The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1901-01-15

The Late John Sherman's Letter of Ad-
vice to a Young Man.

I Len years ago, Wnen the lale JOnn
Sherman was secretary of state, says
Success in recent issue, a young
man, the son Of one of Sherman's
schoolmates, wrote to him for assist
ance. He said he had fallen so low
in life that there was no place for him
but the gutter; that existence had be-
come burden, and that he wanted to
die. To-day, this same young man is
prosperous merchant in New York
city. He says that his position is due
to the advice given him by John Sher-
man, in answer to his letter. Success
was given permission to publish the
letter, which the owner guards more
carefully than all his other posses
sions. Mr.. Sherman wrote:
"You say that your life has been a
failure, and that you are so 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
reached that point in life when a
man must see the very best prospects
for his future career. You, at 80,
stand on the bridge that dividesyouth
and manhood. The one is dying, per-
haps, 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 dis
content kill this new life, before it is
born.
"Unless you are physically de-
formed, go to work. Cote any honest
work, if it only brings you dollar a
day. Then learn to live within that
dollar. Pay no more than ten cents
for a meal and 90 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 clearly.
Abandon liquor as you would abandon
pestilence, for liquor is the curse
that wrecks more lives than all the
horrors of the world combined.
eff you 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 to 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 nottingham into the bust
ness man, or the professional man,
with so much ease that you will
marvel at it. But have one ideal, and
aim for it. No ship ever reached its
port by sailing for dozen other ports
at the same time.
''Be contented, for, without con-
tentment there is no love or friend
ship, and without those blessings life
is, indeed, a hopeless case. Learn to
love your books, for there is pleasure,
instruction and friendship in books.
Go to church, for the church helps to
ease the pains Of fife. But never be
a hypocrite; if you cannot believe in
God, believe in your honor. Listen
to music, whenever you can, for music
charms the mind and fills man with
lofty ideals.
"Cheer up! Never want to die.
Why, | am twice your age, and over,
and 4 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
go among laborers. Take the first
honest work you can get, and then be
steady, patient, industrious, saving,
kind, polite, studious, temperate, ann
bilious, gentle, loving, strong, honest,
courageous and contented.
''Be all these, and, when 80 years
more have passed away, just notice
how young and beautiful the world
is and how young and happy you are
JOHN SHERMAN"
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