The Washington times., 1918-08-01

America celebrates this week the twenty first birthday
Of his he asks this newspaper to publish editorial
that might properly be read at young mans twenty first
birthday dinner.
Ono man at the age of twenyone has reached mental
maturity even passed it. Another is mere child, with
al his development before him
The greater the civilization, general rule the more
man has to learn at twenty-one.
When the bushman is twenty-one years old he knows
Is much as he know. His ability to detect an
ostrich at great distance the hot sand is fully de-
yeloped. he is, in fact on the decline of life.
In advanced civilization of twenty one
Is usually but child he has not finished his physical
GROWTH he mas accumulated certain mental equipment
various tools of the work to be done with
them is all ahead of him.
It is impossible to. write advice for young man Of
or to give him suggestions without possessing
an intimate knowledge of his degree of mental development
The younger Pitt, at twenty one, was almost the ruler
At the age of twentyone Lincoln much greater mind
than Pitt, was country boy, with only his Of
right and a vague but earnest CRAVING FOR KNoWL-
EDGE to guide him toward his destiny.
The celebration of lads twentyrst birthday must
interest every older man and inspire earnest thoughts and
wishes in all
At twenty-One a man becomes part of the nations
great voting power His voice counts thencefoward in de-
temnng the important questions of the world that
shall arise during his lifetime
He begins his individual work His vote counts
as much that of the greatest citizen in the nation
boys twenty first birthday, too is day of great
jocng and significance to all the fathers and mothers of
children
To the father and the mother those twenyone years
have been years Of care anxiety and responsibility Every
thoughts While he sleeping, they have been awake
thinking and planning for him. While he playing or
they were working to provide for his present and
his future.
To the parents boys twenty first birthday is like that
day which the sculptor unveils his statue or the artist
invites his friends to see and judge his finished painting
It well for the old give advice to the boy of twenty
one But young mans birthday celebration really ought
to mean more to older men than it does to him |
The older men have seen him as child, they hardly
realize that he is grown man bis maturity should impress
upon the old the feetng nature of life and the importance
OF making the best possible of the years that remain
Here young boy celebrating the beginning of his
manhood 1t seems but moment since he was child But
moment hence, and he will have passed away as the
shadows Of the clouds pass the fields And all of
who are Older shall have gone long before him:
How earnest view of life, and of our duties we all
should take we could realize that opportunities for
useful work last but day. and that nothing but useful work
All of us older would if requested give elaborate
ADVICE to this boy starting out on his path
taere % one o. Us that could conScentiOusy advise the
should not all advise him chiefly against the mistakes
we ourselves have madethe waste of time the sefndul
genC the unsatisfactory seeking Of pleasure the struggle
How much better off the world would be today if every
man OF mature years could prepare column Of advice
SELF Sci young O'' AMI iAAN lake The ADVICE HIM
To the boy whose manhood has begun we should say:
study the % men older than yOursef-AND STUDY Es-
Realize that the greatest failure NAV be hidden behind
the greatest apparent success.
The man who has great power and uses it to the dis
advantage of the people, building himself up on the failure
otner ranks simply with the successful hyenas-those
that have the most powerful Jaws
Work to make yourself independent of other men
strive to secure certain, reasonable amount of money
But remember that to be really worth while in the
world man must do something Of use to others
Don't be Like the cow that doesn't give milk the hen
that won't lay eggs, the field that yields no crop
Be OF use to others; try to add something to the sum
Of human knowledge influence those with whom you come
n contact for good All of these things every man can
do in greater or less degree.
Every man CAN DO HIS BEST. Aim high; be deter
mined to put to the best the health the mental ability
al the advantages that your parents have given youmake
up your mind to achieve reasonable personal success but
above all things to make your life of real others