Education

1867

Advice to Young Men and Others Out of Employment

“How few there are that will head advice at al; not because it is advice, but from the fact that those who attempt to give it are not qualified for the work they assume. Or that they endeavor to thrust it upon their novice at an inappropriate time. Or upon persons over whom no control is acceded, if claimed.

But a book of paper never gives offense from any of these causes; they are always welcomed with a hope that real benefit may be derived from their suggestions. Whether that end will be attained in this case, I leave to the judgment of those for whom it is intended; hoping they may find themselves sufficiently interested to give it a careful perusal.

Though this work be necessarily short, yet every sentence shall be a text for your own thoughts to contemplate and enlarge upon; and perhaps, in some future edition of the work, I may take room and time to give the subject that attention which is really its due and which would be a pleasure to devote to its consideration.

There are a few lines of poetry called “The Excellent Man”, which advocates so admirably, the principles I am endeavoring to advance, that I cannot deny myself the pleasure of quoting them.

Remember also the old proverb, “God helps those who help themselves” is as true as it is old and after all this is said and done in this country, if in no other, a man must depend on his own exertions, not on patronage, if he would have or deserve success.”

The Excellent Man

“They gave me advice and counsel in store,
Praised me and honored me more and more.
Said that I only should ‘wait a while’,
Offered their patronage, too, with a smile.

But with all their honor and approbation,
I should long ago have died of starvation,
Had there not come an excellent man,
Who, bravely to help me along began.

Good-fellow! He got me the food I ate,
His kindness and care I shall never forget;
Yet I cannot embrace him-though other folks can,
For I, myself, am this excellent man!”

First then let me ask why are so many young men and other persons out of employment? The answer is very positive as well as very plain. It is this-indolence, coupled with a determination that they will do some great thing-only. And because that great thing does not turn up without effort, they are doing nothing.

The point of difficulty is simply this; they look for the end before the beginning. But just consider how few there are that really accomplish any great thing, even with a whole life of industry and economical perseverance. And yet most of our youth calculate that their beginning shall be amongst the greats. But as no one comes to offer them their expectations, indolence says wait; and so they are still waiting. Now mind you, as long as your expectations are placed upon a chance offer of something very remunerative or upon the assistance of others, even in a small way, so long will you continue to wait in vain.

At this point, then, the question would arise, what can be done? The answer is equally plain with the other. Take hold of the first job you can find for it will be better than longer idleness; and when you are seen doing something for yourselves, by those whose opinions are worth any consideration, they will soon offer you more and better jobs; until finally you will find something which agrees with your taste or inclination for a life business. But remember that the idle never have good situations offered them. It is the industrious and persevering only who are needed to assist in life’s struggle.

“Up, then, and at it, for there is:

Knitting and sewing and reaping and mowing,
And all kinds of work for the people to do,
To keep themselves busy, both Abram and Lizzie;
Begin, then, ye idle, there is plenty for you.

When you have found a situation or a job of work, prove yourself honest, industrious, persevering, and faithful in every trust and no fears need be apprehended of your final success. Save a part of your wages as a sinking fund, or rather as a floating fund, which shall keep your head above water in a storm; or to enable you, at one distant day, to commence a business of your own.

A poor orphan boy, of fourteen, once resolved to save half of his wages, which were only four dollars per month, for this purpose; and actually refused, even in sickness, although really suffering for comforts, to touch this business fund. He was afterwards the richest man in St. Louis.

His advice to young men was always this: “Go to work, save half your wages; no matter how small they may be, until you have what will enable you to begin what you wish to follow; then begin it, stick to it; be economical, prudent, and careful and you cannot fail to prosper.”

My advice is the same, with this qualification, however; that in choosing your occupation, you should be governed by the eternal principles of right! Never choosing that which, when done, injures a fellow creature more than it can possibly benefit yourself—I mean the liquor traffic. But with the feeling of St. Paul, when he saw the necessity of doing something different from what he had been doing, he cried out, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”

As your own tastes, being governed by conscience, under the foregoing principles; knowing that if a person has to learn a trade or business against his own inclination, it requires double diligence to make only half speed, and hardly ever meeting with success.

The question to be settled then is this: Shall I work the soil? Shall I be a mechanic, teacher, divine, physician, lawyer, merchant, druggist, or grocer, or shall it be something else?

Whenever you make up your mind what it shall be, make it up also to be the best one in the line of business. Set your mark high, both in point of moral purity and literary qualifications. If you choose any of the occupations of trade, you must save all that it is possible for economy and prudence to do for your beginning.

