Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-08-28

Few Americans will dispute Sir
Thomas Lipton's statement that the
American boy is better able to make
his way in the world than the English
boy, and that this is partly because he
is allowed to shift for himself at an
earlier age. This is not the only reason,
however. One ascribes the superior
powers of the American boy to the
blended blood of many races that flows
in his veins. Another thinks the Amer
lean mother and the inspiration of
wholesome home training are to be
credited with the boys ambitions. 9th
ers believe the climate has something
to do with the character of the Ameri-
can boy, by causing earlier maturity,
while many mention the superior oppor.
tunities for education and for employ
ment existing in the United States. All
these causes undoubtedly are at work
in producing the self-reliant and manly
type of boy admired by Sir Thomas
Upton, though all are by no means of
equal Importance. The mixture of
races has had n beneficial effect, but
still more significant is the fact that 1t
is mixture of the more daring and ad
venturous elements in each race. 1t
requires courage and pioneering
spirit to seek home in n new CONT
nent. America has been n magnet for
individuals Of this peculiar tempera-
ment from the days of the settlement
of jamestown and Massachusetts Bay
to the present hour. 1t was the hard
schooling rather than the mingling of
races that created the alert American
type of boyhood and manhood. Many Of
our most successful men have sprung
from pure English stock in New Eng
land or Virginia, or from German or
other blood practically unmiXed. The
influence of the more stimulating
American climate undoubtedly may be
seen, but this is force that requires
generations to show its effects. More
important than any other single ele-
ment in producing the "savoir faire" of
the American boy is that of opportu.
nifty. From the earliest days there was
more work to be done in America than
the men could do alone. The boy was
needed and was expected to work. The
conditions were such that the boy
neither could nor would stay Mt home
and Give Off" his parents to the extent
that English boys do and must under
present conditions. The Astounding op
portunities of the new world naturally
evolved self-reliant type of manhood
alert, adaptable, ingenious, fearless OF
obstacles or dangers-a type rich In in
ventive genius rather than in scholarly
attachments. The American comes
naturally by these qualities, both by
birth and by training. In this country
the young man is trusted with greater
responsibility than he is in Europe.
This has given our industries the mo.
bility and aggressivencss which seem
so disconcerting to our staid European
rivals. Whether this early brilliancy
of the. American youth foreshadows an
earlier loss of grip is debatable
question. 1t is true that man past
the age of so has Il poorer chance OF
employment in the United States than
in Europe, but his earlier opportuni.
ties may compensate for this. How
ever that may be, the present is the
young mans age in this country, and
he is more capable of carrying his
large responsibilities than the youth OF
any other country. The old country
puts faith in old men; the new country
puts faith in young men.