The weekly messenger., 1907-02-16
On Leaving Home.

constitute III. SUCCESS ~ not more edSl-
ly obtained abroad. speaking in gener
al way than at home; il we use the same
efforts at home that are required abroad
to procure it. we will win it. A young
man well educated and possessing a pro-
fession is far better equipped for max
ing desirable living at home than
most of his fellow citizens. and should
be able to make life enjoyable at home;
by home. mean his place of nativity.
Old age will come after a while, If death
stays away long enough, and then one.
who has left his native place begins to
look back into the distant past, and
think of what he has lost or gained bv
giving up early friends and quitting his
bOyhood home. and many find that they
have gained but little worth having by
the change. Some escape witnessing
the suffering Of friends and kindred on
beds of sickness; do not hear them re-
late their trials and disappOintments; {;
were not present to see the departure Of
their last breath when life ended. and
can congratulate themselves, that they
were not there to stand by their tomb to
see their lifeless bodies consigned to
darkness and worms.
But how is it with the man who has
escaped the distressing ordeals by seek
ind fortune and happiness among stran-
gers? he gains no friends like those made
in .he spring time of life; 10 sympa-
thizers in hours of affection, like those
with HON he played marbles at school;
no one to rejoice in his success like
those who followed him to the departing
train; how many handkerchiefs will be
m0istened with tears when his body Is
carried to its last resting place? There
will always remain with friends gained
during the meridian of life lingering
thought that possibly our adopted citi-
zen has not always been all that he
seems now. One of the sweetest joys Is
the knowledge that your friend knows
all your past life; new friends can ne
yer know this.
will say to the young men who may
be craving intellectual food and cannot
find it here, you will not procure it
among strangers, for those who are cap
able of furnishing it, are too busily en-
gagged in seeking the Almighty dollar to
crafty any desire you may have for it.
If you undertake to bring to their no
tlce subjects suitable for mental i'm
prOvement and consideration you bore
them. and they will excuse themselves
or pretended engagements. To interest
them you must talk of stocks, corner
lots or of him who has money to lend or
VINO wants to borrow at rates ruinOus to
the latter. They would not discuss with
you any kind of topic that called for in
telleclual thought. When | first left
home | craved the mental nOurishment
to which | had been accustomed. but
utterly failed to get mOrsel unless |
sought it of those whose interest it was
to give it. had to seek this mental pa
buium sometimes by writing to friend
at the home | had quit. with whom
had read and discussed the correspOn-
dence of Adams aud Jefferson, and that
of Swift BolinbrOke, Gay Il Pope. and
also some of the writings of the great
poets. Shakespeare. Milton. Pope, Burns
anu Byron. and many other productions
too Numerous to mention. and with
whom | had compared the abilities of
the distinguished men with whom he
had served in Congress. as we'll as some
Of thO.e who preceded and followed him;
so you see, had to 60 back to my native
State to find, in limited way. that men.
tai food OF which | did not partake in
my adopted home, have said nothing
about the immoral and cOrrupting in
fluences that assail one in a strange
land. want the reader to keep in mind
here. am referring to comparatively
newly settled portions of our country
and to large cities where rivalship and
commercial! energy are taxing the ell
durance of men and c0rruptiHg their
moral nature. When man has lived
ten years in such places and not have
his perceptions of right blunted, and
his integrity weakened he is entitled to
a free pass to Heaven.
After one has lived long time from
his na,i.e place ht ioes not want to re-