Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-05-21

What are the chances of success in
life for the young man oil today with
nothing todepend upon but his own
abIlity-the young man without capital
or political infIuence-in short, "the
young man with nothing but brains?"
TO have asked such question half
century ago, would have been absurd.
Abraham Lincoln arose from the depths
of poverty and the back-woods to the
highest place in the-natlen, and when
he died was only i'll the prime of life.
He lacked education, means and ev-
erything but brains, still he was emi-
nently successful; so successful that
his name occupies conspicuous
place in American history. Turly this
man demonstrated that brains alone
could acquire success.
But Abraham Lincoln lived when the
country was newer than it is now. The
country was undeveloped, and woman's
sphere lay in her home and the care of
her family. AS yet she offered no COM
petition to man in public pursuits.
Again, there were no trusts or business
consultations, and public offices were
less in control OF politicians. In those
days there was room for expansion, but
now the youth must simply rise to his
success. With the existence of such
conditions, IS not the young man of the
present day placed at disadvantage?
In the matter of securing an educa-
ton. the conditions are certainly favor
able to the poor boy. Capital is not
needed in acquiring an education. It
is easily possible for the ordinary youth
to work his way" through college.
Nearly 90 per cent of the students of
Washburn college are self-supportinR.
People everywhere are DESTROYS of
helping the the really earnest college
student and are glad to place chances
in his way whereby he is able to make
something toward supporting himself.
Many firms extend employment to him
during the summer, making the terms
such that it is easily possible for him to
pay for his next winters schooling,
And an education is certainly an adj
vantage to the young man beginning
life. The common laborer Of the future
is the man who neglects his education
today. The successful men of the pres
ent day, although themselves, in a few
cases, unlearned, without exception ed
ucate their sons. And these men are
certainly in position to judge Compel
emily as to what is, essential to Sue
cessful life. Fitted with an education,
the present day young man is more
nearly prepared to combat with the ex-
listing conditions-the conditions which
have placed premium on brains and
literally made an education an essen
tiaI element of success.
Owing to the condition of politics, it
is rather difficult for anyone outside Of
the personal friends of the leaders
themselves to gain prominence or pub
lie office. On account of this, true
merit counts for little in securing a
civil service appointment. Even though
the young man flood the offices at
Washington with testimonials and rec
concentrations, the young man with
half his brains and political pulp
gets the appointment.
While at present promotion in the
army depends on length of service
rather than merit. it is quite reasonable
to expect from the efforts which the
government is putting forth that in the
next generation, at least, the disting-
uished officer and the successful army
man may be young instead of old and
gray haired. However, at present there
seems to be little reward for the young
man in any branch of government ser
vice.
Agriculture, too, offers but little to
him, since he is compelled to sell at
prices fixed by trusts and besides farms
are not so productive as they were
when the soil had not been titled sc
long, unless fertilizers are used. To
the young man, however, who has a
knowledge of soils and ordinary ability
the farm extends the offer of COM
Portable life, to say the least. By CO.
operation with his neighbors he may
obtain better prices for his products
He can hire labor almost as cheap as he
can do it himself, and since a farmers
life is the most independent life in the
world, it is correspondingly a happy
one.
The cattle business has made for
tunes for men, but now so much land
is being cultivated and the country il
cut up into such small tracts that pas
ture is scarce and suitable ranches are
hard to obtain. Altogether, with feed
to buy and cattle not allowed to run
considerable part of what was at one
time clear profit is taken away.
The law and medical professions are
open to the young man with his career
before him, but here the supply ex.
J ceeds the demand. Perhaps this is due
} in some measure to the fact that the
Lawmakers of today, as general rule
are lawyers themselves, and the re-
sulting laws are so clear and concise al
to leave little room for argument, and
to the general tendency of the people
is from rather than toward litigation
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