Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-14
The Young Man and the Young Year


looked at him with great interest, at
the round face, where no plough OF
time had come. at the cheeks glowing
with health. and the eye Slistening
With hope, at the form strong ana
straight. No other object in the world
is so interesting as IL young man.
Maintains may hold veins of precious
ore. and seas may carry ships of COM
merce. But on the young men of the
land rest the greatest things in human
hone. They carry the years in their
hands.
And to be just on the threshold of
manhood. what privilege it that! To
nave all the dew on the grass, no with
cred blade or leaf, no branch dead or
dried or broken! To look out into Il
great broad world, with all paths open,
and all prizes in view, with palaces of
luxury and temples of praise. and
places of power. and crowns of success,
scattered along the horizon? To have
no disappOintments shifting the heart,
no failure mOcking ut strength, no bit
Ter regret gnawing at the spirit, no
misgiving chilling the soul! To turn
the ear to this million voiced world
and hear no echo Of dead hopes or lost
wears. To see all things, read all
things, hear all things. think all
things in the glad, rosy light of
n rising sun! All. what Il blessed
hour and privilege is that! The stars
" hich sang together in the early morn
ing of creation did not have no much
to rejoice over.
The very "don'ts" which are heaping
around the young man show how great
he is in the hope OF the world. 1t is
because the eyes of Il hungry revouring
love are looking upon him and watch
ing his every step, as men wandering
over the waves of the sea watch the
North Star. that he hears SO many
"dOn'ts." There is an agony of anxiety
lest in his going astray time will be
switched from its course and human
hopes fall down.
l have often been tempted myself to
say to him don't, but have rarely said
it. Not that l have failed to realize
his danger or to see the many wrong
paths which open at his feet, but be-
cause don't is only a frost. 1t never
ploughed a field or sOwed crop, or
reaped a harvest A steady diet of
dOn'ts would send us all to the bone
yard and reduce the world to Barren
wilderness. The young man is not
born to don't. but to do. The red blood
in his veins is a mightier power than
the fierce and fiery force which is now
turning all the wheels of the industrial
world. AS soon as man child in born
events begin to transpire in the home
The tea kettle lid which won't stay or
because the water is boiling is nothing
compared with the bundle of boy flesh
and blood and nerve that. won't kee'
still because the eagerness and energy
and might which move the world are
beginning to get into action.
I have looked at Niagara with rapt
admiration, but 1 never said don't tc
It. 1 look at the young man with far
greater admiration, and l am not 60
ing to say don't to him, at least, no.
this time.
No. young man. say Do. Do you
best. II you are in school, do your
best; if you are in q shop, do youl
best; if you are a clerk do your best
if you are running an engine or holding
Z pillow, Go your best; if you are som
girls best fellow, do your best. Thu
American girl is worthy Of the besi
fellow that walks the green earth.
Read the best Books and the bes'
magazines and the best newspapers
Associate with the best people. Take
counsel OF your mother. for she loves
you with the love of an angel. Tall
matters over with your father, for HI
Is leading you with his heart strings
Think the best thoughts. Cherish thf
best ideals. Admire the best heroes
Walk up and down the pages of his
tory with its roblest and ,ruest mer |
Fix your eye on the brave spirits VIII,
stood in the storms. who faced the
wrath Of men and did not quail, VIII |
went into the fire and smiled at tn |
flames, who took the worlds welfar'
on their great hearts and bore the |
race upward.
Go deep into the thought of the meI
and women who. whether in phil |
osophy, poetry, or romance have in |
terpreted to us the mysteries of GU !
striving, and the fever and the fret ]
this daily life. And look deeper still
into the law of being which declare l
itself every day. Listen to the dali,
story OF human transgressiOn and pen
atty and woe as you would to a blast o,
the trumpet calling tho dead to judge
mcnt. BE quick to hear and quick t.
do the commandments. whether Spoken
amid the thunders of Sinai or the wal
OF human experience.
Be brave. be strong. Re man
Be follower of the one perfect Son o
Man.
Make the year 1904 big steppin:
stone in the upward way.-Grapho, II
the Advance.