青年論_青年雜誌第一卷第三號

青年論

　　馬克威博士(美國)

　　斯士學士(美國)著

　　中國一青年譯

　　（接前號）

　　勤勉

　　格言

　　何家士曰。天才無他。勞與勤而已。

　　婆羅漢曰。由析而觀其通。複由通而繹其析。

　　亞羅得曰。二少年之差別。不在才能而在毅力。

　　皮汝遜曰。勞力者揮能力之戈。擁成功之節。戴得勝之冠。

　　馬敦曰。惰夫之用。不逾于陳死人。不過多占人間之地位耳。

　　有規律之動作。專精壹志。以蘄事于成。是即吾人詮勤勉之義也。普求其逾確之義。即黽圖利已而又利人之動作。故勤勉雲者。乃厘然中規之動作。而可以增益人群褆福之謂也。

　　從事有序。為程效所必需。而在吾人動輒感為難能。或寖覺其不易者。是無他。吾人當於役神憊之餘。遠矚前塗。唯息肩之是望。遂意有生之至樂。乃莫逾於一不事事之時。耽逸之念生。斯趨功之力隳矣。

　　勤勉引為人生識分之一。宜矣。然吾人於此。母甯謂勤勉為人生職分之將伯。蓋惟先有勤勉。而後其他職分乃可盡也。夫勤勉而外。有足以善吾生者鮮矣。怠惰而外。有足以惡吾生者鮮矣。

　　於此有倡異議者。要無疑也。姑無論此曹明認勤勉之惜如何。度其人必深信克濟大業之光榮。非彼愨願苦行之徒。所能勉致。猶之他人遺產然。其幸而獲者。必其人賦命之佳。否則安可得也。故世惟得天獨厚之人才。乃克享有大業耳。此毗于天才者之說也。

　　劫後英雄略一書。英人瓦待斯珂特所著。稗乘中之名篇也。讀是書者。罔不欽作者為天才。然是書實不啻表襮勤勉之事實。而宏毅堅忍獨行諸德與焉。說者謂「司珂特神游心注于昔之武士時代者有年。設身處地。想像乎十字軍之馬跡車塵。彼時之猶太民族。獨賦之特性異能。討論備至。而于當年之載籍。凡關於彼著述者。尤究心搜集。甚至於羅門法蘭西。與盎魯格撒克遜人之混合語言文字。窮其源流。究其部次。賞奇析異。為狀蓋至勤也。」

　　信矣。勞力者。規定百凡大事之真價也。微勞力曾見有何事可成者。英雄豪傑之崛起。其能享有大名者。是必其人勤勉不倦。堅忍孤行。雖其間庸有天縱之才。不由人力。或靈敏之性。與生俱來。然而勞苦堅卓之操。為成功所必不可缺者。彼又烏能佚而免也。

　　勞力者。人群之大宗師也。又若軍旅然。勞力者。至嚴肅之訓練也。使軍旅而無訓練。一旦應召而起。有見其潰亂披靡而已。嗟夫勤勉。其殆師乎。彼實教吾人堅忍不撓。宏毅獨行。彼實迫吾人昕夕從事。充力之所能及。唯是之故。彼實授吾人以燦然之方法。與秩然之規律。然勤勉也者。又永需夫鑒別之明。與果斷之力。而於以造成經驗有素之人才者也。

　　勤勉者。凡百作用之菁華。芸芸眾生。所賴以殖基於大地之上者也。彼惰者亦如惡人然。皆足為人利用也。昔斯巴達人常驅酗酒之虜。遊行於市。使青年子弟觀其頑蠢頹喪之狀。恥而戒飲。此虜是誠有用矣。然非自用其用也。由是觀之。勞力之為物。相需至殷。吾人當歡喜將之。不當怨尤視之也。夫人習于勤勞。不大獨益其美德。即人生樂利。亦蒙其巨助矣。

　　今者勤勞之於婦人。其緊要亦何亞於男子。往歲波士頓某美術肆中。有群女方聚而凝視一著名之雕象。一女忽曰。「憶之。此為女子所作也。」一女答曰。「此足使吾傲彼矣。」此名刻為蔡必羅亞遺像。而女士哈裡特何思密所作也。女士好學而覃精藝術。乃能以名作遺世界雲。

