The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1904-07-14
Published Every Thursday.
What Shall the Bows Do?

w Hal Snd1I L10 Boys UOs
Horace Geeeley's famous advice
to 60 west and grow up with the
country was very good for its time,
and it continued to be good for mauy
years after the noted journalist died,
and to some extent it is good yet.
but the time when the boys and
men only had to grow up with
the country to make satisfactory
progress is rapidly passing away.
Our country is coming into that
condition where satisfactory pro
gress must depend more upon the
individual himself and less upon the
growth of the country, Agriculture
has already reached the ultimate
triumph that wise men have for
many years foreseen. Formerly
when there were seemingly limitless
areas OF fertile soil to be had by all
who were willing to occupy them
there was too much competition in
production, but we will never again
see ten cent corn and fifty cent
wheat. The vacant lands that once
seemed limitless are now nearly all
occupied, or at least fallen into
private ownership. we used to sing:
Uncle Sam is rich enough
To give US all farm.
Uncle Sam is now richer than ever
by far. but he can no longer give US
all farm. Incidentally in this con-
nection we cannot refrain from in
viting attention to the oppor tunitie:
still remaining, but only temporar :
lily, in Northern Wisconsin to pur-
chase on easy terms fine argricul-
tural and dairying lands that will in
a few years be mines of wealth and
comfort to those who own them.
In thinking of these opportunities
K cannot help thinking of the
future of the boys and young men as
well as older people to whom the
benefits are open.
But outside of this local view of
the situation the broader view is
open, showing us that the time has
come when special training is more
han ever before needed to give the
young man a start in the world that
will enable him to compete success
fully in a world that is full of merci-
less competition. Some kinds of
competition trample the weak under
loot and infict upon our fellows
overpowering hardships, but this
un-Christian feature cannot be
charg, d at the door of the man who
has qualified himself to do his work
veil. The efficient man is bene-
actor of his race and adds to the
sum total of human comfort without
.arming anybody. It is best, there
ore, that the boys and young men
hould understand the great fact
hat from this time foreward the
DOR of success will be open as rule
nly to those who can do something
eli, either mechanically or in some
Their way. The man who has d
God trade will be fairly independent,
ue man with farm will be more SO,
I'D these will be opportunities in
e business world that those who
e qualified will occupy, The NOR
of this is that the young man
tnnot qualify himself smoking
garetts and swearing and trying
be tough. BY so doing he is only
,aing his place in line with those
no are destined to the penitentiary.
ne young man who is qualified to
something well is not likely to
It sour at the world and be ready
: crime. AS in politics new issues
coming to the front, but none
them offer anything but dis
pointment to him who refuses to
Ike himself competent at any
norabIe pursuit. Superior Tele-
an