The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-24

you don't want them YOU will not have
them. and your life will be a failure and
You will die the death of the unrighteous
and reap his reward. These four things
are--now boys don't forget them-Truth
Honesty. Industry and Sobriety. BE
truthful in everything. Seorn "A false
hood. Be one of those men we read abou.
in the book, who sweareth to his own
hurt and changeth not Be true 10 your
country, TO your friend, to your family
to God ond to yourself. Be honest in
word and in deed. BE honest in all your
dealings with your fellowman and with
yourself. Don't let prejudice nor self-;n.
terest bias your judgment of others, nor
of yourself in your dealings with others
When you are about to perform any act
ask yourself first. is it risht?' rs it hen
est?' | have seen men who never ask
themselves those questions, but instead
this one Can l do it and keep out of the
penitentary% Such men may be rich and
may hold high official or social position,
but they are not honest Let the golden
rule be your guide whatsoever you
would that men should do unto you do
you even so ua1o them. Square your
conduct by this RUE and you will be an
honest usefu! and happy man. Fail to
Go it, and you wiil be neither honest,
useful nor happy.
BE Industrious! Be diligent! 'whatso-
ever thy hand findeth to Go, do 1t with thy
might God despises a sluggard. The
gods help those who help themselves
Poor Richard says keep your shop and
your shop viii keep YOU. He also says
he who by the pillow would thrive must
either hold himself or drive AT that time
you must know it took two men to pillow
one niue, one TO hold the plow, and anoth-
er to drive the mule. Now it is differ
ent. One man can pillow two mules If
they are harnessed together 10 the s~ne
pillow. So you boys have advantage OF the
boys of Poor Richards time.
And last, but not least, be sober. Touch
not, taste not, handle not, intoxicating
liquors. Wine is a mocker. strong drink
by is not wise Strong drink has de-
sroyed more men than wars,
pesti.ence and famine 1t has
filled our poor houses and pen
itentiaries with paupers and criminals
and has peopled he'll with its victims.
Therefore avoid it as you would deadly
poison, for it is poison and kills both
soul and body.
Observe these rules and you will become
men of whom Bethesda will be proud and
these members of the Union Society will
be proud. You will become an honor to
yourselves and your families and to your
state. Fail to observe even one of them,
and your. life will be a failure and you
will go down to your grave 'unwept, UNI
honored, and unsung." Remember, too,
that 1t is the first drink that makes the
drunkard, and the first untruth that
makes the perjurer, and the first theft
that makes the rogue and clothes him in
chains and a felon's stripes. You cannot
ell become distinguished judges or Qegis-
lators, or soldiers, or divines, nor Is this
INT
eer, or the farmer, or the carpenter who
by diligence and integrity stands at the
head of his calling, is as honorable and
as useful as the statesman. or the jurist,
or the divine who has forged his way to
the head of his profession. The same ele-
ments of character which have enabled
the one to succeed in his calling has en-
abled the other to succeed, and entitled
him to the same consideration. The man
who can build good house is
as useful and necessary to Ao.iety
as the man who can cut
off a leg or draft a bill in equity.
The man who can run locomotive safely
and successfully is as honorable and use
full as the Judge who can exDound the
law and sentence a criminal. The black
smith who can shoe a mule or shrink
tire we'll, is as useful and is entitled to
as much respect as the general who can
command armies and win battles. Each
is useful and honorable in his own
sphere. You cannot be great and useful
in everything. but you can, by concen-
tration of all your efforts and energies
succeed in one, and sometimes more than
one. But to succeed in even one you must
ever keep in view the four cabalistic
words. Truth, Honesty, Industry, So
briefly Let them be craven deeply on
your heart so that you wall not forget
them, and in your countenance, so that
all men may see them and honor you.
The face is an index to the soul, and
men will read your character in your
face and honor you accordingly. Be pa
tient, Rome was not built in a day,
neither can you bound to the head of
your trade or profession at once, but by
diligence and patience and sobriety and
truth and honesty, you will get there.
Remember, too, that the surest way to
happiness in this life is to earnestly en-
deavor to make others happy. A friendly
greeting, kindly word. and occa sionaliy
a little material aid to a fellow
creature bowed down with sorrow and
want, blesses twice; it blesses him who
gives and him who receives. No selfish
man can be truly happy.
Remember, too, that your conduct not
only affects you and your family and
friends around you, but all those with
whom you are to come in contact in the
journey of life II your example is good
they will be made better, If bad they will
be made worse. Not only this, but people
unborn will feel your influence after you
have run your course on earth and have
gone down into the grave. How impor-
tant, then, that we realize the responsible
tiles Of life and try to leave a good exam
pie behind us when we are called from
time to eternity. Time is but the yesti-
BILE to the great temple of eternity. The
body moulders into dust, but the soul
lives on forever. and the influence OF your
example on earth will be felt by the gem
erations which follow US. Let US then
realize that
Life is real, life is earnest
And the grave Is not it's goal;
Dust thou art, TO dust returnest,
Was not spoken Of the soul
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each tomorrow
Find us farther than to-day.