But if you choose one of the learned professions, you must work with the same care and prudence until you have accumulated sufficient to make a fair commencement in your studies; then execute them in all faithfulness as far as the accumulated means will advance you; realizing that this increase of knowledge will give you increased power in obtaining the further means of prosecuting your studies, necessary to qualify you to do one thing only in life.

Nearly all of our best men are elf-made and me of one idea, they have set themselves to be mechanics, physicians, lawyers, sculptors, etc., and have bent their whole energies and lives to fit themselves for the great work before them. Begin then, offer no excuse. Be sure you are on the right track, then go ahead:

Live for something, slothful be no longer,
Look around for some employ;
Labor always makes you stronger,
And also gives you sweetest joy.
Idle hands are always weary;
Faithful hearts are always gay;
Life for us should not be dreary;
Nor can it, to the active every day.

Always remembering that industry in study or labor, will keep ahead of his work, giving time for pleasure and enjoyment; but indolence is ever behind; being driven with her work, and no prospect of its every being accomplished.

When you have made your decision aside from what time you must necessarily devote to labor, let all possible time be given tot he study of the best works upon the subject of your occupation or profession, knowing that one hour’s reading in the morning, when the mind is calm and free from fatigue thinking and talking with your companions through the day upon the subjects of which you have been reading will be better than twice that time in evening reading, yet if both can be enjoyed, so much the better; but one of them must certainly be occupied in this way.

If you choose something in the line of mercantile or trade life, do not put off, too long, commencing for yourself. Better begin in a small way and learn as your capital increases how to manage a larger business.

I knew a gentleman to commence a business with five dollars and in two weeks his capital was seventeen dollars, besides feeding his family.

I knew one also to begin with sixty dollars and in fifteen months he cleared over four hundred and fifty dollars, besides supporting his family. Then he sold out and lost all, before he again got into successful business. “No person should ever sell our or quit an honorable, paying business!”

Those who choose a professional life will hardly find a place in the West equal to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, to obtain their literary qualifications. An entrance fee of Ten Dollars with Five dollars yearly, pays for a full Literary, Law, Medical, or Civil Engineering course; the first requiring four; the two next, two; and the last, three years.

Or, in the Catalogue: “The University, having been endowed by the General Government, affords education, without money and without price. There is no young man, so poor, that industry, diligence, and perseverance, will not enable him to get an education here.”

The present condition of the University confirms this view of its character. While the cons of the rich, and of men of less property, an, in large proportion, the sons of substantial farmers, mechanics, and merchants, are educated here, there is also a very considerable number of young men dependent entirely upon their own exertions-young men who, accustomed to work on the farm, or in the mechanic’s shop, have become smitten with the love of knowledge, and are manfully working their way through, to a liberal education, by appropriating a portion of their time to the field or the workshop.”

Persons wishing to qualify themselves for teaching in this state will find the Normal School, Ypsilanti, undoubtedly preferable.

And that none may excuse themselves from an effort because somewhat advanced in life, let me say that Doctor Eberle, who wrote several valuable medical works, did not begin his medical studies until forty-five years of age. I myself, always desired to become a physician, yet circumstances did not favor nor justify my commencement until I was thrity-eight.

There is no occupation, however, so free and independent as that of the farmer; and there is none, except that of parents, capable of using so great an influence for good or for evil, as that of teacher.

All might and ought to a greater or lesser extent be farmers; but all cannot be teachers. Then let those whose heart calls them to teach, not shirk the responsibility, but fully qualify for the work; learning also the ways of Truth and Righteousness for themselves; teaching it through the week-school, by action as well as by word, and in the Sabbath-school, fail not to take their stand for the right, like our President elect; then when it comes your turn to assist in the government of the State or Nation the people will come to your support as you do to your work—as then have just done to his (1860); feeling as now that the government must be safe in the hands of those who love God—deal honestly with their fellows; and who, in remembering the Sabbath to keep it holy themselves, are not ashamed—nor forget, to teach the children to love the same God, and reverence His Word.

Only think—a Sabbath School Teacher, A Rail-Splitter, a Boat-man, President of the United States!

Who will hereafter be afraid of common labor; or let indolence longer prevent their activity? When it is only those who begin with small things and persevere through life, that reach the final goal of greatness; and as in this case, are crowned with the greatest honor which a man can receive—the confidence of his Nation.

Then let Industry take the place of Indolence, beginning to be great, by grappling with the small things of life—be faithful to yourself, and you may reasonably expect the end shall indeed be great.

Be as faithful to God as I have recommended you to be to yourselves and all things pertaining to a future will be equally prosperous and glorious in its results.