　　事業之艱劇者。必其成功高且貴者也。無上之價。乃基於至大之真值。夫人而欲臻絕詣也。必如其價以償人必自成否則終於無成而已。

　　吾邦諸傑。非甯馨兒。非紈絝子。非席蔭之人。非窳惰之輩。彼蓋耽於刻苦。不惡藍褸。不憚清貧。而自披棘斬荊。以自食其天祿者也。

　　焦霞李那漢欲為名畫家也。日自十時至四時。即役於畫室。曾無間斷。迨至老病釋筆時。彼年已六十有六矣。常自語曰「吾之勞苦。乃無異求飽之傭也。」

　　說者謂極危之事。足以陷是邦之青年者。偷惰實居其一。乃青年子弟于種種劬勞之事。規避唯恐不周。設謂此曹於世無毫末之益。行且以偷惰斷送其生涯。彼肯承者蓋寡。然而偷惰之夫。實自喪其歡樂之權力。何也。唯苦而後知樂也。彼之一生。無日不在聖日休假之中。更何有餘間。可供佚樂者。天下無有臥而治之之事。彼事機之至。亦決不願為高臥者少留。唯有任其酣眠。終於無濟而已。

　　勤勉者。湔罪惡之良劑也。古諺有之。「惰者之腦魔之窟。」意謂人無所為。則將習而為惡也。彼高以自命。而一不事事之人。可矜亦可誅也。世間最惡之事。未有過於妄動與淫樂者。彼自恣之徒。實壞道德之根基。剗生人之元氣。凝生眾惡。惡於何有。有死以報而已。

　　方青年勤于正事之時。人無過慮之者。然而試問彼。彼於何處進午膳乎。彼夜出館舍將何之乎。彼晡食畢將何所事乎。彼於星期與聖日。果何處供其消遣乎。唯彼余間消耗之塗。足以襮其人之品格。泰半青年之蕩檢。夕餐徹後。正彼從容隳落之時。而在多數奮身上達之青年。嬰榮名以去者。則在惜取午夜餘光。以攻以讀。庸有時群從朋處。是必其益智而迪良者也。故吾人掬誠悃以普告青年。亦願善用此餘間而己。戒之哉。日之夕矣。正爾青年之生涯危機一發之時也。

　　昔者羅馬。當其導民於勤勉也。國莫強焉。及夫藉戰勝之餘威。子女玉帛。虜略無算。使其市民。舍苦力以嬉。當是時也。羅馬之光榮。乃日趨於黯。傷風敗俗之事。乙乙然自窳惰中抽繹而出。以玷辱此莊嚴巍巍之城。而國遂不國矣。

　　勤勉殆為英吉利民德之骨幹。此無可疑也。以彼區區之島國。而其民能使環球之上。人跡所至。莫不尊之者。亦唯賴此勤勉而已。即在吾邦。儼然號為世界之工業國者。亦唯賴此勤勉而已。

　　德意志帝國著有定例。凡皇族少年親貴。均令執一藝。規定學藝時期。以能善自工作為度。誠以世變無常。未來之事。渺不可測。為人生自立計。則自儲貳以至親王。是宜令其具有自食其力之能。以求生存於大地也。似此良法。舉世所應則效矣。賢哉猶太民族。猶固守其先訓。謂少年無論貴賤貧富。皆應服習職業也。

　　佛蘭克林有言。「彼有一藝者。即恆產也。」夫勞動事業。無論常人卑視。雅不欲為。而自識者觀之。彼勞動者可欽崇之事業也。其羸羨雖若不豐。而所獲之令名。則無時或絀。勞動無可恥也。而亦無物可恥之。惟彼一不事事之人。或不操勞。而常覷責輕糈厚者。致足恥耳。吾人甯任浮誇氣盛之少年。恥其手杖。恥其羔革之掌衣。而決不欲勞動者恥其胼胝之手也。古諺有雲。「彼徒襲大家風采者。置之於市。曾糴不得鬥麥耳。」

　　有安多佛之南方學生某者。嘗被嚴譴。譴辭雖刻而甚當。先是某生購有木料若干。乃走謁其師司徒亞特教授。就訉將使誰鋸之。教授語之曰。「吾雖不居鋸工之列。吾將親為子鋸之。」教授此類之教訓。直深印其徒之心坎。吾人深冀此少年能領會也。

