le substitute for it. A
man may have in him a 'slumbering genius,' but unless he put forth the
energy, his efforts will be spasmodic, ill-timed and scattered.

"Full many a gem, of purest ray serene
The dark, unfathomed caves of ocean bear;
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air."

Young men, there is truth hidden in these words, despite what some
writers would make you think. They would argue that if you are to be a
Milton, a Cromwell, a Webster, or a Clay, that you cannot help it, do
what you will. Possibly, this may be so; it may not be thought proper
for me to dispute their lordship, but it does seem to me that such
arguments can give but little hope; if they have influence at all it
cannot be an inspiring one. No, never mind the reputation; never pine to
be a Lincoln, or a Garfield, but if you feel that your chances in youth
are equal to theirs, take courage--WORK.

If you are a farmer strive to excel all the surrounding farmers. If a
boot-black, make up your mind to monopolize the business on your block.
Faculty to do this is the 'best possible substitute for a slumbering
genius,' if perchance you should lack that 'most essential faculty to
success.' At any rate, never wait for the 'slumbering genius' to show
itself,--if you do, it will never awake but slumber on through endless
time, and leave you groping on in midnight darkness.

But to return to Stanton. Whether he possessed a 'slumbering genius'
does not appear, but certain it is that by down-right HARD WORK he
gained a knowledge of the law, and was admitted to the bar in 1836, when
in his twenty-first year. While yet a young lawyer he was made
prosecuting attorney of Harrison county. In 1842 he was chosen reporter
of the Ohio Supreme Court, and published three volumes of reports.

In 1847 he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but for nine years
afterward retained his office in Steubenville, as well as that in
Pittsburgh. In 1857 his business had so expanded that he found it
necessary to move to Washington, D. C., the seat of the United States
Supreme Court. His first appearance before the United States Supreme
Court was in defence of the State of Pennsylvania against the Wheeling
and Belmont Bridge Company, and thereafter his practice rapidly
increased.

In 1858 he was employed by the national government as against the
government of Mexico on land titles, deeds, etc. This great legal
succe