A YOUNG MAN'S LIFE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7731, 26 February 1909, Page 1

A YOUNG MAN'S LIFE.

PROFESSOR BLACKIK'S RULES FOR. GUIDANCE. P.ofessor F.lackio once wrote for the Yonnyf Man an interesting article on "Reminiscences of his Youth." Like a lady's letter, the most important part of it 'was in the postscript, in which be sot down a few of the rules of conduct which guided him through life, and which ho had no doubt might have contributed largely to any praiseworthy work that ho had been able, in the couree of a Jong life, to achieve. 1. Never indulge the notion that you have any absolute right to choose the sphere or the circumstances in which you are to put forth your powers ol social action; but lot your daily wisdom of life be in making a good i.we of the opportunities given you. 2. We live in a real, and a solid, and a truthful world. In such a world only truth, in the long run, can hope to prosper. Therefore avoid lies, mere show and sham, and hollow superficiality of all kinds, which is at the best a' painted lie. Let whatever you are, audi whatever you do, grow out of a firm root of truth and a strong soil of reality. 3. The nobility of life is work. We live in a working world. The lazy and idle man does not count in the plan oi campaign. "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." Let that text be enough. 4. Never forget St. Paul's sentence— " Love is the fulfilling of the law." This is the steam of the social machine. 5. But the steam requires regulation. It is regulated by intelligence and moderation. Healthy action is always a balance of forces; and all extremes aro dangerous; the excess of a good thing being often more dangerous ir its social consequences than the excevr of what is radically bad. 5. Do one thing well; "bo a whole man," as Chancellor Tluklow said, "dc one thing at one time." • Make clear work, and leave no tags. Allow r.< delays when you are at a thing; do :'• and be done with it. 7. Avoid miscellaneous reading. Read nothing that you do not care, to remember ; and remember nothing yoi do not mean to use. 8. Never desire to appear clever aiu make a show of your talents ,be'for< men. Be honest, loving, kindly, Jan'" sympathetic in all you say and;dc Cleverness will flow from you naturally if you have it; and applause will com< to you unsought from those who khov what to applaud; but the applause o fools is to be shunned. ; 9. Above all things avoid fault-find ing. and a habit of criticism. Let you rule in reference to your social sent; ments be simply this: pray for the bad^ . pity the weak, enjoy the good, aiv' , reverence both the great and the small • nlaving each his part aptly in tin 1 divine symphony of the universe. >