　　柯乃力萬達壁

　　或問于柯乃力萬達壁曰。「營業成功之奧秘何也。」答曰。「奧秘耶。彼無所謂奧秘也。汝唯舉汝所為。搏精凝神。以赴爾事業。奮力進取而已。」

　　今者設有人焉。而取法萬達壁氏之教也。是宜稔乃事。端乃心。嗇乃費。以訖於否去泰來而後已。下述萬達壁氏軼事數則。可借鑒焉。

　　當千八百六年。有舟擱淺于生的何克間。柯乃力之父。方任移徙船貨之役。乃命其子與三役工。駕三車六馬。運貨過沙洲。而致之小艇。時柯乃力年才十二也。

　　運貨事畢。柯子乃返歸塗。囊中僅貯少許旋資。且距家複遼遠。既經長程。度越吉塞沙漠。洎抵南亞波。彼乃憂愁無計載車馬渡過司塔頓島。蓋囊金已揮霍將罄。不足供渡車馬之費也。無已。乃往見逆旅主人。告以情。且與約曰。「儻公能資吾儕使渡者。我當留一馬為質。有如四十八時內。我不以金六圓償公者。則請取此焉。」主人視其炯炯雙眸。不覺應曰。「吾願為之。」未幾此馬果贖歸雲。

　　千八百十年春。彼浮海之興勃發。乃請於其母。乞假金百圓備舟。母曰。「兒乎。此月之二十七日。汝十六歲矣。設彼時汝能耕耘播種此八畝之地者。吾將資汝以金。」此田殊荒蕪磽確。而彼竟能如期卒事。彼是後钜萬之富。實植基於此肇端甚微之日。彼嘗終夜治事。晝複不去其職。故能於紐約港早獲絕佳事業也。

　　千八百十三年。是時邦人士。逆料英艦將攻紐約。紐約舟人爭投標承載軍實。送環港諸營。標價乃極廉。以得榜者。例許蠲免軍役也。獨柯乃力不與於是役。其父問曰。「汝曷不往投標。」答曰。「是何益。若輩廑以半賃為之。此胡得而辦者。」其父曰。「雖然。試為之。何害。」於是柯乃力勉徇父意。乃往投標。訂賃得其平。初不以此望獲。故當揭曉。彼竟未往探也。洎至同輩喪氣而還。彼乃往兵站訉問。疇能如約者。站官答曰。「然。茲事已定矣。柯乃力萬達壁其人也。」語既。見此少年形色若不勝驚異者。乃複詰之曰。「汝豈即其人邪。」對曰。「余名實柯乃力萬達壁也。」站官曰。「善。汝知吾儕所以與汝訂約之意乎。吾儕惟求事之得辦。而知汝能辦之者也。」

　　由是以觀。品行足以孳信用。而品行止於勤勉。猶宮室之止於其址礎也。

　　THE YOUTH

　　Selected from The True Citizen.

　　By

　　W.A.Markwick, D.D.

　　and

　　W.F.Smith,A.B.

　　INDUSTRY.

　　MEMORY GEMS.

　　Genius is nothing but labor and diligence.—Hogarth.

　　Know something of everything and everythingofsomething. —LordBrougham.

　　The difference between one boy and another liesnotsomuchintalent as in energy—Dr.Arnold.

　　Work wields the weapons of power, wins the palm ofsuccess, andwears the orown of victory.—A.T.Pierson.

　　A lazy man is of no more use than a dead man, and he takes up moreroom.—O.S.Marden.

　　By industry we mean activity that is regular and devotedtothecarrying out of some purpose. More definitely, it isactivitythatisdesignedtobe useful to ourselves or to others. It is thus aregulated activity by which our welfare, or that ofothers,maybefurthered.

　　We are apt to think,or at least tofeel, thatthenecessityof working regularly is a hardship. Because we get tired with our workand look forward with eagerness to the time of rest,weformtheopinionthatthe pleasantest life would be one which should be allrest.

　　Industry might well be urged as a duty.Butwewould rathernow speak of it chiefly as an aid in accomplishing other duties. Fewthings are more helpful towardrightlivingthanindustry, andfewmore conducive to wrong living than idleness.

　　Nodoubtthereareonthis subject opposing opinions.Somebelieve, whether they openly confess it or not, that theglory of thehighest success is not within the reach of every honest toiler; thatit is, like other legacies, the good fortune to whichsome are heirs,but which others are denied—the inheritance only of those whom naturehaswell endowed. These are the advocates of genius.

