The Young Man and the World
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THE WORLD AND THE YOUNG MAN
T
here has been much counseling of the young man respecting the world.
But what of counseling the world respecting the young man? Do not
men and women riper in years and richer in experience need to have their
attention called to the young man and the potentialities of him. He faces
the world with vigor, courage, and faith-this stout-hearted, hopeful young
fellow with To-morrow and all its possibilities coiled up in his brain and
heart.
The young man is the future incarnate. His soul is the abiding-place of up-
lifting ideals, and the world-that vast collective individuality to which you
and I belong-too often dispels those sensitive enthusiasms by its neglect or
disapproval. Do we not find in our daily speech a certain cynicism toward
youth? Does not our skeptic wisdom paste the label "illusions" over the
word "ideals" written on the young man's brow? Is there not a refusal to
recognize young manhood's force until it compels recognition by sheer mas-
tery?
3 ALBERT J. (ALBERT JEREMIAH) BEVERIDGE
If so, it is a fault that the world should remedy. Not that the young man
should not prove himself before the world accepts him; not that he should
not win his spurs before he is knighted. No one insists that he shall "make
good" more than I do. But in the testing of him, let us give him the help of
our kindly attention. Let us lend him the encouragement of our applause
as he rides into the lists.
Countless young men have been needlessly discouraged by the indifference
of the occupied and the sneers of the calloused. Let us not be so chary of our
sympathy. Faith in most young men is a much safer hazard than infidelity.
For all things strong and pure and helpful to the world may be possible of
those young fellows who must, in any event, very soon possess the earth.
So let not the frost of the world's unconcern fall upon young manhood's un-
folding powers. Let us beware how we extinguish the feeblest of youth's ide-
alisms. Let us check not the onset of his knight-errantry. And the world does
these things-not purposely, not even knowingly, but thoughtlessly. Many
a young man has had his life's work kept back and the ardor of it chilled by
rebuff at the beginning.
Many another has had his faith in God and humanity and the effectiveness
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