The Evening Telegraph

THE CHANCES FOR YOUNG MEN.

From the Round Table.

One of the most marked characteristics of our country and time is the wonderful opportunity for young men to make for themselves position and influence. It surely is not so of any other nation, nor has it ever been so prominent at any other period of our history. Young men have generally been at a disadvantage because of their youth. But among other changes that have been severing the present from the past, it has become popular to advance young men to stations of great influence and responsibility. The largest churches seek ministers under thirty, and the old-line physicians and lawyers are pushed aside for young and brilliant talent of the modern schools. Young men are managing many of the ablest journals in the land; young men take the highest position as merchants, bankers, and manufacturers, and there is really no position at the present day to which a young man may not aspire and obtain. The change is, indeed, wonderful, and one which young men do not seem fully to appreciate. As matters are at the present time, if they cannot achieve something worthy of themselves, it is quite likely that they never will. For there never have been in any age or in any land such truly magnificent chances for the triumphs of young men as our country reveals to-day.

When we speak of young men, we mean those who are between twenty and thirty-five. These are the years which in the olden time were looked upon as comparatively unfruitful and valueless. If a man under thirty carved his name high up among the illustrious, he was considered a veritable genius and hero. Now it is no very uncommon thing for men of this age to retire from business with sufficient means for support through life. There are ministers and lawyers, too, almost without number, who are fairly and fully established before thirty. And, what is best of all, they are not looked upon with envious or jealous eyes by those who are older. In fact, there is a most wholesome respect for young men as well as for old, wherever and whenever real merit makes itself apparent. The idea seems to be that a man, young or old, is to be judged by what he actually accomplishes. This, of course, presents a wide and glorious field for all who are willing to enter the lists. It is surely a greater honor to acquire positions of influence at thirty than it is at forty, or later in life. We know that a great deal is said about young men wearing themselves out in this way prematurely. In part it is correct, for young men do in multitudinous cases make themselves utterly worthless by the time they are thirty. But they do not often wreck themselves with too much work. It is dissipation that blights and kills. Wholesome work is good for all, and it would be well if every young man in the land had enough of it to do to take his thoughts once and forever from indolence and debauchery. But even if hard work did tend to break a man down early, with the opportunities as they now are almost any man of spirit would prefer to accept the hazard and try for the laurels.

If young men would know how and in what way the opportunity is presented for their advancement, we will tell them. In the first place, there is a field for orators—a field almost deserted. The great speakers have passed away, and a new supply is called for. Young or old, of whatever origin, education, or position, a truly eloquent speaker could win for himself a golden crown. In the second place, the still undeveloped profession of journalism calls for young men of character and power. A hundred men of ability could take leading positions at once in this too neglected field of influence. All the professions, too, are dividing up into specialties, affording unparalleled opportunities for talented men to make their lives useful and honorable. The vast mining regions of the West call for engineers, but there are very few to respond to the demand. A great many public institutions are springing up over the land, requiring the best of executive talent to administer their affairs. The literature of the country is waning because of the lack of bright and fresh writers. In fact, there is no end to the chances open to young men of character and determination. The great want of the day is for men to fill important positions. It is sometimes said that there are more applicants for position than can possibly be employed. We do not believe this to be correct; but if it is, a brave man will make a position for himself. There are so many new fields to be opened in every department of thought and enterprise, that somewhere a young man can, and if persistent will, make for himself a worthy place. The greatest obstacle in the way of the advancement of young men is cowardice. They are afraid lest they may be called dashing, or lest they may walk in the light of some old prejudice or word wisdom. Some men, too, are so extremely cautious that they are discouraged by the warnings of those who have been unfortunate, and they never dare to attempt anything. This is not the spirit for to-day. All the interests of the times call for boldness and courage. There are more undeveloped successes and more unwritten heroisms than have ever been recorded. There are enough great and good things to be accomplished to carve the name of every young man in the land high up among the lists. These things appear to be forgotten. An idea seems to prevail that nearly every great opportunity has been seized, and that those who come after have only to follow tamely on in old ruts and paths. This is a great mistake, and one which works very disastrously to those who indulge in it. There are new ideas innumerable to be developed, and it is the duty of young men to do all in their power to discover them. There are great and grand fields, greater and grander than the world has ever seen, and here are the places for young men to test their strength. Not that every man must be a hero in the eyes of the world, but it is incumbent upon all to seek to advance the progressive spirit of the age and of the country.

But boldness is not the only requisite of the times. Honesty and character are certainly in greater demand than mere brilliancy. The tendencies of the age seem to be to make men less regardful of the means used to achieve success. A truly good man, one who has lofty aspirations, and one who loves the right for the right's sake, is the man who is surest to make a real success. There are too many men who cannot be trusted. There are too few men of whom all the world knows that they are planted upon right as upon adamant. If a man is bold, sincere, liberal, and persistent, our country is indeed a magnificent arena for a struggle. Only let the ideas reach farther and higher than those which have preceded, and the victory is certain. If young men knew one-half their power, they would accomplish far greater and grander things.