　　The reader of "Ivanhoe"—that finest romance of Sir Walter Scott— pronounces its author a genius. The factisthatbookis aconspicuous illustration of industry —patient. perseveringtail.Ithasbeen pointedoutthat,"for years Scott had made himselffamiliarwiththe era of chivalry; plodded over, in imagination, thewearymarchofthe Crusaders;studiedthecharacteristicsandcontradictionsofthe Jewish character; searchod carefully into therecords ofthetimein which the scenes of his story were laid; andevenexamineddiligantly into the strange process whereby the Norman-French and the Anglo- Saxoon elements were wroughtintoacommontongue."

　　Labor is indeed the price set upon everythingwhich is valuable.Nothing can be accomplished without it. The greatest of men have risento distinction by unwearied industry and patient application.Theymayhave had inborn genius; their natures may have been quick and active;but they could not avoid the necessity of persevering labor.

　　Labor is the great schoolmaster of the race. It is the grand drillin life's army,without which we are confused and powerless when calledinto action.What ateacherindustryis! Itteachespatience,perseverance, forbearance, and application. Itteachesmethodandsystem, by compelling us to crowd the most possible into every day andhour. Industry is a perpetual call upon the judgment and the powerofquick decision; it makes ready and practical men.

　　Industry is essential for that usefulness by whicheachmanmayfill his place in the world. The lazy, like the wicked,maybemadeuseful. The Spartans used to send a drunken slave through thecitythat the sight of his folly and degradationmightdisgustyoung menwith intemperance. He was made useful; he did not make himself useful.From this it will be seen that the necessity of labor is somethingatwhichweshouldratherrejoicethan complain, and that habits inindustryare the great helpers to virtur, happiness, and usefulness.

　　Industry is now as important to the woman as to the man.Some yearsago,in an art store in Boston, a group of girls stood togethergazingintently upon a famous piece of statuary.The silence was broken by theremark, "Just to think that a woman did it." "It makes me proud, "saidanother. The famous statue was that of Zenohia, the product of HarriotHosmer, whose love of knowledge and devotion to art, gave the worldamaster-piecc.

　　Work is difficult in proportion as the end to beattained is highand noble. The highest price is placed upon the greatestworth. Ifaman would reach the highest success he must pay the price. He mustbeself-made, or never made.

　　Our greatest men have not been men of luck and broad-cloth, nor oflegacy and laziness, but menaccustomed tohardship; menwho foughttheir way to their own loaf.

　　Sir Joshua Reynolds had the passion for work ofthe true artist.Until he laid aside his pencil from illness, at the age of sixty-six,he was constantly in his paintingroomfromtentillfour,daily,"laboring"as he himself said, "as hard as a mechanicworking forhisbread."

　　Laziness is said to be one of the greatest dangers that besets theyouth of this country. Some young menshirkeverything that requireseffort or labor. Few people enfertain the idea that they are of no usein the world; or that they are ruining themselvesby their laziness.Yet lazy persons lose the powerofenjoyment. Theirlivesareallholiday, and they have no interval of leisure for relaxation. The lie-a-beds have never done anything in theworld. Eventssweeppastand leave them slumbering and helpless.

　　Industry is one of the best antidotes to crime. As the old proverbhas it, "An ille brain is the devil's workshop," for by doingnothingwe learn to do ill.The man who done not work, and thinks himself aboveit,is to pitied as well as condemned. Nothing can be worse than activeignorance and indulged luxury. Self-indulgence sapsthefoundationof morals,destroysthe vigor of manhood, andbreedsevilstahtnothing but leath can blot out.

　　Nooneisveryanxiousabout a young man while he is busy inuseful work. But where does he eat his lunch at noon? Where does he gowhenheleaveshisboardinghouseat night? What does he do aftersupper? Where does he spend his Sundays and holidays? The way uses hissparemements reveals his character. The great majority of youth whogo to thebad are ruined after supper. Most of those who climb upwardtohonorand fame devote their evenings to study or work, or to thesocietyofthe wise and good. The right use of these leisure hours,we wouldcordially recommend to every youth. Fach evening is a crisisin thecareerofa young man.

　　Rome was a mighty nation while industry led her people, but whenhe great conquest of wealth and slaves placed her citizens above thenecessityoflabor, thatmoment her glory began to fade; vice andcorruption induced by idleness,doomed the proud city to an ignominiousoverthrow.

　　There can be no doubt that idustry has been thebackboneoftheEnglishcharacter. By it her people have made their island respectedall over the habitable globe. By industryourownlandhascometobe recogized as the workshop of the world.

