is good man.
ners A young man ought always
to be gentlemanly and respectful in
his conduct and conversation. 1t
does not require college education
to accomplish this. Anyyoung man
can acquire it, as it is to be had
without money and without price"
No young man, whatever his natural
and acquired accomplishments may
be, can afford to be other than a
gentleman at all times and under all
circumstances
l hear many young men say, and
in fact it is becoming quite common
that "the young men of the present
day have not the same opportunities
for building themselves up that
their fathers enjoyed This, /
think, is a mistake. The opportuni-
ties of to day are at least equal to
those of by-gone, days. And, as
was true in the past, the young man
of to-day, and of the future, must
be the architect of his good name and
fortune.
l would also earnestly advise ev-
cry young man to connect himself
with some religious denomination,
for it will save him from thousand |
snares "to remember his Creator in
the days of his youth"