The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-07-21
MACON'S ADVICE 10 A YOUNG
MAN,

When a man begins to grow old IS the
time to put to the test the principles by
which he thinks men should be governed.
Enthusiasm and ambition IN early man
hood and prudence and selfishness IN ma
ture wears are apt to warp his judgment.
But in old age he looks upon things as
Young man can receive comes from the
old man whose life has been successful.
The best letters the worlds great men
have written have been letters to their
sons or relatives or some ambitious youth
IN whose welfare the writer has telt a
deep interest.
In the North Carolina Hall OF History,
IN a collection Of letters written by eml-
nent North Carolinians, IS a letter written
by Nathaniel Macon-the foremost man
North Carolina in its entire history has
produced-to a young relative, Mr.. Frank
A. Thompson. 1t was written IN Wash
ington city, and is dated October goth.
1914, and is as follows.
Il could not, were | to try, tell you how
much have been pleased with reading
| your letter. Go on III your good deter
mination and make yourself an honor to
your parents and an ornament to the
country. am so pleased with your let
ter that | shall send 1T to your mother
unless you object to 1T. | feel no heslta-
ton in saying to you that [ approve your
determination to study Law, IN prefer
ence to Physics; besides this, | think 1t
right in all persons, whether parents or
| guardians, to consult the inclination OF
! young persons as to the learned profes-.
!! sion they wish to study Ii you should
! hereafter change your OPINION and wish
to practice, the law IS quite as profitable
as medicine, and as you prefer the law let
me advise you, while you are young to
make yourself perfectly acquainted with
the history of England. When reading it
pay particular attention to the changes
made IN the Judiciary and observe well
the causes which induced the Parliament
to pass the laws which made the change;
YOU will also notice with attention the
anxiety of Mr.. Hume to excuse the kings
in every tyrannical act. Next, be well ac-
quainted win the history of our own
country; we ought to be well acquainted
With the history of England, because our
laws and customs are in a very great meas
ure derived from her. The history of
Charles the Fifth contains the best ac-
count that ever saw OF the feudal sys-
TEN. and Is well worth reading. The study
of PhySic, If the lectures III any large city
are attended, is much more costly than
the study of law. and without attending
the lectures no great advantage can be
derived from the study. l repeat to you
that | approve your choice. 1t is true,
as you state, that the law is the road to
eminence IN the United States, and it is
equally true that a man must be we'll ac-
qualnted with the laws in any other
country to make a figure in it in public
lie. After reading the aforementioned
books l would advise you to read the
histories of Greece and Rome, and do not
forget the Bible and Testament. With
them every one ought to be we'll acquaint-
ed. A very good plan to improve your
self would be to read a paper in the Spec
tator or Guardian, and then write one as
near like it as you can. After writing
compare yours and the original together.
This IS the plan which Doctor Franklin.
when young, adopted to improve himself
and his style, and no man has written in
= 80 49, Gnu 'i0ShIL sly IC lIdH Illt
Doctor. The reading recommended ought
not to interfere in your school studies.
when YOU begin Euclid. Be assured that
1t Will always give me great pleasure to
render you any service in my power and
believe that | I'M your friend. and that no
one, not even your dear mother, is more
anxious for you to do we'll and to make
yourself q man of first-rate talents and
responsibility than l am. and that you
may be so is the sincere wish Of
"Yr. friend e relation,
"NATH. MACON."
Almost a century has passed since Mr..
Macon wrote that letter, but time has not
dlmmed or age stalled its wise counsel.
Young men of this day will do we'll to
read 1t and re-read it, and adopt its sensi-
bic suggestions. Wise fathers might pro
fitably place it in the hands of ambitious
sons.