　　It is rule in the imperial family of Germany thatevery youngman shall learn a trade, going through a regular apprenticeship tillheis able to do good journey-work. This is required because, in theeventof unforeseen changes, itisdeemednecessarytoamanlyindependencethat the heir apparent, or a prince of the blood, shouldbeconsciousof ability of making his own way in the world. This isan honorable custom , worthy of univer al imitiation. TheJewsalsowiselyheldthemaxim that every youth, whatever his positioninlife, shouldlearnsome trade.

　　Franklin says, "He that hath a trade hath an estate." Work,howeverlooked down upon by people who cannot perform it,is an honorable thing; it may not be very profitable, but honorable it always is, and thereis nothing to be ashamed of about it. Themanwhohasreasoniobe ashamed is the one who does nothing, or is always on the lookingforan easy berth with good pay and no work. Let the youngman whoseconceit greatly exceeds his brains, be ashamed of his caneandkidgloves; but never let a man who works be ashamed of his hard hands.There is anold proverb which says, "Mere gentility sent to market,won't buy a peckof oats."

　　A keen but well deserved rebuke was onceadministeredtoaSouthern student at Andover who had bought somewood, andwho thenwentto Professor Stuart to learn whom he could get to saw it. "I amoutofa job of that kind," said Mr. Stuart; "I will saw it myself".It is tobe hoped that the young man learnedthelessonwhichhisteacherthus sought to impress upon his mind.

　　Cornelius Vanderbilt.

　　"What is the secret ofsuccessinbusiness? "askeda friend ofCornelius Vanderbilt. "Secret! there is no secretaboutit," repliedthe commodore; "all you have to do is to attend to your business andgo ahead."

　　If you would adopt Vanderbilt's method, know your business, attendto it, and keep down expenses until your fortune is safe from businessperils. Note the following incidents in his career: In the year 1806,when about twelve years of age, Cornelins was sent by hisfather, whowas removing the cargo from a vessel strandednearSandyHook, withthree wagons, six horses, and three men, to carrythecargoacrossa sandbar to the lighters.

　　When the work was finished, he started, with but afewdollarsin his pocket, to travel a long distance home over the Jerseysands,and at Jength reached South Amboy. He was anxious to get histeamsferried over to Staten Is and,andasthemoneyathisdisposalwasnot sufficient for the purpose, he went to an innkeeper,explainedthe situation and said, "If you will put us across,I'llleave with youone of my horses in pawn, and if I don't send you backsixdollarswithin forty-eight hours you may keep the horse. " "I'lldoit, "saidthe innkeeper, as he looked into the bright honesteyesoftheboy. The horse was soon redeemed.

　　In the spring of 1810, he applied to his mother for aloan of onehundred dollars with which to buyaboat, havingimbibed a strongliking for the sea. Her answer was, "My son, on the twenty- seventh ofthis month you will be sixteen years old. If, by that time,youwillplow, harrow, and plant with corn the eight acre lot,I willadvanceyou the money."The field was rough and stony, but the work was done intime, and well done. From this smallbeginningCorneliusVanderbiltlaid the foundation of a colossal fortune. Hewouldoftenworkallnight; and, as he was never absent from his post by day, hesoonhadthe best business in New York harbor.

　　In 1813, when it was expected that New Yorkwould be attackedbyBritish ships, all the boatmen,except Cornelius, put in bids to conveyprovisions to the military posts around New York, namingextremelylow rates, as the contractor would be exemptedfrommilitaryduty."Why don't you send in a bid?"asked his father. "Of what use? "repliedyoung Vanderbilt;"they are offering to do the work at half price. Itcan'tbe done at such rates." "Well,"said his father,"It can do noharmtotry for it."So, to please his father, but with no hopeofsuccess, Cornelius made an offer fair to both sides, but did not gotoheartheaward.When his companions had all returned with longfaces, hewenttothe commissary's office and asked if the contracthad boen given. "Oh,yet ,"was the reply; "that business in settled.Cornelius Vanderbilt is the man. What?"he asked, seeing that the youthwas apparently thunderstruck," isit you?" "My name isCorneliusVanderbilt, "saidtheboatman. "Well," said the commissionary,"don'tyou know why wehavegiventhe contract to you? Why, it is becausewe want this business done,andwe know you'll do it."

　　Here we see how character begetsconfidence,andhowcharaterrests upon industry as the house rests upon its foundation.

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