The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-07-03
ADVICE TO A YOUNG MAN.

Sound and Sensible Words from u
Noted Preacher to His Son
The following letter from Henry
Ward Beecher to his son is authentic
and should be carefully pondered by
every young man:
"BROOKLYN, N. Y, Oct. 18, 1878.
my DEAR HERBERT: You are
now for the first time really launched
into life for yourself. You go from
your fathers house, and from all
family connections, to make your own
way in the world. 1t is a good time
to make u new start, to cast out faults
OF whose evil you have had an ex-
~per1ence, and to take on habits the
want of which you have found to be so
damaging.
u. You must not go into debt.
Avoid debt as you would the devil.
Make it a fundamental rule: No debt
cash or nothing.
-. Make few promises. Religious
ly observe even the smallest promise.
A man who can to keep his promises
cannot afford to make any.
d. BE sc~rupulously careful in all
statements. Accuracy and perfect
irankness, no guess-wOrk. Either
nothing or accurate truth.
"A. When working for others, sink
yourself out of sight, seek their inter-
est. Make yourself necessary to those
and scrupulous integrity. Selfshness
Is fatal.
-. Hold yourself responsible for q
higher standard than anybody else ex-
poets of you. Demand more of your
self thar anybody else expects of you.
Keep your personal standard high.
Never excuse yourself to yourself !;
neve pity yourself. BE u hard mas
ter to YOURSELF; be lenient to everybody
else.
"6. Concentr to your force on your
proper business, do not turn of. Be
constant, steadfast, ~presevering.
~. The art of making ones for
tune is to spend nothing. In this
country any intelligent and industrious
young man may become rich if he
stops all leaks and is not in a hurry.
Do not make haste ; he patient.
SO. Do not speculate or gamble.
You go to q land where everybody is
excited and strives to make money
ing for it. They blow soap-bubbles.
Steady, patient industry is both the
surest and safest way. Greediness
and haste arc two devils that destroy
thousands every year.
80. In regard to Mr.. B, he is a
Southern gentleman he is receiving
you as q favor to me: do not let him
regret it.
10. beseech you to correct ono
iault-severe speech of others : never
speak evil of any man, no matter what
the facts may be. Hasty, fault-6nd-
ing and severe speech of absent people
is not honorable, is apt to be unjust
and cruel, makes enemies to yourself,
and is wicked.
III. You must remember that YOU
go to Mr.. B not to learn to manage
Il farm like his. One or two hundred
acres, not forty thousand, is to be your
iuture homcstead; but you can learn
the care of cattle, sheep, the culture
OF wheat, climate, country, manners,
and customs, and O hundred things
that will be needful.
~. If by integrity, industry, and
well-earned success you deserve well
Of you fellow~citizens, they may in
years to come ask you to accept honors.
DO not see them, do not receive them
while you are young-wait but when
you are established you may make
your fathers name know with honor
in halls of legislation.
Lastly, do not forget your fathers
and your mothers God. Because YOU
will be largely deprived of church
keep your heart before God. But do
not despise small churches and humble
preachers. Mind not high things,
but condecend to men of low estate.'
Read often the Proverbs, the pre-
eepts and duties enjoined in the New
Testament. May your fathers God 90
with you and protect you"