The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-06-19
Sherman's Letter Made u Man of III i'm.

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A few years ago, when the late John
Sherman was Secretary of State, q
young man, the son of one OF Sher
mans schoolmates, wrote to him for as
aistance. He said that he had fallen
so low in life that there was no place
for him but the gutter; that existence
had become burden, and that he
wanted to die. Today this young
man is prosperous merchant in New
York city. He has told Success that
his position is due to the advice given
by John Sherman, in answer TO his
letter, and that magazine was given
permission to publish the letter. which
the owner guards more carefully than
all his possessions. Mr.. Sherman
wrote.
Your say that your life has been a
failure, and that you are thirty years
old, and ready to die. You say that
YOU cannot find work, and that you
see no hope in life. You say that your
friends do not care to speak to you
now.
Let me tell you that you have reach
ed that point in life when man must
see the very best prospects for his fu-
ture career. You at thirty stand on
the bridge that divides youth and
manhood. The one is dying, perhaps,
but the other will soon burst, young
and hopeful, from the ashes, and you
will find in yourself new being-a
man. Do not let your discomfort kill
this new life before it is born.
Unless you are physically deformed,
70 to work. 60 to work at any hon
est work, l. it only brings you dollar
day. Pay no more than ten cents a
meal, and twenty cents for bed, and
save as much of the balance as you can,
and with the same intensity as you
would save your mothers life. Make
the most of your appearance. Do not
dress gaudily, but cleanly. Abandon
liquor as you would pestilence, for
liauor is the curse that wrecks more
lives than all the horrors of the world
combined.
Ifyou are a man of brains, as your
letter leads me to believe you are,
wait until you are in condition to seek
your level, and then seek it with cour-
age and tenacity. 1t may take time
to reach it, it may take years, but you
will surely reach it-you will turn
from the workingman into the busi-
ness man, or the professional man,
with 80 much ease that you will mar
vel at it. But have one ideal, and
aim for it. No ship ever reached it's
port by sailing foria dozen other ports
at the same time.
Be contented, for without content
ment there is no love or friendship,
and without those blessings, life is,
indeed q hopeless case. Learn to love
your books, for there is pleasure, ill.,
struction and friendship in books. Go
to church, for the church helps to ease
the pains of life. Listen to music
whenever you can, for music charms
the mind and fills man with lofty
| ideals.
Cheer up! never want to die. Why
I am twice your age, and over, and |
do not want to die. Get out into the
world. Work, eat, sleep, read and
talk about the great events of the day,
even if you are forced to 60 among Ia
borers. Take the first honest work
you can get, and then be steady, pa
tient, industrious, saving, kind, polite
studious, temperate, am mbitious, gentle,
loving, honest, strong, courageous and
contented.
Be all these, and when thirty years
more have passed away, just notice
how young and beautiful the world is
and how young and happy you are.